[pct-l] Cramming a BV450 (500) / Canister 'required' areas

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

I carried a bear can and an Ursack. I put the toiletries, trash and  
whatever food didn't fit in the Ursack. I put the smellier things in  
the can. I know people say you could fill a bear can with macadamia  
nut butter or cram things to smithereens with a jar, but I never saw  
anyone do that. If we could survive on just butter, we'd all pack  
sticks of butter and save weight and worry.

Don't forget, there are bear lockers in some places. So if you are  
concerned for the bears' safety, you can plan your stops to use the  
bear lockers when your food level is too much for the bear can. I  
used them.

And for anybody planning their bear can needs who like me last year  
had never done a long distance hike, please understand that you are  
going to be eating more than you ever thought possible. I actually  
thought the Bear Vault Solo would meet my needs, so that is what I  
sent myself. It met my boyfriend's needs when he joined me for a few  
days, but I needed the Garcia for a 4-day trip (which he brought for  
me). How embarrassing to be eating two or three times as much food as  
him!

By the way, nobody ever asked to see my bear can. I was chased out of  
a campsite by a ranger but nobody ever asked to see bear cans or  
permits.