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Bigfishlaker
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07/02/2019 06:01AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Please share the best bear bag technique. The only method I am aware of is hanging bag with rope where bears can’t reach from ground or or the tree. Still the best for BWCA? Thanks!
 
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07/02/2019 06:22AM  
Yeah two ropes I believe is the standard. One on a branch to haul it up high and another to another tree to pull it away from the trunk. Or bear barrel and take your chances like me :)
 
BobDobbs
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07/02/2019 07:19AM  
I do a simple rope over branch/tie off to the trunk.

One cheat that I use is a 'shooter' rope. A length of very thin line (mason line, 550 cord etc) tied to a 4 oz bullet sinker. I can usually get the shooter line over a redonkulously high limb in 1-2 tries. From there it is a simple matter to haul the hanging rope over the limb, then the food bag.

I've gone from 20 minute hangs to consistently under 5 minutes this way.

WARNING: DO NOT let that sinker hit you in the head if you try this (and don't ask me how I know).
 
07/02/2019 07:57AM  
Like x2jmorris I switched to a blue barrel, but when I hung my food I used the two rope method with a pulley in between. Much easier to get food up high (at least 12 feet) and out from the trunk or any branch (6 feet). Before leaving home, measure how high you can reach while holding a canoe paddle, then use this to help ensure you are getting it high up and far out. Don't get lazy about this! Also I found a good quality pulley made it easier and was lighter: get an aluminum pulley from the climbing gear section of REI or other mountaineering store - worth the extra $7 bucks or so. I also used an air tight dry bag to help minimize odors.

"Still the best for the Bwca?" There are long arguments about that. Bears climb trees easily, and while I don't believe it is common, every once in a while a bear seems to learn that food hangs in trees and will try to get at it. A lot of people and some outfitters have switched to blue bear resistant barrels, and some have switched to truly bear proof canisters or Ursacks - both of which are a bit smaller but provide the highest certainty that a bear will not get your food. Whatever you do, keep a very clean camp, be super-careful about keeping food or fish odor off of the exterior of your storage device, and be vigilant about where your food supply is while in camp or cooking.
 
07/02/2019 03:39PM  
Hide it in the woods last thing before you go to bed. No ropes or pulleys needed. Works great.
 
ozarkpaddler
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07/02/2019 05:44PM  
Here you go. We would throw the first rope with the pulley over a sturdy limb. Lower it to the ground and put rope #2 through the pulley. Then rope number one pulled up at least 10' and 4-5 foot from limb and trunk. It stays secured until ready to leave. Rope #2 is secured to pack and raised and lowered.
 
07/02/2019 07:16PM  
We've given up and use two URSAKs.
 
mvillasuso
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07/02/2019 11:05PM  
minnmike: " Hide it in the woods last thing before you go to bed. No ropes or pulleys needed. Works great."


I'm not trying to be insulting, but this method is truly nonsensical.
 
07/03/2019 06:22AM  
I prefer the BearVault/Ursack solution. I haven't hung in years; never did find a good, easy, quick way to do it consistently.
 
07/03/2019 06:37AM  
mvillasuso: "
minnmike: " Hide it in the woods last thing before you go to bed. No ropes or pulleys needed. Works great."



I'm not trying to be insulting, but this method is truly nonsensical. "


Pretty sure he means in a barrel. Works great. Keep the barrel spotless. No food touches the outside of the barrel.
 
Duckman
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07/03/2019 07:52AM  
I go solo or with my brother and don't take much real food. So my space food and gorp and whatnot go in a scent proof bag then in the food bag and then stashed somewhere outside of camp. Stashing has turned into a fun part of it all. I usually look for a good place in rocks that you can only really get to in a canoe.

If I was responsible for a group or some picky eaters, I'd probably have to switch to a more traditional and secure method. But with just me, in worse case scenario I'd just have to leave early if I lost my food.
 
07/03/2019 07:59AM  
2 bear vaults here
 
07/03/2019 08:05AM  

I take 5 gal buckets (not bear proof) with gamma lids. I place them in the woods away from camp. I put them upside down and cover the base with pine needles. If I'm in an area known for bears (SAK, KEK) I'll use sailing pulleys to get them in the trees.
 
