Hey yall, I am wondering if anyone has any advice about what to do when camping above the tree line without a bear canister on the CT. i have a bear bag and bear rope for when in the wooded areas but wanted some advice about what to do in the other areas. thanks!
CaveMan
I’m very meticulous about bear bagging here on the east coast but from what I’ve read, people don’t worry so much about bears in Colorado. Many seem to have slept with their food and rarely report seeing a bear on a 30 day thru-hike (I’ve seen 6 in a weekend in NJ).
My plan is to still bear bag on the CT under tree line.
Above tree line, I plan to use my OPSAKs very carefully… put all your food in these expensive odorproof bags (not ALOKSAK but OPSAK), making sure nothing gets on the outside of these bags.
I suspect bears might still be able to smell something but the less they smell, the less determined they are to get it (or so I’m guessing).
ben
They work; I’ve had bears in Yosemite Natl Park walk right past two of them (at night) without disturbing them. YNP bears know what food looks like, even if they can’t smell it, so if they can SEE food inside, it will be a different story.
They are also somewhat delicate. They cut easily so be careful with sharp corners - round them off before you store.
Wandering Bob
im doing a zero day at mount princeton right now. im 12 days on the trail and have used my food as my pillow every night. i was a little worried the first 2 nights, but i met 2 trail angels in segment three, they had thru hiked multiple times and never hung food or used a cannister. they also said there hasnt been a grizzly spotted in co in decades, and that black bears are scared silly of humans bc they are hunted.
Steve P
Ditto Steve P. I thrued the CT and have since probably spent another 6 weeks in the San Juans. Every night, my food bag slept right next to me without incident. I’ll probably be eaten on the next trip for flaunting my good fortune, buy I think the odds of a snicker bar / black bear confrontation are pretty low. And as to your specific question, I can’t imagine why bears would be roaming around above treeline at night. I would think the odds of runnning into trouble up there are reeeally low!
Matt
Not a lot for bears to eat above timberline. They do not spend much time that high. Mini-bears, aka marmots, are a problem above timberline.
food