In more and more areas, bear canisters are becoming a requirement. The problem is, they're bulky and heavy. Whenever possible I prefer the PCT method for hanging my food overnight because I need to carry very little gear for it and it's a relatively easy and reliable technique. Or is it?
I've witnessed first hand and heard numerous stories about bears getting smarter and figuring out that if they mess with the single line attached to the tree, the food hanging above them will likely fall down. Game over! Bear wires (where available) offer a nice alternative, but I've seen mice and other rodents climb down the wires and chew right through food bags, causing all sorts of damage.Is the PCT bear bag hanging method becoming less and less effective at protecting food or are there things we can do to improve this technique and make it less vulnerable to bears and rodents?
For example; would using a super-thin, but strong, bear bagging line like Aircore 1 Spectra Cord or Aircore 2 be the solution? In other words, a line so thin that it would be too hard for rodents to maintain a grip on it and shimmy down. Do I need to start using some sort of rodent stopper on my line just above the food bag? Would that same super-thin line make it harder for bears to mess with the free hanging line?
What has your experience been with the PCT bear bag hanging method? Have you come up with any improvements, hacks, or modifications to deal with the issues mentioned above? If so, please leave a comment. I'd like to know if it's just me or if we are all struggling with the same issues.
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Bear Bags: Are The Bears Getting Smarter?
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16 comments:
The counterbalance method has never let me down. People commonly complain that it is complicated but I don't think it's bad once you get used to it. I use my hiking pole to push the bag up and pull it down.
One thing that makes the counterbalance method easier is sewing a small loop on the bottom of the food bag that you can hook your hiking pole into in order to easily pull it down.
I normally use the PCT method with Kelty Triptease cord. Very thin and light like Spectra cord but has a reflector strip in it which makes it very easy to fine the bear bag at night.
I've never had a problem with it (I'm on the east coast so it is black bears only).
Robin
Geekpacker, I'm not as familiar with the counterbalance method, but I'm intrigued. Can you explain it in a little more detail or point me to a good resource to read more about it? I'm just about to Google it to see what I can find :)
Robin, I like Kelty Triptease a lot too for all the reasons you gave, but it can be very abrasive on the bark of trees, so I had stopped using it. Luckily I've never had to try and locate a bear bag at night, nor do I want to in case I run into the wrong kind of camp buddy!
Here's a good diagram of the idea:
http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/training/bearbag.shtml
The key is that there is no diagonal rope for a smart bear to maul.
The downside is that there is some trial and error when it comes to cord length. I can usually estimate it in one try at this point, but every once in a while it can take two tries. Usually while it's raining :-)
I got tired of wasting time looking for suitable trees and tossing lines. Switched to an Ursack. Just tie it to a tree away from camp. Done.
Heavier than a PCT bear bag kit, but time has value in extra miles, nicer camp sites, etc.
Thanks Arkansas, I hear you. The PCT method can be a pain when time is short or there just aren't any suitable trees nearby, which happens frequently. Even with the Ursack, how do you tie it to a tree to be effective. especially if you can't find a suitable tree? I'm not familiar with how to use the Ursack.
I use Kelty Triptease for the same reasons Robin mentioned, yeah I sometimes get up during the night and have a snack. So far so good on not running into scary things in the dark :D
I use the PTC method when I can find a suitable limb, but living in the southeast using the PCT or not isn't a big deal...so far.
Brian- if Triptease can be very abrasive on tree bark wouldn't a super thin line cause more abrasion? Seems to me it would cut into the tree limb easier.
JERMM, it's the material used for the outer sheath of Triptease that makes it so abrasive, almost like a wire saw - it's not the diameter of the cord.
Regular Spectra cord (the stuff inside Triptease) is extremely slick and shiny so it doesn't bite into the tree even at thinner diameters. It feels like a polished finish and glides instead of cutting. Plus a lot of the Spectra cords I have used are actually a flat weave, so even though it is thin, it fattens out slightly when weight is applied.
it's so much harder to explain than it is to show in person :-)
You really get up at night to snack? Wow!
Brian- thanks for the explanation. I'll look into the Aircore options.
I only get up during the night when I'm cold, extra calories for body fuel.
Dyneema or Spectra line without a polyester sheath is quite slick... so slick that many knots don't hold well. Examples of Dyneema line include Samson's Amsteel Blue or Samson's thinner Zing-It or Lash-It. Redden Marine has good prices on Samson rope. Arborist places often have "slick" rope:
http://www.wesspur.com/throw-line/zing-it-throw-line.html
I use Kelty Triptease for the same reasons Robin mentioned, yeah I sometimes get up during the night and have a snack. So far so good on not running into scary things in the dark :D
I use the PTC method when I can find a suitable limb, but living in the southeast using the PCT or not isn't a big deal...so far.
Brian- if Triptease can be very abrasive on tree bark wouldn't a super thin line cause more abrasion? Seems to me it would cut into the tree limb easier.
Here's a good diagram of the idea:
http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/training/bearbag.shtml
The key is that there is no diagonal rope for a smart bear to maul.
The downside is that there is some trial and error when it comes to cord length. I can usually estimate it in one try at this point, but every once in a while it can take two tries. Usually while it's raining :-)
I normally use the PCT method with Kelty Triptease cord. Very thin and light like Spectra cord but has a reflector strip in it which makes it very easy to fine the bear bag at night.
I've never had a problem with it (I'm on the east coast so it is black bears only).
Robin
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The key to hanging is to not sleep where bears are habituated to finding food. "How can you know that?" you say. On the PCT, these areas are known. Just search for it. (The biggest mistake is camping in Vidette Meadows.) Other tips: Avoid established campgrounds at lower elevations.
Also consider rock hangs: Find a rock face that allows the food to be placed where a bear can not access it (from any angle). The supporting line can go in to a crack. A suitable rock face is more rare than a good tree.
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