07/03/2019 08:37AM  
mvillasuso: "
minnmike: " Hide it in the woods last thing before you go to bed. No ropes or pulleys needed. Works great."



I'm not trying to be insulting, but this method is truly nonsensical. "



I'm not trying to be insulting, but when a person is ignorant many thing seem nonsensical.

Cliff Jacobson on hanging food

Keep a clean camp, and an odor free food barrel or yes pack. Stash or food a GOOD 100-200 ft from camp and put your hanging days behind you. When I go with my wife and or kids I bring my Duluth food pack with a good liner and stash it in woods. Now to be fair I don't bring fresh food, but do bring butter and peanut butter. I don't prepare my food on either pack or barrel. I haven't hung a pack or barrel in years. I have had zero problems.
 
bwcasolo
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07/03/2019 11:07AM  
mooseplums: "2 bear vaults here"

same here, quit hanging decades ago.


 
BnD
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07/03/2019 02:30PM  
Blue barrel. Haven't ever looked back.
 
straighthairedcurly
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07/03/2019 05:07PM  
The problem people have with trees is they expect to find the "perfect" hanging tree where they can hang it out on a limb. They should be looking for 2 trees 20 plus feet apart. We carry long sturdy ropes and some pulleys (which we use sometimes if we need more leverage or to decrease friction when raising the pack).

Rope #1 gets tossed over a high up limb on tree #1 and rope #2 gets tossed over a high limb on tree #2. Both ropes can stay close to the trunk (NOT far out on a limb). Start with the pack near the base of tree #1, tie on both ropes. Now tie off rope #1. Now pull on rope #2 to start to raise the pack off the ground...it will swing out and away from tree #1...use pulleys if needed...can also have 2nd person use a paddle or long stick to push up on the bottom of pack to kind of toss it up while rope #2 is tightened. Once pack is high enough, tie off rope #2. Pack will now be high in the air and far from both trunks.

My husband woke up one night to the sound of running feet ... followed by a pause ... followed by a thump. Kept hearing it over and over. He finally figured out it was a bear running, jumping at the pack and then thudding to the ground. The bear never stood a chance of getting that pack.
 
07/03/2019 05:12PM  
BnD: "Blue barrel. Haven't ever looked back."


Where can you buy a blue barrel set up?
 
GearGuy
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07/03/2019 08:11PM  
I apologize to anyone if I offend you by saying this; With weight savings and space conservation in mind my bear rope system is the absolute best. I welcome challengers. At one point a couple years ago I put a ton of thought into this. In my opinion the double-rope style is the best, I can make a bear-proof hang out of even a crap tree and branch. Even in burn down areas I've yet to be stumped on getting a bear-proof hang (I'm sure there are campsites out there with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to hang from though). Here are pictures of my setup.

This picture just shows the bear ropes in a little stuff sack I sewed myself out of silnylon.

Almost 6 oz!

It consists of 2 lengths of 3mm Samson Lash-It, 2 different pulleys, both Harken Brand. It's been a few years since I worked on this project so I can't speak to exactly what kind of pulleys they are lol.

Step One: Throw the blue one over the brand you want to make the best of. You can adjust how much of the blue carabiner hangs over the branch, this helps you adjust how far away you can get it from the branch once you tighten up the other pulley. Tie the end off to a tree that hopefully won't let the rope slide off the branch when you pull the other rope.

Step Two which is optional: Throw the green one over another branch, or just skip this step if there isn't another "decent" branch to hang it "parallel to the ground" with. You don't tie the green rope off yet.

When I rigged this up, I tied a double fishermans knot on a doubled up loop. The double fishermans is absolutely strong enough, and the breaking strength of the Lash-It is about 750 lbs so it doesn't need to be doubled up lol. I was getting fancy with it I guess lol. This is where you join the 2 sets of rope.


You can see that I use the chair legs and table legs as props for my tree branches here.

I realize I could do all of this without the pulleys (I'm the Gear Guy (you asked for the best)). And if I were truly concerned about weight and space, I'd keep the carabiners, and swap the pulleys out for small stainless steel rings. But, the pulleys make hauling a pack up a lot smoother. Especially when I'm lifting 5+ people's worth of food. I don't remember how much they costed. I think the black one was about $16 or something, and the silver one was like $8 or something like that. Harken products are of course sailing products, and the load strength of the pulleys is about 200 lbs each.


