I’ve read that all “smellables” need to go in the bear can and that this encompases food, garbage, and toiletries. What I’m unsure of is whether my cooking pot or my water bottle (used for gatorade/hot chocolate) also count as “smellables” and need to be stashed in the bear can.
I have no idea how I’d fit that stuff in the bear can, but if not in the bear can is there anything special I should do with them at night?
Clean thoroughly/hang/etc?
Thanks!
-Eric
Bear can newbie
There is no way to put your cooking pot or water bottle in a bear can. After putting all our food, toiletries and garbage in the bear canister, we hang the backpacks. That keeps the little critters from nibbling them for salt and might help for bears. We always put the clothes we wore when cooking and eating in the backpack before hanging it.
For tips on how to pack your canisiter, read The Care and Feeding of Your Bear Canister by Tom Reynolds. You can download that document from this pcta webpage: http://www.pcta.org/planning/before_trip/health/bears.asp
There are great little tips the make a big difference: like not using ziplock bags, but instead using bags with twist ties and then putting the twist tie at the top of the bag so you can then squish the bag into any shape and fill little pockets around bulkier foods.
Have a great time on the JMT.
Turtle Walking
The rangers will generally instruct you to leave your pack open and unzipped so that bears can sniff it and confirm that there is no food inside. Pots can also be left out open and empty so that the bears can sniff them and move on. However, I generally just pack all my food, garbage, etc., in the bear can, leave the bear can a good distance from my tent and then take the pack in the tent with me.
Even when I leave my pack out, I will usually take my Platypus (which I use in lieu of a canteen) with me because I’ve had them puntured before. I’ve also seen a bear claw through a Nalgene bottle, so the problem isn’t limited to the more fragile water carriers. I think bears have sensitive noses and can distinguish between the scent of food or gatorade residue and actual food, but if the scented water bottle is left out, they still might play with it a bit before moving on.
Kanga