Slackpackin'

“What do you do with your packs when you are away?

Im only hiking about a mile to a mile and a half into out campsite on Friday night. We are setting camp and staying for 2 days. We plan on hiing farther down the trail to a waterfall, and of course since campsite will be set - we won't have anything but a hip pack.

What should I do with the packs? Hang them with the food while Im gone? Leave them in the tent?

Any suggestions?”

“And for those of you who don't know already, I suck at typing.”

“I place my food "in my bear canister" 30 to 50 feet from my camp. I make sure there is no food or smelly things in my pack. And store it in the tent vestible. That way it is under wraps. And should a bear rip it up. It has not totally destroyed my shelter. Just the vestible fly area. Hopefully....”

“Do not, I repeat, do not leave any food in your pack. Hang the food in a tree, and your pack in a separate, distant tree. I don't know where you're packin' but all manner of critters have the ability to ransack your pack/tent looking for food.”

“Is there a chance others will encounter your camp while you are away?

If so, set up camp out of sight of the main trail and throw a camo fly over your tent. You can buy camo cloth at any fabric store or walmart for a couple of bucks a yard.”

“Yeah, and they'll chew it up to get to it.”

“We are getting to this trail early because it may get somewhat crowded - (there is a reason we picked this trail athough we may run into others on it).

Have you guys had problems with theft?”

“Not in 40 years of backpacking.”

“I have never had anything stolen or encountered anyone who has. Just worry about the animals.”

“Depends on where you are going. I've talked with people on Isle Royale that have been cleaned out of food and fuel when they were day hiking.”

“I don't like to leave my pack where any human or other creature might find it. Even if I just want to take a real quick side trip, I'll take it along.

Also, what if something should happen (injury, bad weather) and you are separated from your means of survival?”

“Saltlick, I do this all the time. I hardly ever thru hike. I've never had a problem with people stealing. My theory is if you camp far enough into the forest only really brave, desperate people are going to steal your stuff. If they're willing to carry my stuff 2 or 3 miles out of the forest and aren't afraid they're going to run into me on the trail they're pretty brave.......and very stupid.

I take a small daypack with me when I'm away from camp. I keep my food and essentials with me.”

“I'm with Violin--I pack real light in the first place and then just keep it with me. I make sure each pack is self sufficient in case we get separated.”

“I usually set my empty pack into my pack cover and put it under the vestibule. No theft problems so far.

I think if thieves are too lazy to work for what they want, they are probably too lazy to go hiking. I'm more concerned about losing stuff from my vehicle”

“Even if you thought you stode your items safley from lions, tigers, and bears, you may have forgoten the imfamous minnie bear, AKA any small rodent, most commenly chip-munks, they will terorize your gear when a real bear can't and they leave just as big of a mess for you to clean.”

“Ice Tea is right about that! Those little bastards have cleaned me out like no bear ever could. They may look cute, but when you get right down to it they are rats with bushy tails...Crows, they'll tear open those hard plastic egg containers, and scarf down a dozen in seconds flat. People, they'll take your brand new stove, and take a picture of your toothbrushes up their A$$, with your camera, and leave it behind...lol. I think that last one is an urban legend, I keep hearing varios versions.”

“Oh man, WL, that is RUDE!”

“If your far enough out than your basic Bubba hiker will never go very far. Only REAL hikers govery far. You can trust them IMO.
The only time I've been a victom of theft was when my truck got broke into at Hogpin Gap on the AT in Georgia.

I' would still stash your stuff if you plan to be gone for any length of time. Especially valuables.”