Alright then, thanks to Eric I have a bear can to play with. It takes up my whole P-2 pack! Tell me I don’t have to buy a new pack just to hike the JMT.
How do people carry one of these things? Inside? Then where does gear go? How do you pack your pack?
Outside?
LiteShoe
I just got a P-2 and am using a Bear Vault for the JMT this summer. In playing around with my gear, my pack, too was completely filled with the canister. I decided to strap the canister OUTSIDE the pack with my sleeping bag and clothes inside during the day. They’re much lighter than my food and the canister will be waterproof. I’ll transfer the food to the canister before setting up camp for the evening. At least that’s what the plan is so far. Other suggestions are appreciated.
Just Sit
Strapping the can to the outside will work, as long as you have it empty or with lighter things in it (as Just Sit suggested). The downside is that you will have to unpack and repack the can each day, but if you try to strap it to the outside full of food it will be too much weight too far away from your body to carry comfortably. Another option is to try to pack other items around it on the inside, and strap other gear on the outside of your pack, but it sounds like you’ve already tried this and that it didn’t work for you. When I last hiked the JMT I carried a larger pack and was able to fit my can sideways in my sleeping compartment. My husband carried the larger Bearikade which did NOT fit, and he was constantly experimenting with different ways to carry it. If you do end up strapping the Bearikade on the outside, be careful not to scrape it when you set it down, especially on granite. Although I’m sure the scratches we now have on the outside of our carbon fiber can are merely cosmetic, they are nonetheless disconcerting.
Kanga
By the way, I strapped it to the bottom of the pack. One advantage of this set up is that I won’t need stuff sacks for my bag or clothes (another thing to get rid of). I am concerned, however, about damage to the canister each time I set my pack down. I know it’ll get all scratched up. I’m worried about structural damage.
Just Sit
I think this is more of an issue with a carbon fiber can like the Bearikade than with the Bear Vault. I would be really surprised if the Bear Vault material was compromised by setting it down on a granite rock. I am more concerned about the Bearikade, because I worry that if too much of the carbon fiber is scratched away by setting it down on granite, the structural integrity might be compromised. Probably just me worrying, but it might be worth an e-mail to Wild Ideas, the makers of Bearikade if you also have concerns and don’t think the scratches can be avoided.
Kanga
All I can say is that I’m glad this thread came along. I’m starting to plan a JMT hike this summer and was thinking about replacing my Mountainsmith Specter (holds 5400 cu in; weighs roughly 4-1/4 lb) with a P-2 to get a pound of weight off my back. Sounds like I should reconsider – I know the Specter will hold a Bearikade plus my other gear without major strain (I carried one about 90 miles last summer on the Tahoe Rim Trail).
Snowbird
Has anyone tried using an external frame and strapping it to the top of the frame??
Two Step
You could easily strap the bear can to the top of an external frame pack, but you probably wouldn’t want that much weight up high if the can was full.
Kanga
Thanks for the responses. I agree that a full can strapped to the top would likely not work. Thought I might move the heavy food to the pack during the day and store it in the bear can at night. How important is it to keep your food in the can during the day when your’re hiking?:pimp
Two Step
the most important thing is to keep your food safe when it’s not on your back. a bear isn’t going to mug you in broad daylight (but they are opportunists, so don’t leave your pack alone for a minute). as long as you transfer the food to the canister as soon as you stop for the day (or when you take that afternoon nap), there should be no problem.
tarbubble
I met a guy on my 2001 AT thru hike that was mugged by a bear in New Jersey. The bear knocked him off the log he was sitting on and took his gorp. They started hunting bears this year in Jersey to thin the population. Talk about the death penality for a simple mugging. :lol Thanks for the insights.
Two Step
thanks, two step. i also completely forgot that last year a bear was also put down in the San Gabriel mountains for “mugging” a backpacker (the human wasn’t hurt, but the bear was executed - it charged the game warden who came to round it up). it’s got to be pretty darned rare for that sort of thing to happen, so i’m still going to follow my own advice. but thanks for the info and for reminding me of something i shouldn’t have forgotten.
tarbubble
I have a Garcia bear can with the optional nylon case which I strp to the bottom of my external frame pack. It lowers the center of gravity of the pack. I had to purchase additonal nylon strpping material with plastic quick release snaps.
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