Step Three: Connect Green Carabiner to Food Dry Bag. I use a lightweight dry bag, doesn't need to be one of those ursacks as with this system I almost always get a good hang that has the appropriate distance from a tree, and the ground.

I like the rope, it's kinda stiff and works great for this. It's actually made to avoid damage from abrasion of tree branches. This past trip when we had 7 people and we were hanging food for 7 people, and we had two dry bags tied together, the wire was a bit thin for that weight, had to wrap it up in your sweater sleeve, no big deal for the size and space you save if you ask me.

On the "blue end" there is about 30' of rope, this is the "fixed end" of the system. On the "Green End" there is about 50' of rope, this gives me plenty of play to make good out of far away trees.

Also! I have a bearvault 550 that I use for trips in griz country. I don't use this on trips where it's just 2-3 of us, as I can fit food for that many people easily in a 12L dry bag, and hang it, and the weight of the whole food storage is <1 lb. When I bring a lot of people, I make someone carry the Bearvault. I keep day food in the bear fault, crystal light packets, all the stuff you want to get at often, and I'll trickle the dry bag food into the bear vault as the trip progresses.

 
OldScout48
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07/07/2019 12:10AM  
I have hung for years never had a bear in camp (that we know of). I use a 3 rope method that can be varied somewhat, but this is what seems to work best. The throw rope is 550 paracord that is attached to a lacrosse ball with a hole drilled through the center. The lacrosse ball is tossed over a high limb, the higher the better. The paracord is attached one end of 1st 50' 3/8 " polypropylene cord with a loop in one end attached to a carabiner. Start pulling on the ball end of the paracord and pull the polypropylene cord up and over the limb. Before you pull too far attach the 2nd 50' 3/8" polypropylene cord with a loop on one end to the carabiner. The 3rd 50' 3/8 polypropylene cord threaded through the carabiner (this becomes a simple pulley system to lift the food pack), continue to pull rope #1 utill the carbiner is maybe 10 ' from the 1st tree ( you need eyeball this). Now take the 2nd rope and pull it to a 2nd tree. If you have picked the right limb you do not need to toss the 2nd rope over a limb, but you could if you wished. Now adjust both ropes (#1 and #2) to keep the carabiner where you want it. Tie off rope #1 and then pull on rope #2 and tie it off. If you have done everything correctly the 3rd rope should be hanging from the carabiner 12' to 15' above ground. Now to lift you food pack just tie one end of rope #3 to the pack and pull in up. You could use additional carabiners or pulleys on rope #3 to help make the lifting easier.
 
07/07/2019 07:49AM  
minnmike: " Hide it in the woods last thing before you go to bed. No ropes or pulleys needed. Works great."


Keep a clean camp, seal up food and set the food pack some distance away. This might be nonsensical to some, but it has worked for us since 1967.
 
07/07/2019 12:25PM  
I’ve knowingly had bear in camps with bearvaults, ursacks, hanging... whatever. Never lost a thing. Well, at home my electric fence failed yesterday and one got my bee hive. But camping, Bwca trips, I’ve never lost anything to a bear. I brought the bwj rig a few years. And there are great ways to string that system. But just being clean and careful around camp is key. Properly packaging your food is a big deal too in my book.
 
07/07/2019 08:52PM  
nctry: "I’ve knowingly had bear in camps with bearvaults, ursacks, hanging... whatever. Never lost a thing. Well, at home my electric fence failed yesterday and one got my bee hive. But camping, Bwca trips, I’ve never lost anything to a bear. I brought the bwj rig a few years. And there are great ways to string that system. But just being clean and careful around camp is key. Properly packaging your food is a big deal too in my book. "


Hey nctry, where are you and your beehive? I have a cabin west of Pike's Peak at 8900 feet and I have been tempted to try a beehive there because of all the sweetclover but I have been afraid of the bears destroying it. In my working life I had beehives burned by wildfires and stolen by the worse parasites of all, the two legged ones. Haven't tried one yet in the Rockies!
 
Grizzlyman
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07/11/2019 04:04AM  
GearGuy: "I apologize to anyone if I offend you by saying this; With weight savings and .....
"


I shortened the reply to post ...

