People who have backpacked in CAN!

“Anyone know the policy on bringing your own dehyrated food across borders into CAN from the U.S.? OK as long as it is not fresh?

I appreciate any insight.

Thanks.”

“im pretty sure its ok”

“Now what kind of definitive answer is that?”

“you said "insight"

heres more definitive

http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4161/rc4161-e.html#P018”

“My experience, which is not extensive any more, is that what is and is not permitted often depends on who you get at the border crossing. So from my understanding, a definitive answer does not exist. Especially when dealing with a government.”

“maybe”

“Rosey, you planning to drive the AlCan highway to Alaska?

Check into a ferry from Seattle to Juneau, then to Seward or Valdez......(See the inside passage by ferry on the way up!)”

“I went to Canada for a bping trip the 1st week of this month. I had no problems taking any dehydrated food or foil packs of tuna/salmon, etc with me. I just had my food in a stuff stuff packed in my pack. Then everything went into a large duffle.

The problem isn't so much what you take into Canada it is what you bring back even if you made it in the US”

“Crash bang is correct,it all depends who you get at the border.I`ve gone camping in the States with a truck camper,they could of cared less what I had.

Then I`ve had to throw away a apple because it couldn`t cross into the States from Canada,which was strange because the apple was imported from Washington ?????

I really can`t see it being a problem,I guess the best thing to do is phone Canada Customs

here`s their website
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/faq/menu-e.html

hope that helps..”

“Bribe um, Where's the fence?”

“Then I`ve had to throw away a apple because it couldn`t cross into the States from Canada,which was strange because the apple was imported from Washington ?????

classic!! Our tax dollars at work keeping us safe. Who knows what that apple was exposed to while over there!

Similarly, when i used to work for a major US meat processor - we were not permitted to import cattle from Canada for slaughter in the US due to fear of bringing in beef tainted with Mad Cow disease. But Canadian processors could slaughter those very same cattle in Canada and sell boxed beef in the US.

???? 'scuse me?
last edited: 8/28/07 9:43:14 AM”

“Right on. You all have been very helpful.

Super, not this time around. Driving from Calgary to Banff and back. That's it. Some day I'll drive the whole thing...”

“I cross the border regularly. One cannot bring beef into the US, but if it is US beef in its US packaging they will let you through.

My advice is to bring everything in its original packaging and if you need to re-package, do it once you're in the country.

Works for me.

Good luck,

Doug”

“My only thing is that I am dehyrating some of my meals, so will they question that?

Should I just not declare it?

It could really cramp my style if they nab all of my dehyrated chicken...”

“Should I just not declare it?

That technique is really a crap shoot. More than likely it would not be best approach to take. If they decided to search the pack, you would be risk being considered smuggling contraband. Depending on whether the officer "got any" recently they could do everything from shrug it off and say have a good time, to keep you tied up for several hours sitting on a folding chair in a dingy office, to retaining you on suspicion of smuggling. Not all of these folks have a sense of humor, and many that do are rather warped.

We used to cross the border a lot many years ago. My folks got to know if the officer was from customs, or immigration. The customs officer would check for ticks on the wool blankets just to make sure we were not smuggling anything and not even ask if we were all American citizens. The Immigration people would be more concerned about whether the last name matched the declared ethnic history and overlook the packages clearly sitting in the trunk of the car.

One of my college friends ripped of a Queens Highway road sign and hid it under the spare tie in the back. Coming back into the states the officers missed the sign because they were so busy trying to decide if the hockey skates in the back (made in Canada of course) were new and so should be charged duty or used and so came under personal property.

If you have time, contact the customs people by e-mail ask them, if they say you can bring it in, carry the answer they give you in writing to the border. Or, arrange a food drop and mail your home dried chicken to the drop under the guise of used clothing. Most of all... have a good time and keep your sense of humor.”

“Is it tainted with Mad Chicken disease?


I've backpacked twice in Canada - both times I flew, once to Calgary, the other through Vancouver up to Whitehorse. The only trouble I had was that I had some chemical hand warmers in my ski bag that the guys in Whitehorse found. I don't remember them (US or Canadian officials) saying anything about food. Maybe they asked about fresh fruit or something, but it wasn't anything that was part of my backpacking food.”

“Hmmm. I will take all under advisement. Hopefully I won't get some powerhungry guard looking to score some brownie point with his supervisors by confiscating my dehyrated chicken.

Incientally, Germ, anyone else up that way, what's the mozzy sitch?”

“Your dehydrated foods will not be a problem.... last I heard even fresh meats are acceptable in 'personal quantities' (less than 5lbs per person I think). Personally I would avoid fresh foods of any kind just to be safe

However as Ewker mentioned, you have to careful about what you take back into the USA. No beef in any form.... not even beef in cup-a-soup is allowed. This also applies to other ruminant animals ie lamb, deer, buffalo, goats etc. Having said that, if the beef product is still sealed in it's original 'inspected' US packaging, you might be alright. I would just avoid it to save potential delays

Ya... the apple thing. I can take a BC apple into Washington if it's clearly tagged as grown in BC, along with other BC fruit. If it is not grown in BC, such as a mango for example, I cannot. A Washington apple is an imported fruit in BC so I can't take it into the USA.... go figure !?!”

“When we flew in and out of Vancouver, B.C. to backpack with Hodge, we declared our backpacking food. When they asked us what kind of food we had, we said dehydrated and freeze dried backpacking food. They didn't even flinch and let us through.

I think the bigger problem would be not declaring that you have the food and then be the unlucky person they decide to randomly search.”

“So I can't take my goat-flavored cup-o-soup across the border????”

“Heh. Excellent. Well, looks as though I will just declare my dehydrated food. I shouldn't think it would be a problem.

Thanks for all of the advice, folks.”

“So where exactly are you heading Rosey.... any set plan ??”

“Indeed, Hodgeman! Doing a (mostly) loop up Mozzy Creek to Fish Lakes, up Pipstone over to Devon Lakes and out Dolomite. Taking our time over six days to explore a bit. We're all very stoked.

Any suggestions?”

“Haven't personally been into the area, but it supposed to be quite nice.... lots of open terrain.

I have info on it in a book or two. I was just looking it over in 'Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies'. I'm pretty sure I had this one on my list at some point. Better make an effort to get in there for a look sometime.

I'm sure you've probably done your research. Sorry I can't give first-hand info

When are you coming up ?
last edited: 9/01/07 8:31:15 AM”

“We just finished six weeks' hiking in the Canadian Rockies. I never even thought about declaring our food. We drove it to Waterton and mailed food drops from there to avoid postal/customs delays. At the border when they asked "Anything to declare?" I assumed they meant alcohol or tobacco (taxables) or fresh fruit (possibly infested with bugs) - I never even considered that they might mean the five boxes of food we had in the back. So we said No and they waved us on through.”

“I've just been across the border on two occasions and there was no problem - once again everything was in its original, US, packaging.

I have taken to driving to Dick's in Plattsburg to buy my single serving packages that are hard to find in Canada and a pain (delay) to mail order.

I've always declared everything and had no problem.”