When you’re setting up your campsite, one of the first things you’ll want to do is hang a bear bag to protect your food and campsite from bears and other wild animals. Fill a waterproof nylon sack with your food, trash, and heavily scented items such as sunscreen, bug spray, or toothpaste. Start hanging your bag early in the day so you have plenty of light and plenty of time for re-dos. If you don’t have much to hang, the Pacific Crest Trail or PCT method works best. If you have a lot of food, the Counterbalance method is best because it uses two bags.
EditSteps
EditHanging a Single Bag with the PCT Method
- Choose a spot to hang your bag. Aim for something at least away from your sleeping and cooking area. Your setup should be in the form of a triangle, with both the bear bag and cooking area downwind from your tent so the wind doesn’t blow the scent of food towards your campground.[1]
- If you’re in an area with a high grizzly bear population, aim for a spot at least away from your campsite.
- Find a tree with a strong trunk and a high branch. This method requires a higher branch because the rope isn’t secured to the tree, so the bag will drop a bit when you release it. The branch should be at least from the ground. Make sure the branch extends at least away from the base of the tree. [2]
- This method is more bear-safe than tying the rope to the tree. Because the bag hangs from the tree, bears can’t slash at your rope and drop your bag.
- Pine forests are great for this method because there are a lot of large trees with overhanging branches.
- Throw your rope over the branch. Tie a rock to a length of nylon cord to weight your rope. Wrap the cord around it tightly several times before knotting to make sure it’s secure. Carefully toss the end of the rope tied to the rock over the branch, and let the weight of the rock pull the rope down. Untie the rock and hold onto both ends of the rope.[3]
- Instead of a rock, you can also use a small bag or old sock filled with gravel as a weight.
- Attach your bear bag to the rope. Attach a carabiner onto one end of the rope, and then clip the carabiner to your bear bag. Feed the loose end of the rope through the carabiner. Pull on the loose end of the rope to raise your bag up to the tree branch.[4]
- Make a toggle. Find a small stick, and tie it onto the rope as high as you can using a clove hitch knot. When you let go, the stick will jam in the carabiner, anchoring the bag in place. [5]
- When the bag is hung correctly, it should hang at least from the ground and away from the trunk of the tree.
- Place any items you may need to use regularly like toiletries in a small bag clipped to the toggle for easy access.
EditHanging Two Bags with the Counterbalance Method
- Find a tree with a live branch. Make sure the branch is at least off the ground,and extends at least away from the tree. You want a branch that’s at least in diameter at the spot where you’re going to place the rope.[6]
- Check below the branch for other branches that could support a bear’s weight.
- Toss your rope over the branch. Use enough rope to go over the branch and hang over the other side. Pull on the short end until both ends are near the ground. [7]
- Attach the first bag. Split your bear bag items into two bags, and tie one end of the rope to one of your bags. If your bag has a strap, loop, or drawstring, attach a carabiner to the bag and tie the rope to the carabiner. Pull on the loose end of the rope to raise the bag as high as it will go.
- Make sure the weight distribution is equal between the bags so they will counterbalance each other effectively.
- Attach the second bag. Ask a friend to hold the rope in place so the first bag stays in the air. Tie the second bag onto the other side of the rope. Attach the bag as high on the rope as you can reach. [8]
- Use the extra rope to create a loop that you can use as a handle to retrieve your bags later on with a long stick.
- Let go of both ends of the rope. The weight of the second bag will cause the first bag to drop and will pull the second bag off the ground. The second bag should be nearly at a level height with the first bag.
- Push the second bag out of reach. Using a long stick or hiking pole, push on the bottom of the second bag to raise it higher in the air. This will lower the first bag somewhat. Keep pushing until both bags are level with each other, and are at least above the ground.[9]
EditTips
- Always take your food with you when you leave your campsite.
- If you’re currently menstruating, make sure you include your used tampons in your bear bag.
- Canned food can be left out as the can blocks the scent of the food
EditThings You’ll Need
- At least of lightweight nylon cord
- Waterproof nylon stuff sacks for your food, garbage, and scented items
- Two carabiners
EditReferences
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