Gearguy. Incredibly helpful post and pictures. Question though only because you defied anyone to challenge you:)

When it’s fully loaded, Aren’t you pulling that loaded rope with the green carabiner up an over a limb? - which essentially turns the limb into your pulley? Isn’t that difficult to do with 25-50 lbs on a small diameter rope? Doesn’t the friction make that difficult? Or am I misunderstanding this?



 
07/11/2019 07:50AM  
Grizzlyman: "
GearGuy: "I apologize to anyone if I offend you by saying this; With weight savings and .....
"


I shortened the reply to post ...

Gearguy. Incredibly helpful post and pictures. Question though only because you defied anyone to challenge you:)

When it’s fully loaded, Aren’t you pulling that loaded rope with the green carabiner up an over a limb? - which essentially turns the limb into your pulley? Isn’t that difficult to do with 25-50 lbs on a small diameter rope? Doesn’t the friction make that difficult? Or am I misunderstanding this?
I pull my pulley rope up first to where I want it and tie off. Then pull the food pack up. Definitely use gloves.



"
 
TDBauer
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07/11/2019 08:44AM  
Ursak. No fuss. Keep a clean camp. No Worry.

No more hanging for me, ever.
 
GearGuy
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07/13/2019 10:13PM  
Grizzlyman: "
GearGuy: "I apologize to anyone if I offend you by saying this; With weight savings and .....
"


I shortened the reply to post ...

Gearguy. Incredibly helpful post and pictures. Question though only because you defied anyone to challenge you:)

When it’s fully loaded, Aren’t you pulling that loaded rope with the green carabiner up an over a limb? - which essentially turns the limb into your pulley? Isn’t that difficult to do with 25-50 lbs on a small diameter rope? Doesn’t the friction make that difficult? Or am I misunderstanding this?



"


At no point does my setup have weight-loaded-ropes moving across/over trees. I'll walk you through the setup, I bet our setups are the same?

1. Blue carabiner rope AKA "Anchor Rope" gets thrown over a suitable branch. The carabiner has to be lowered to the ground and isn't tied off yet. At this point the blue carabiner is low enough to the ground I can grab it, or it's just sitting on the ground.
2. OPTIONAL STEP, I DON'T DO THIS BUT COULD IF NEEDED. Green Carabiner is thrown over an adjacent branch if there is a suitable branch. This branch would ideally pull the bag away from the anchor rope branch in a way that it doesn't slide the anchor rope off the anchor branch.
3. Blue Carabiner is attached to double loop shown on green pulley setup, it is not attached to the green pulley.
4. Anchor rope is pulled up, and then the end is secured to a tree or branch about 15' away. The Green carabiner, due to the pulleys, should sit on the ground as the pulleys are raised up.

At this point the blue carabiner and the main pulley are hanging aprox 2-3 feet away from the anchor branch. When I pull the green rope, it will pull the rope junction away from the branch/tree in a horizontal plane. Which gives me a little extra bear-proofing distance. Helpful if say the anchor branch isn't 3'+ feet from the tree trunk.

5. Green carabiner is sitting on the ground, blue pulley is in the sky. When you are ready to hang your bag, attach green carabiner to food bag.
6. Pull green rope, both pulleys draw toward eachother. With two pulleys the weight on my hands is 1/3 the weight of the bag, but the rope is 3x longer. Food bag goes in the air towards blue carabiner. As you pointed out, the small diameter on your hands isn't ideal. Trade offs for weight/space! Has never been a problem for a sleeve covered hand.
7. Secure green rope.

You;re right that if I use the double branch setup, I'm pulling a weight bearing rope over a branch. Because of the length of the "green" rope (50ish feet) I find that I am looking for trees to secure off that are further away, rather than a more complex setup like double branch, I still get that horizontal distance away from the anchor tree. Like I said, it's still 1/3 the weight with the pulleys, and when I have to drag a rope over a branch I don't think it adds any extra difficulty to the hang.
 
