The thread about Ursacks got me thinking. I wonder if there'd be some advantage to stashing unopened and less aromatic food packages in one location and garbage in another. We've never done this, but it would be an easy thing to do. I'm thinking particularly of folks who stash food in containers that aren't completely bear proof. Any thoughts?

Last trip we took 2 small blue barrels rather than one large one and did just that after the first day or two once we accumulated some trash. Most of the time we're eating dehydrated meals, which when sealed give off pretty much no smell. And you're right, the trash gives off more smell than the unused/unopened food.

Seemed like a good idea, didn't have any problems.

I may not be following you here, but are you suggesting stashing trash outside of either the Opsak or a blue barrel? If so Im definitely not doing that. Nevermind the bears, it seems like it would be inviting all the other little critters to rip it up.

I use a Harmony blue barrel, which arguably fits your "not quite bear proof" category - mainly because it's never been tested - but I'll keep sticking everything in there. I'm just super careful to get all trash as clean as possible, folded neatly, and then double ziplock bagged.

We have multiple Ursacks. The oldest one, which is the most distinctive, soon becomes the garbage bag. And we don’t tie them all to one tree. Spreading them out is part of the strategy.

Over the years we done a couple of different things. One was place all our garbage in large ziplock bags and then those went into a dedicated for garbage dry vag which was hung from a tree well away from our food which is in a blue barrel and bear vault. We now just place the garbage back in the blue barrel. We’ve been doing that for the last 4 years and had no problems.

We use five gallon pails with gamma seal lids for food storage. The only things we put in the trash is foil, plastic, a some paper. All trash goes into the pails when we have room.

My garbage is stored in two small garbage bags and it goes into the smallest pack I have at night. The pack also is double lined. Food (I use ursacks) also goes in this pack at night, and the pack gets strapped to a tree on the shoreline a good distance from camp. I have done this for 10 years without a problem.

The sea to summit dry bag for garbage. I love this thing, on a longer trip, it's excellent. I never have to worry about leaking. I toss it in my barrel with my food. I like that I can take what others have left behind without thinking I won't have space for my own garbage..last 11 day trip, it was loaded pretty good. Sea to summit trash dry sack

Swampturtle: "The sea to summit dry bag for garbage. I love this thing, on a longer trip, it's excellent. I never have to worry about leaking. I toss it in my barrel with my food. I like that I can take what others have left behind without thinking I won't have space for my own garbage..last 11 day trip, it was loaded pretty good. Sea to summit trash dry sack "

I really like that idea. Most of us don't think of using such an asset for garbage, but it makes good sense to me.

I only make a small quantity of garbage - the bags that my meals are in, the bar wrappers, and coffee packets. There are no leftovers and very little residue; the bags get zipped shut and all the bags, wrappers, etc. get put in a Ziploc, which gets closed and put in with the food and stored. The object is the same as the food storage - keep the bears from getting a food reward.

Hmmmm. I must in in the minority here.
We have very little trash also but don't take any real precautions. I normally take 4 trips a year, usually in the Q. In my 40 or so years of canoeing I have always thrown trash in a garbage bag I bring or in the one supplied by the Park. They only have a draw string to close it.
We then put the garbage bag under the top flap of the Duluth food pack. The food pack is set on a granite surface if one is available. The pack is put within about 40 feet of the tent. Lastly, our ancient aluminum pots and teapot are then put on top of the pack with the goal of making noise if a bear is sniffing around. We then hope one of us still has good enough hearing to wake up and chase the bear off.
Now that I type this all out I see I am clearly in the minority. And probably not too bright.
But it has worked just fine all these years and trips.

The food goes in the food pack and the garbage goes in the fire. Non-burnables are fished out with a stick and put in a zip bag. By burning the scraps and odors are consumed making them a non-issue for critters.

The food goes in the food pack and the garbage goes in the fire. Non-burnables are fished out with a stick and put in a zip bag. By burning, the scraps and odors are consumed, making them a non-issue for critters.

