On the CT, How do most people deal with bears, mini-bears and food? I have read that a bear canister is overkill. Do people use bear-bags or just keep food in the tent with them? Where can I get the item? I live in Dallas, so the only thing they sell here locally to protect your food is a big gun and I am not too keen on that idea.
BirdogsID
When I hiked the CT I always hung my food and never had a bear problem. I saw some bear tracks one day and some scat here and there but never an actual sighting. I think a bear can is overkill for the CT. Never had a problem finding a good hang.
Big B
Bear food-problems reported on the CT are on the increase, especially in Segment 1 at/near Bear Creek. Small animals getting food also reported as troublesome. Knowing this, last year I used an UrSack and smell proof liner bag, hung well every night, except above timberline where I placed it a distance from me. Lighter weight than canister, not too huge of a hassle … worked fine for me.
On Track
Food protection is not for the hiker’s benefit - it is to protect the bears. The old saying “a fed bear is a dead bear” is true. If you lost all your food on the trail you would could easily walk to town before you starved. However, the bear is becoming habituated and will end up being put down.
I never mastered hanging food and always seemed to find the last bit up food after the food bag was hoisted for the night. I converted to an UrSack two years ago and find it much more convenient that hanging.
ringtail
I Read …watch videos and get as much info as I can previous to hike…although I have hiked over 20 years and done some major hikes into the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains and the Canyonlands of Utah, I still consider myself an amateur…something I read here yesterday disturbed me…another hikers flippant answer to someone who was asking about bears and food protection…the responder, flippantly, says he sleeps with his food!!! well I say good luck Chuck !!! Again, I am no pro but have come across my share of bears and read stories about those who did not take precautions …I say be " Bear Aware " only takes one…
Having said the above…I bought a bear container / canister, because I had read the rangers were rerouting thru hikers a long way around in a certain area…I don’t want to hike any extra mileage…but the bear canister was way to cumbersome in weight and it was difficult getting in and out of my pack…I now am selling it in exchange for a bear bag…11 ounces verses 2 pounds plus…I think because of the bulk of the canister you tend to load it with more food than you need. Still I say be bear aware…I have come within 2 foot of a Grizzly and by God’s Grace I tell this story…
I am 66 Years old and want to live to 67…I hike with hikers at least 20 - 40 years younger than I…I an slower than them…they allow me to head out earlier and they scramble on the rocks and cliffs, playing while I hike…because I am ahead of them …I am always talking…to the bears…letting them know I am coming and I do strike my walking sticks/ poles, again, I dont want to surprise them…last year I am doing just that…come around the corner to see a 500 pound black bear leaning on a rock…my heart pounding…I quietly raise my arms to make myself look bigger and talk a bit louder, start walking backwards, calling to those behind me … " I have a large Bear " their response !!! " We have one chasing us!!! " as they run towards me!! I say stop running…get closer together and arms up…the larger bear took off into the woods…we think the smaller bear was actually the cub …doing a bluff charge… BE BEAR AWARE and know what to do…carry bear spray
Previous year to that…we were walking trail…again, I am in front, round corner to see a large Grizzly a 100 feet in front of me…we stop…talk to the bear…arms up…backed up…again talking loudly…we wait about 30 minutes, think the Grizzly is gone…still talking and with bear spray in hand and finger on the trigger…we start walking…we were in a scree field with boulders 15 feet tall scattered about, one right at the side of the trail with a large berry bush growing against it…as we approach the boulder, passing by…I glance to see 2 feet to my left is the Grizzly…did not panic…but walked " Briskly " for about 200 yards…and stopped…asking my hiking partners…" do you believe that " we were so close he could have reached out and had us rather than berries for lunch. I am convinced, the non panic attitude and the chatter is what made him comfortable…or not surprised anyhow…Be BEAR AWARE… Hang your bags…and do not keep food with you…I have more personal bear stories but will close by saying…although I think I was calm…I now carry extra underwear
Onefootin
I’ve always used a bear bag on any overnight trip in the mountains of Colorado, but what do hikers typically do in the sections of the CT (such as 23 and 24) when the trail remains above treeline? I would love some advice.
wtrimble
I have read that folks will use an OPsack and a bear bag and tie it off somewhere. I would think that you could tie it off to a boulder and throw it off a cliff and it would be safe. What I am going to do (subject to change of course) is use my Ursack and tie it to a boulder about 100-150 yards forward on the trail so I can grab it and go after I am packed up and rolling in the morning. I’ll stop to eat breakfast in a little while. I ended up buying the Ursack white, that is supposed to be chewproof and bulletproof and hopefully idiot-proof.
Birdog