LDB
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07/21/2019 05:53PM  
One year years ago, wind bound on the Canadian side on the point across from Green Island, the wind died and a sow and two cubs swam across from the island. Later mama was up on her tip toes swiping at our food pack. I walked past her cubs and told her to go away, she did. After that I went to a long non-stretch climbing rope and a two pulling system, it made our 80 pound long trip food pack weigh less than 20 pounds when pulling it up, well between two trees. I had a rock bag that was tied to a spinning reel that was just used as a back up and easier to throw. That line was used to haul the climbing rope over a stout branch. I went from that to splitting up the food into two number 3 duluth packs to the bear proof yellow food containers about 50 yards from camp. In I long forgot how many trips, we have had three bears in or near camp. In the last 30 trips we have had none.
Someone asked me the other day whether they should go to Thomas to avoid bears or id they could go up Knife. I told them the chance of seeing bear this year would be minimal as long the knife Lake camp site was clean. Am I correct, I have not heard of a single bear incident this year.
 
07/22/2019 08:15AM  
OldScout48: "I have hung for years never had a bear in camp (that we know of). I use a 3 rope method that can be varied somewhat, but this is what seems to work best. The throw rope is 550 paracord that is attached to a lacrosse ball with a hole drilled through the center. The lacrosse ball is tossed over a high limb, the higher the better. The paracord is attached one end of 1st 50' 3/8 " polypropylene cord with a loop in one end attached to a carabiner. Start pulling on the ball end of the paracord and pull the polypropylene cord up and over the limb. Before you pull too far attach the 2nd 50' 3/8" polypropylene cord with a loop on one end to the carabiner. The 3rd 50' 3/8 polypropylene cord threaded through the carabiner (this becomes a simple pulley system to lift the food pack), continue to pull rope #1 utill the carbiner is maybe 10 ' from the 1st tree ( you need eyeball this). Now take the 2nd rope and pull it to a 2nd tree. If you have picked the right limb you do not need to toss the 2nd rope over a limb, but you could if you wished. Now adjust both ropes (#1 and #2) to keep the carabiner where you want it. Tie off rope #1 and then pull on rope #2 and tie it off. If you have done everything correctly the 3rd rope should be hanging from the carabiner 12' to 15' above ground. Now to lift you food pack just tie one end of rope #3 to the pack and pull in up. You could use additional carabiners or pulleys on rope #3 to help make the lifting easier."


Great explanation, exactly the method we use. Maybe a 5 minute process and pack can be 10-20 feet up.
 
07/22/2019 09:25AM  
Typically I like to hang the food pack but I've been on more than one trip where there are simply no trees anywhere near camp suitable for hanging packs. The site I was on 2 weeks ago was 95% smallish pine trees. None had branches big enough to throw a rope over and certainly none were large enough at a height suitable for hanging. I even had a hard time finding a spot to hang a hammock.

I checked fairly far back into the forest for suitable trees but it just wasn't happening. I opted for the clean pack and stash method. I found a spot away from any obvious trails and I stashed the pack next to a tree. I did take my hanging rope and used it to wrap around the pack and tree to tie the pack down. I know it wouldn't stop a bear from getting what it wanted but I was hoping it would at least sway the bear into eating the food there versus dragging the pack off into the woods so I'd have an easier job cleaning up the mess if needed. In the end I had no issues. I've had to do that a few times on trips where the site I was camping at had no suitable hanging trees.

For that reason I think I may be switching to a bear vault of some sort. Hanging is great but its not a 100% lock that you'll be able to hang at every site.
 
inspector13
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07/22/2019 09:47AM  
lskidder: "
nctry: "I’ve knowingly had bear in camps with bearvaults, ursacks, hanging... whatever. Never lost a thing. Well, at home my electric fence failed yesterday and one got my bee hive. But camping, Bwca trips, I’ve never lost anything to a bear. I brought the bwj rig a few years. And there are great ways to string that system. But just being clean and careful around camp is key. Properly packaging your food is a big deal too in my book. "

Hey nctry, where are you and your beehive?"

He’s about a half hour drive from both Hibbing and Grand Rapids MN.

 
Savage Voyageur
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07/22/2019 10:44AM  
AmarilloJim: "
I take 5 gal buckets (not bear proof) with gamma lids. I place them in the woods away from camp. I put them upside down and cover the base with pine needles. If I'm in an area known for bears (SAK, KEK) I'll use sailing pulleys to get them in the trees."


Exactly what we do too. Haven’t had a problem yet in 15 Trips this way. I’ve always said to protect your Leeches also from loss too. Because if a bear gets your food you can always fish for food.
 
