Got my Ursack

“After reading 50 posts on this particular thread, I'm surprised to find no reference to the fact that, even when a bear DOES get ahold of the ursack, even if it CAN'T get to the items/food inside, it's got a jaw like a vise, and will C-R-U-S-H any and everything IN it! I'm not fond of the idea that a bear couldn't get away with my food, but he mashed, broke, or pierced everything in it while trying... I think I'm gonna hike with walkindude. We can put our cans on our cans and consider various recipes for freeze-dried powders, oozes, and all kinds of crumbly goodies.

I don't LIKE sticking with my bear can, but if I'm gonna have something that sticks (to my ribs, that is)with ME, I'll carry it. And until I decide to pop for the Bearikade - at $250, no less - I'll have to shave weight elsewhere.”

“"What's for dinner?"

"Oatmeal beef stew with dehydrated eggs and soap again?”

“I've been doing mostly freeze dried, so would it really make any difference if a bear did CRUSH the stuff that's already crumbled?”

“I figure the cannister weighs about 1 1/2 pounds more than a ursack but at least my food doesn't get crushed (even in my pack) and can sleep better at night knowing my food is safe at night from bears & other pests. Only drawback is that if a bear does get a hold of it, he plays soccer with it. No telling where it may wind up. But then again, a food bag can disapear as well.”

“wsexon - Yes, the bear population in the San Gabriels and San Bernardinos has grown very large in recent years.
Bear cannisters are not required, but highly recommended by the Forest Service. Some bears in the San Gabriels are attacking unattended backpacks because they know there is food inside part of the time. Bear bags only work when you hang your food. The bear cannister works 24/7.

The beauty of bear cannisters is that they totally discourage the bears.

I bemoaned the idea of 2.7 lbs. for the cannister originally. Then I went on patrol with someone who had one and all three of us put our smellables in it for the night. I bought one on the way home at the ranger station. I used it for the rest of the summer and the llama trip. I like them now. Mine was $55 (on sale plus Forest Service Volunteer discount) at the Mill Creek Ranger Station.

Suggestion: If you can, borrow a cannister from a friend and try it for a weekend.”

“I was considering the Ursack for our JMT trek this summer ...
But after reading the article in BP Magazine
I think I'll pass.
It only took the 2nd Griz 3 minutes to rip open the bag. The article says they stacked the deck against the bag, by using bears that were habituated to stealing food from humans.
Stacked the deck ...I don't think so, those are exactly the kind of bears I'm trying to protect my food from!”

“Looks like a cannister is the only real choice in bare country, but I wonder if I could beat the 2 3/4 lb. weight and $78 price by being a little creative.

I'm thinkin of going to Home Depot and a couple hardware stores to see if I can find a piece of pipe made of lightweight, threaded hard plastic. Maybe it would seal with screw-on stoppers at each end. At least, this is the pic I have in my haid.”

“Good luck Steve. I got my Cannister from Jerbear. Traded him a Gore-Tex bivy for it.
The way I see it, If it keeps the bears outta your food, It's worth the price & weight.”

“Wind Walker, There haven't been any Grizz in California for about 150 years. The Ursac would work fine for the Black Bears that you would encounter. Just tie it and put a few pans on top so you'll wake up. Black bears will run if you try to scare them off. There like cows. Don't let these guys scare you with bear stories.”

“I know we don't have the Griz anymore...if I remember right the last one was killed near Giant Forest in 1928.
I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night to scare Black Bears off. I did an all night vigil scaring the bears off our food at Kearsarge lakes, not a lot of fun. The Boy Scout troop that camped just below us lost their battle and went home the next day.
I have never lost food to a bear so far ... but I mostly hike where the bears are still hunted and have a real fear of humans. I was refering to bears that were habituated to stealing food from humans, whether they be Griz or Black Bears they both know the tricks of their trade.
If it only takes a griz 3 min....how long would it take a blackie 10 min, 15 min? I own two Garcia canisters and I guess we will use those. I don't want to worry about it.

I did lose some food to a persistent ringtail once.”

“ThinAir-
Not all Black Bears will run away. Here in New Jersey there hasn't been a bear hunt in quite some time. They think of us as a food source. They've even broken into homes and cars to get food.

A friend of mine went camping in the Delaware Water Gap (NJ) and brought along some steaks for the first night (went with a butcher's son). They awoke to something going after their food bag. They were yelling at and throwing rocks at a bear in the tree and he only occasionally stopped what he was doing to glance back at the silly humans. Fortunately, he couldn't reach the bag and left after awhile.”