[pct-l] ursacks and critters

[Elizabeth Clements]

Sir Mix Alot,

A cougar? really?!  How far away were you?  I've read about hikers who
carry and sleep with their food.  This is what I was planning on
doing.  Bad idea?  Also, have there been any cougar encounters/attacks
on the trail in recent years and what precautions have people made to
protect themselves?

Thanks!



Yep, I should have been using an odor proof bag, and have changed my ways,
but I appreciated learning what it could stand up to.

While preventing a loss of food is usually the primary reason for using an
odor proof bag, to me a bigger benefit is not giving scavengers a reason to
come around me or my food.  The result is a better sleep.

On Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 7:41 AM, Edward Anderson <mendoridered at
yahoo.com <http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l>>wrote:

>* If you put an OPSak inside your Ursack the critters won't smell what is*>* inside. OPSaks are what I used from Mexico to Canada - never lost any food.*>* Through the Sierra National Parks I did use two bear canisters as required*>* by the rules.*>* MendoRider-Hiker*>**>**>*   ------------------------------*>* *From:* Sir Mixalot <atetuna at gmail.com <http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l>>*>* *To:* Pamela McCullough <Pamelarun at aol.com <http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l>>*>* *Cc:* pct-l at backcountry.net <http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l>*>* *Sent:* Monday, March 18, 2013 11:40 PM*>* *Subject:* Re: [pct-l] ursacks*>**>* I use one all the time.  In southern California I've had a cougar nibble on*>* the bottom of my bag.  I got to watch that.  It also helped when I suddenly*>* decided to go to ADZPCTKO.  I didn't want to carry my heavy food bag down*>* the mountain only to have to carry it back up.  There were only low lying*>* trees, but that was okay.  I hung my Ursack to it and didn't come back to*>* it until two weeks later.  There were tiny rodent holes near the top, but*>* none of my food was compromised.*>**>* I love my Ursack.  I wouldn't hike without it unless I'm using a bear*>* canister.*>**>* On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 2:45 PM, Pamela McCullough <Pamelarun at aol.com <http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l>*>* >wrote:*>**>* > What are your thoughts on using the ursack for carrying food?  Pamela*>* >*>* > Sent from my iPad*