LDB
member (27)member
  
07/22/2019 11:07AM  
With the yellow bear proof canisters, they may make a pack challenging, but they can be spread around. We double vacuum seal everything. They are a couple of pounds heavier in total than my rope kit, but at the end of a hard day, it is harder for me to string the ropes than it is to take a short walk and stow the canisters. It also keeps my wife from getting too carried away with what goes along for food. Personally, i could get by on gorp, jerky and the occasional fish.
 
Cedarboy
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07/22/2019 12:37PM  
Stopped hanging years ago, am a hider now. Off trail away from camp.
CB
 
ledhead
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07/22/2019 05:50PM  
lskidder: "
nctry: "I’ve knowingly had bear in camps with bearvaults, ursacks, hanging... whatever. Never lost a thing. Well, at home my electric fence failed yesterday and one got my bee hive. But camping, Bwca trips, I’ve never lost anything to a bear. I brought the bwj rig a few years. And there are great ways to string that system. But just being clean and careful around camp is key. Properly packaging your food is a big deal too in my book. "



Hey nctry, where are you and your beehive? I have a cabin west of Pike's Peak at 8900 feet and I have been tempted to try a beehive there because of all the sweetclover but I have been afraid of the bears destroying it. In my working life I had beehives burned by wildfires and stolen by the worse parasites of all, the two legged ones. Haven't tried one yet in the Rockies! "


LSkidder,

I'm about 40 mi west of you (Conifer, CO 8,600'), check with the CPW:

CPW's Bear fencing for beekeepers
 
BearBurrito
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07/23/2019 09:17AM  
lskidder: "
minnmike: " Hide it in the woods last thing before you go to bed. No ropes or pulleys needed. Works great."



Keep a clean camp, seal up food and set the food pack some distance away. This might be nonsensical to some, but it has worked for us since 1967."


+1 for me. I have never hung a food bag.
 
07/27/2019 03:09PM  
Couple of ideas below: However, I have used the "stash in the woods" method for the past 5 years and never had an issue:

 
07/28/2019 08:03AM  
Cedarboy: "Stopped hanging years ago, am a hider now. Off trail away from camp.
CB"

+1
 
Pilgrimpaddler
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07/28/2019 09:26AM  
I’ve never hung a food bag, just keep a clean camp. About 20 trips or so and I’ve never seen a bear and haven’t even had any small critter issues. Maybe it’s just dumb luck and next trip will be different, but so far it works for me.
 
TechnoScout
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09/29/2019 07:38AM  
Pilgrimpaddler: "I’ve never hung a food bag, just keep a clean camp. About 20 trips or so and I’ve never seen a bear and haven’t even had any small critter issues. Maybe it’s just dumb luck and next trip will be different, but so far it works for me."


Back in 2010 we were camped on that big island on South Arm of Knife. We had our food hung high enough between a couple of trees so that the miniBears could not get to them. Went out to fish one day...came back and a momma bear and her cub had gotten into our food. Needless to say, we moved to another campsite.

I hang my food but I am trying to warm up to the idea of stashing it.
 
colddriver
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09/29/2019 03:09PM  
We keep a clean camp 1st of all!
I put our food pack in the aluminum canoe and turn it upside down, we usually have another canoe that we lean up against the upside down one. The. We put all our pots and pans on top of both canoes so if a bear does come into camp starts nosing around and usually knocks over all the canoes and pots ,scares them away and wakes you up to help Chase them away.
For day trips we just bring the food pack with...... Easy as that.
 
billconner
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09/29/2019 06:52PM  
It does seem most incidents with bears and food occur during daytime when people day trip. Just an observation.
 
riverrunner
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09/30/2019 02:14AM  
Yes all the above methods will work if one is dealing with non educated bears.

Bears that have taught themselves or have learned from mom had help from humans are very had to defeat.

I have had two bears in camp in the BWCA the first was a very dirty camp left by some one else. We chased it out and it did not come back.

The 2nd I went looking for during season. That bear will never rob a food sack again or pass it bad habit along.

Bears that learn bad habits should be destroyed at the earliest opportunity. But what happened is they are left to run around until they become a real problem and destroy many peoples trips.

Only to be killed in the end.

