So Long, Bear Bag!

“you are correct in the material analysis. Stalker had the single wall yellow. I just ordered the new green...woven with fiberglass...5.8oz

here is the Ursack”

“lets try the linkagain”

“that one works...whew...that was hard.”

“Nope, it doesn't work either. Is this where you want to go?

Link”

“I'm wondering whether anybody has experience with the Ursack. Recommend it or not and why?”

“Artex --

That is the exact canister that I rented in the ADK from The Mountaineer in Keene Valley. The rental was $10.


Anyhoo. 2 notes.

1) The guy said to be sure to anchor it under a stump, wedge it between rocks or otherwise secure it. The theory was that you wouldn't want to just toss it down somewhere and have a bear play soccer with it. You could wake up in the morning with your food intact . . .just missing!!

2) I carry a 3700 c.u. Mountainsmith.

It was really problematic getting the Garcia into the pack. I ended up carry my garbage bag full of clothes bungeed to the outside of my pack hoping to hell it didn't rain.

Garcia sells a pouch with web straps that you can put the canister in, and then tie the pouuch to your pack.

I decided that that is what I will do next time.

Just be sure to take the canister OUT of the pouch before you set it out for the night. Otherwise the bear and pick it up by the pouchh/straps and carry it away. Again . . .may not be able to get at the food, but neither would you!”

“I wouldn't anything other than the cannister. I have never needed to use one yet, but bought one (YO BEAR!!!). I heard that one of the reasons it is required in certain areas is because the bears are condintion to know that they can't get in one, so they leave'em alone. Any truth to that? I've seen pictures of those things just demo'ed. Wouldn't trust anything other than what the USFS requires. I trust'em on this point.”

“Pennsy Hiker sits on his, so the bear would have to go through Pennsy to get the Bearikade. Bears don't mess with Pennsy!”

“I carry a bearikade when I think it's needed. Otherwise, I just use a waterproof bag and hang it.

The bearikade fits inside both my packs without any problem. I haven't had any trouble finding a place to put the cannister at night...yet. Usually there's a hole, pile of stumps/rocks, or something else nearby to place the cannister.

I'd really hate to wake up and wonder where the he$$ my food was in the morning.”

“The Garcia fits into the bottom pouch of my [old!] REI pack like they were made for each other. Re: the Ursack, I thought I heard that some/all of the NP's had rejected it as an approved bearproof container. I think the reason was that it was too easy to not secure it properly, whereas the canisters are pretty much idiotproof.”

“Good idea I just noticed from the pics. I need to put some reflective tape on mine in case problems happen at night.

Makes fer a good table when needed and chair, as mentioned above.....”

“Reflective tape!

good idea.


I placed mine in the ADK this year, then wanted something out of it, and couldn't spot it again! (i finally tracked my footprints back to it).

The stupid thing about Marcy Dam last November was that it was SO populated that you couldn't possibly have put your food at the correct distance from your tentsite, without then putting it in the middle of someone elses. Especially at 10:00pm in the dark.”

“I avoid Marcy Dam at all costs. Late arrival campsites can be had on the Indian Pass Trail if you go in by Adirondak Loj.”

“is in the Sierra's. correct on tying it correctly, do it right, or don't use it.

I gennerally don't go to bear country, so ifn I do, I'll rent one.

Ursak is now trying to get the NFS to try out the NEW version, which is what I purchased, and get their blessings. It only weighs 5.8oz...not too shabby!”

“some people just paint their cannister with a day-glo color.

geo in answer to your question I have and use an ursack major... I used it all last year on several trips and it was never bothered that I can tell. It easily handles a 5 day food supply for two people and tying it to a tree and retreival are just a matter of knot tying. Frankly while having it around wasnt strictly needed I slept a whole lot better not having to wonder what that noise over by my food bag was. When I get rich again I will be replacing it with a smaller bag made from the new material as I just dont need that much storage capacity.

ursack does have a tough fight ahead of them to get the sack approved for the west coast parks as the nps has a zero tolerance for failures. Perhaps they should test them up in the daks where the bears are getting aggressive. several hours of video showing the dak bears failling might be enough to get them going again :o”

“Msilver bought some Kevlar cord to hang his Ursack in trees. Supposedly, bears can't chew through it.”

“Give me a bear and a bag. I will put my money on the bear! Cliffin it or crevass it is MUCH better than a tree. I have a bearakaid? Yo bear! Ya can float it!”

“I've been using my ursack to store my .45 long colt pistol and spare ammo, pepper spray, bear bells, and flashlight.

I place all of my food and empty sardine cans in a stuff sack, put this in front of my tent. Tie the bear bell to the bag. Spray a little pepper around the area, and go to sleep. When the bear grabs the bait the bell wakes me, I grab the flashlight and pistol and "another one bites the dust".

You should see my collection of bear rugs.

Keep an eye out next week when I'll tell ya a really easy way to club baby seals. Before you know it, you'll be having a blast and earning some extra cash. To get in some practice before next weeks lesson go here.

Happy Hiking, Happy Hunting”

“Here's another fun place to get some practice”