[pct-l] Ursacks

[Edward Anderson]

I keep a clean camp and store all food in OpSaks to contain the food smells. I 
then use mothballs to introduce a smell that, to bears, is very unpleasant and 
certainly does not represent food.  This has worked for me for over five months 
living on the PCT. I have also used the "Bear Charms" during many other 
backpacking and horsepacking trips for over 20 years.
Would I have been bothered by bears had I not done that?  I don't know. 

I would like to point out that UrSacks and the various Bear Canisters do not 
contain food smells. Bears might be attracted to the smells and visit your camp 
area to try to get your food. That is why it is recommended that you place the 
Canisters 100' from your camp. The Bear Canisters will prevent bears from 
getting your food. The Ursacks probably will too but are not approved.  If you 
were to first put the food in an OpSak and then put the OpSak inside a 
clean Canister, I doubt  that bears would visit your camps. Add a few mothballs 
around your Canister and you have, essentially, what I have done. That is the 
approach that I will use in the Sierra this summer.

MendoRider 




________________________________
From: "hetchhetchyman at aol.com" <hetchhetchyman at aol.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Tue, February 15, 2011 6:33:45 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Ursacks



"These saks worked with 
bears too.  In the Cascades of Washington, where concerned hikers were hanging 
their food sacks high in trees. At night  I just stored my food and my horse's 
food in OpSaks at ground level along with my saddle and packs and covered all 
with a tarp. I also surrounded that pile and my tent with bear charms (moth 
balls - bears don't like that smell).  I had no problems with either bears or 
rodents. 

If you put your food inside an OpSak and that inside your Ursak, you would solve 

the rodent problem.

MendoRider"

So it's okay to store food at ground level under your saddle so long as it's 
surrounded by mothballs?

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