There is no shortage of black bears getting rid of the problems ones should not be an issue.
 
rwskis
  
08/05/2021 11:15AM  
Looks like the branch in the photo is dead. If so not a good choice. We have used ropes and pulleys for 30 + years on our
Quetico trips, where typical campsite use is less than in the BWCA. Even there we always look first, before even locating tent sites, if there is suitable branch for the bear rope.
It's not often easy to find such a branch.
One tip: We have a separate throw line with a shot bag for throwing the rope (available from Forestry Supplier or similar retailer). It's much safer and if used with a special throw line(not easily tangled and available from where you buy your shot bag) It will be much easier.
 
mjmkjun
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08/07/2021 08:01AM  
straighthairedcurly: "The problem people have with trees is they expect to find the "perfect" hanging tree where they can hang it out on a limb. They should be looking for 2 trees 20 plus feet apart. We carry long sturdy ropes and some pulleys (which we use sometimes if we need more leverage or to decrease friction when raising the pack).


Rope #1 gets tossed over a high up limb on tree #1 and rope #2 gets tossed over a high limb on tree #2. Both ropes can stay close to the trunk (NOT far out on a limb). Start with the pack near the base of tree #1, tie on both ropes. Now tie off rope #1. Now pull on rope #2 to start to raise the pack off the ground...it will swing out and away from tree #1...use pulleys if needed...can also have 2nd person use a paddle or long stick to push up on the bottom of pack to kind of toss it up while rope #2 is tightened. Once pack is high enough, tie off rope #2. Pack will now be high in the air and far from both trunks.


My husband woke up one night to the sound of running feet ... followed by a pause ... followed by a thump. Kept hearing it over and over. He finally figured out it was a bear running, jumping at the pack and then thudding to the ground. The bear never stood a chance of getting that pack."


That bear attempt(s) would be fun to watch...or catch on video.
 
08/09/2021 08:26AM  
We’ve used a home made double pulley system for 10+ years, and it’s worked great. Two 4” clothes line pulleys (one mounted in a flat aluminum bracket), 3 ft 1/4” fiberglass rod with small hole drilled, chaser string, 3 ropes, and 12’ collapsible aluminum pole. The fiberglass rod is used like a javelin to get the string over the desired branch/stub. The big advantage of the javelin is it won’t wrap and get stuck around a branch like a rock, ball, or other type of weight can easily/often do if the string catches on anything. When that happens you’ve just lost your chaser string. The double pulleys give you a 2 to 1 mechanical advantage hoisting up a heavy food pack. The 4” pulleys are inexpensive, light and available at Home Depot, and they’ve been plenty strong for multiple heavy food packs for 9 hungry guys on a 5 trip. The pulley bracket is easily fabricated out of some flat aluminum bar. The javelin is used to get the 1st rope up and the 12’ extendable pole is used to get the 2nd rope up high around the 2nd tree. The fiberglass rod and the collapsible pole fit in a standard rod case with 2 fishing poles. The extendable pole, with a simple threaded piece of wood to blunt the end then also serves as a center tarp pole.

 
08/11/2021 06:58PM  
Never have and never will hang a food bag. I'm with a couple people here that use gamma lids (I apply mine with a healthy bead of silicone) on 5 gal buckets and store in the woods. I'm apparently now breaking the law but it's not going to stop my and others tried and true method. Never have even seen a bear in camp.
 
Blackdogyak
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10/15/2021 04:38PM  
straighthairedcurly: "The problem people have with trees is they expect to find the "perfect" hanging tree where they can hang it out on a limb. They should be looking for 2 trees 20 plus feet apart. We carry long sturdy ropes and some pulleys (which we use sometimes if we need more leverage or to decrease friction when raising the pack).


Rope #1 gets tossed over a high up limb on tree #1 and rope #2 gets tossed over a high limb on tree #2. Both ropes can stay close to the trunk (NOT far out on a limb). Start with the pack near the base of tree #1, tie on both ropes. Now tie off rope #1. Now pull on rope #2 to start to raise the pack off the ground...it will swing out and away from tree #1...use pulleys if needed...can also have 2nd person use a paddle or long stick to push up on the bottom of pack to kind of toss it up while rope #2 is tightened. Once pack is high enough, tie off rope #2. Pack will now be high in the air and far from both trunks.


