[pct-l] Ideas for Bear Canisters

[wandering_bob@xxxxxxx (Bob Bankhead)]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
IDEA 1:
In addition to placing the canister in some form of natural depression wher=
e it can not roll away by itself or with the bear's help, you might also co=
nsider that canisters are very dark in color, rendering finding them diffic=
ult in the dark. The black Garcia Can is especially so. I added a loop of s=
elf-adhesive, reflective tape around bottom and more across each end of my =
Bearikade canister. I can find and recover my food at night after Yogi and =
Boo-Boo have gone or during my anxiety attacks, I can point my flashlight o=
ut of the shelter and my food announces that it is still where I put it.

IDEA 2:
These canisters are bulky to store in your pack (comfortably). There are no=
 lash points on their smooth surfaces for obvious reasons. I saw one ultra-=
light hiker using his Garcia can as a backpack, made possible by drilling a=
 hole into each end, passing a rope through the holes and knotting each end=
 inside the can. You could do this with any bear can but you will sacrifice=
 some of the water integrity and scent protection in doing so. I personally=
 would never consider this if I were traversing Grizzly country like the CD=
T or North Cascades.


WEIGHT vs. COST:
I carried a Bearikade Expedition model canister in Yosemite last year and l=
oved it. I am told you can rent Garcia cans there too, but I opted for the =
Bearikade for two main reasons. (1) it is the lightest of all the bear cans=
 currently available, and (2) there were 2 of us out for 5 days; one 9 day =
Expedition can did the work of 2 Garcia cans at a fraction of the weight (3=
1 oz vs. 88 oz).

The Bearikade is a bear resistant container made of a lightweight composite=
 sandwich and is available in two sizes; the Weekender MKII, which at 650 c=
ubic inches (9x10 inches) will hold about 6 person days of food (2 people f=
or 3 days), and weighs 1 pound 15 ounces (31 oz) or the Expedition MKII whi=
ch at 900 cubic inches (9x14 inches) holds about 9 person days of food and =
weighs 2 pounds 5 ounces (37 oz).  See their site at http://wild-ideas.net/=
products.html . Bearikades are not cheap; the weekender is $195 and the Exp=
edition $245. Carbon fiber is expensive, but that's what makes it so light =
and durable. since it is a straight-sided cylinder, it packs easier and mak=
es a great camp seat or table as well.

The Garcia can is much cheaper ($78 @ REI), made of ABS polymer, and carrie=
s 6 man-days in a 8.8x12 inch package. There is also a carrying case availa=
ble ($18 REI) for this that allows it to be attached to your pack. The can =
weighs 2 lb 12 ounces (44 oz) without the case. That's 13 oz heavier than t=
he Bearikade of the same capacity but it saves you $9 per ounce over the mo=
re expensive Bearikade [ ($195 - $78)/13 oz ]. It's your call. you can see =
the Garcia can at REI's site: http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDispla=
y?storeId=3D8000&catalogId=3D40000008000&productId=3D4877&parent_category_r=
n=3D5760752).

Both are approved for use in Sequoia/Kings Canyon/Yosemite NPs and the Inyo=
 National Forest.


Wandering Bob