[pct-l] Protecting your food from bears

[Edward Anderson]

There has been several posts recently about the Ursack not being approved and about it's effectiveness compared to to Bear Cannisters.  As I see it, since neither contain the SMELL of the food stored inside, bears will be attracted to either - - - and then will try to get at the food stored inside . If a bear can see either container, and from experience, knows that food is stored inside, he will walk over to it and sniff it to verify.  And then, if food is indeed there, will try to get it.  Now, if the bear does not smell food, it wiill walk away to check elsewhere.  Why not put the food in an OPSAK to prevent the food smells from escaping, then, to be in compliance with regulations in those patrs of the Sierra where cannisters are required, put the OpSak in your cannister. On my PCT ride I just stored my food in an OpSak at night and also put mothballs (in tobacco sacks) around my food and tent area. I replaced food smells with a smell that
 the bears dislike. I have used mothballs in bear country camps for about 20 years - with no bear problems.  Many people who live in rural areas where there are bears use mothballs to repel them from thier garbage cans. Last summer, during my stop at Hiker-Hide-Away at Old Station, I enjoyed a day ride with FireFly's neighbor, Mary C.. She uses mothballs to keep the bears away from her garbage cans.
 
The bottom line is this:  If you want to discourage bears from coming into your camps and trying to get your food you must eliminate the SMELL of the food.  No matter what kind of container you store your food in, bears will try to get at it if they can smell it. While it's great that some containers are difficult or impossible for a bear to break into - - - they will still try and they will still be in and around your camp.  Maybe there will be lingering food smells on your cloths or on your cooking pot or somewhere else in camp. 
 
MendoRider 
 
 
 
MendoRider