Trash goes into a 1 gal. ziplock. I store it a very top of 30 liters Harmony blue barrel. Last item in and first out. Very little odor or moisture. More inclined to quick fix meals by boiling up water than more elaborate ones. At the end of the trip, the dedicated gallon zip lock holds a collection of flat vacuum seal bags and Knorr Sides packaging.

boonie: "I only make a small quantity of garbage - the bags that my meals are in, the bar wrappers, and coffee packets. There are no leftovers and very little residue; the bags get zipped shut and all the bags, wrappers, etc. get put in a Ziploc, which gets closed and put in with the food and stored. The object is the same as the food storage - keep the bears from getting a food reward. "

I do the same but use two ziplocks and don't lety them get full at all before starting another set. I bring lots of extra gallon freezer ziplocks for this purpose.

Similar to others, but use a small (like maybe 1 quart?) Opsack for trash, which goes in the Ursack. I ordered the small Opsack by accident, but it has come in handy for this.

old_salt: "... and the garbage goes in the fire. ..."

Isn't it illegal to burn trash in the Boundary Waters?

I take food for the group in 3 larger BearVaults, as they slide into the bottom of my backpacking packs nicely. Trash from the first day gets stuffed into an empty Gatorade bottle, and as soon as our food can fit into 2 of the BV's, the empty one becomes the trash bin for the rest of the 5 day trip. It's usually fairly full by the end of the trip.

My "garbage" goes in my food pack. However, it is very minimal. Garbage for two people for a one week trip fits in a one quart zip lock bag.

TomT: "

boonie: "I only make a small quantity of garbage - the bags that my meals are in, the bar wrappers, and coffee packets. There are no leftovers and very little residue; the bags get zipped shut and all the bags, wrappers, etc. get put in a Ziploc, which gets closed and put in with the food and stored. The object is the same as the food storage - keep the bears from getting a food reward. "

I do the same but use two ziplocks and don't lety them get full at all before starting another set. I bring lots of extra gallon freezer ziplocks for this purpose.


"

I thought the vacuum sealer was the best thing at one point. I vacuum sealed everything. Then I realized with the bear vaults how it effected my volume. Ziploc bags for the most part are easier for me to separate and such. I also like the freezer ones and use for garbage. Garbage is never a big deal... Unless you end up cleaning up after a slob group.

kennk: "

old_salt: "... and the garbage goes in the fire. ..."

Isn't it illegal to burn trash in the Boundary Waters?"

I'm with Old Salt here and I definitely burn my trash. If its "illegal" its just another example of why we don't want geniuses in government micro managing every aspect of our lives.

Garbage definitely gets odorous and will certainly give you away. Even with freeze dried "eat out of the package" foods I typically rinse the package out throughly and then roll tightly. Then I secure with a tiny electrical cable tie to keep it tightly compressed. These do not tend to burn completely so well executed storage is your best option. Then all goes into a gallon zip lock. (the Sea to Summit dry bag looks interesting........I might have to have that > Thanks for posting)

Once you are clipped by a bruin you tend to grasp that it can actually happen and start to take the scenario much more seriously. It takes only a little bit of forethought and preparation to mitigate the unpleasant consequences of a bear becoming interested in your kit. I was fortunate to have gotten plundered on my last day within an hours paddle of my truck so no harm done...........but be in 40 miles and it might put a bit of a crimp on your style.

mastertangler: "

kennk: "

old_salt: "... and the garbage goes in the fire. ..."

Isn't it illegal to burn trash in the Boundary Waters?"

I'm with Old Salt here and I definitely burn my trash. "

For our group, garbage gets burned as well in a hot fire. Probably another violation for us...

I don’t know the legalities of the bwcaw. I travel in the Quetico. I’ve never had any issues with burning garbage there. If a burning ban were to be in effect, I would pack it out.

boonie: "I only make a small quantity of garbage... "

Both you and me Steve. But now it is even less. Over a week’s worth of trash has easily fit into a quart size Ziplock bag; and none is ever burned. You really need to take a picture sometime.