My husband woke up one night to the sound of running feet ... followed by a pause ... followed by a thump. Kept hearing it over and over. He finally figured out it was a bear running, jumping at the pack and then thudding to the ground. The bear never stood a chance of getting that pack."


OK...I get that. Thanks. How would you add pulley(s) to this?
 
Blackdogyak
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10/15/2021 04:51PM  
OldScout48: "I have hung for years never had a bear in camp (that we know of). I use a 3 rope method that can be varied somewhat, but this is what seems to work best. The throw rope is 550 paracord that is attached to a lacrosse ball with a hole drilled through the center. The lacrosse ball is tossed over a high limb, the higher the better. The paracord is attached one end of 1st 50' 3/8 " polypropylene cord with a loop in one end attached to a carabiner. Start pulling on the ball end of the paracord and pull the polypropylene cord up and over the limb. Before you pull too far attach the 2nd 50' 3/8" polypropylene cord with a loop on one end to the carabiner. The 3rd 50' 3/8 polypropylene cord threaded through the carabiner (this becomes a simple pulley system to lift the food pack), continue to pull rope #1 utill the carbiner is maybe 10 ' from the 1st tree ( you need eyeball this). Now take the 2nd rope and pull it to a 2nd tree. If you have picked the right limb you do not need to toss the 2nd rope over a limb, but you could if you wished. Now adjust both ropes (#1 and #2) to keep the carabiner where you want it. Tie off rope #1 and then pull on rope #2 and tie it off. If you have done everything correctly the 3rd rope should be hanging from the carabiner 12' to 15' above ground. Now to lift you food pack just tie one end of rope #3 to the pack and pull in up. You could use additional carabiners or pulleys on rope #3 to help make the lifting easier."


I appreciate your detailed explanation. I have started to adopt a system like this. I got a 50' 3/8" arborists rope. I felt a bit awkward about this because that darn rope is pretty heavy and bulky. Bit I knew it had to be strong. Having THREE of these would seriously be a lot of weight and volume. This really works?

Another thing I was wondering about these systems is whether bears can see and smell the line tied off the the tree at chest height, and they just claw it until.it breaks and the yummy pinata comes falling down. This is the premise of the Pacific Crest Trail Method. The line is left dangling and not tied off to a tree where the bear can claw at it.
 
Blackdogyak
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10/15/2021 05:10PM  
BWPaddler: "
Cedarboy: "Stopped hanging years ago, am a hider now. Off trail away from camp.
CB"

+1"

But how does that help? The bear can still smell the food just as if it were located next to your tent? It just means the bear gets to eat dinner and won't be ten feet away from you when he does. And also, we are not just concerned about bears, right? Raccoons, porcupines, martins and even mice can chew holes in a dry bag and destroy food.
 
StLouisPaddler
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10/18/2021 05:03PM  
There is a similar ongoing thread in the Gear Forum on bear hang technique. My thoughts from that thread are below. I also think it’s cool that the community keeps these discussions alive for years at a time.

I also use the pack-a-pull pulley system. It gives up to a 4:1 mechanical advantage, which I appreciate on day one of the trip with food for three guys for a week. I hang with the clothesline method because it seems like I can never find one tree with a decent branch. If you’re not familiar, you string a long line between two trees (which forms the horizontal “clothesline”) and then the pulley is tied in the middle of that line. For the clothesline, I use 100 feet of Lawson Ironwire. It’s lightweight, low stretch, knots and unknots better than amsteel, and has a higher strength rating than standard paracord. The downside of a 4:1 pulley system is that you need a relatively long rope connecting the pulleys to the food bag because it goes back and forth between the clothesline and the pulleys four times. Since the two bottom pulleys start on the ground and the pulleys on the clothesline are suspended 15-20 feet in the air, I’ve found 75 feet for the bag line is about right to get it high, but I’ve made it work with 50 feet and in a lot of sites there just aren’t good enough trees to get it as high as the rangers would like. For the food bag line, I’ve used Lawson Bear rope in the past but will probably use 7/64 amsteel blue on my next trip. I would use the ironwire except that at 2mm it’s a little too small diameter for the pulleys used in the pack-a-pull. Like everything else I’ve learned for my trips, my Bear bag system has been taken from ideas I got from reading the posts of people here who, unlike me, actually know what they are talking about.
 
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