Today I mailed my resupply kits to Muir Ranch and Red’s. Here is what I learned so far and what at least I think works. This is only the second time I have used a canister, the first being in Denali. That Alaskan trip was not long enough to worry about cramming everything into a bear barrel. Now, however, I have to cram pack. I am packing a Bearikade Weekender. I have attached a stainless steel washer to my pack to open the set screws. This way I don’t have to worry about digging out a quarter I might lose. I have an orange stripe around the canister in case the bears do night bowling with the Bearikade.
I think once you are limited by a bear barrel, you have to plan your menu and line out the daily items in the same way you make a gear list. Discipline your food selection the same way you discipline your gear selection to save weight but in this case you have to save space. By listing everything you will eat each day, you are not likely to pack too many snacks and you will not pack too many meals. On the JMT, you are likely to eat at the resupply point so why pack a meal for that day when you will have a cheese burger at Red’s? Most report they bring too much food. Hiker boxes at Red’s, Muir Ranch are supposed to be bulging with those that brought too much food. Put your selections in writing and see if they stand up to scrutiny. When in doubt, leave it out.
Individual food selection is the key to packing a canister. Select the most compact food items. Choose tortillas over bagels and couscous over tortellinis. Air spaces don’t weigh much but they do take up space. Air space is the enemy of bear barrel packing.
This time out I used my Food Saver and vacuumed packed my granola and bulk vacuumed packed some items like dried apples and figs. I am bringing some extra small baggies to repack once on the trail. I found elastic bands helped keep individual bags organized when I had to put my stuffing meal with my gravy freezer bag. I followed one recommendation not to use an inner bag in the canister.
I taped a freezer bag to inside of the lid. I can slide in my tooth paste and other smellies into that space and use the gap between the lid and the contents for those items.
Here is yet another article on packing a canister:
Packing a Bear Canister
Regards,
Clark Fork in Western Montana “Where Seldom is Heard a Discouraging Word.”
Clark Fork
When I hiked the JMT last year I was consistently eating a lot more than the two guys I hiked with (although they often stole envious glances at my hot lunches as they sat there trying to make do with a granola bar.)