Ursacks or bear cannisters

[Judy Ann]

Should I get a bear cannister or an ursack for hiking and camping around black bears in the GSMNP?

[Fox & Hounds]

I still use the method of hanging a couple of bear bags away from my camp. I did this when I hiked the GSMNP & when I hiked in The Winds & Beartooths until we got above treeline. You need to practice how to do it. There are videos available on line that can help. And if you do go this way make sure you hang all the stuff that would smell yummy to a bear (think garbage, soap, cook gear, etc).

As I recall there were poles available in GSMNP for hanging bags. Made things a boat load easier. I stayed away from shelters too. Those places are rodent palaces because of the food strewn all over (exactly what brings the bears shopping).

[Grandpa]

I still hang everything and rent (Yosemite) a cannister if required. Friends have both cannisters and Ursacks. There is still some disagreement whether the ursack is really bear proof but it is much handier than the cannister. As for that, I have also heard that some bears have figured out how to open some cannisters.

Above timberline, we just hang over a cliff or large boulder.

[Judy Ann]

Thank you Fox & Hounds and Grandpa for the cannister rental suggestions and how to hang and where. I am still trying to gather enough courage to do my first solo venture and heard that the Ursacks were a little easier to use and lighter in weight.

I'm thinking that I might just leave about everything in the car and hang a hammock a few hundred yards away! Pitiful!!! :-) F&H, I don't think I could sleep with rodents running around in a shelter. Darn, come to think of it if there is fencing to keep the bears out, I don't think I want to be there either!

My neighbors have been catching me trying to perfect hanging in the hammock with my unwilling dog. If I start practicing hanging a bear bag, I'll have to charge for the entertainment!!!

[Grandpa]

We always hang the food bag, even when bears are not the threat. It also slows the rodents down from getting into things. Once, I left 3 or 4 granola bars in my pack and hung the pack from a convenient branch. A ground squirrel got in there and chewed a hole in every bar and then left. I assume he knew that I would see those holes and throw the bars away. (which I did) Then, he would have all those bars at his convenience. I fooled him by packing them out and waiting until I had a good trash can to throw them away.

[Judy Ann]

Stupid question I'm sure, but why not put the pack in your tent (food hung elsewhere) if you aren't concerned about bears especially with your dogs around? I am considering hammock camping with the backpack hung beneath the tarp and food hung downwind.

[Grandpa]

If there is a food presence, a rodent will get to it and if that means chewing a hole through the tent/pack/food sack, it will. And if I was there, I would prevent that and if I'm not there, neither is the dog.

Hanging the food sack properly is a big deterent and an Ursack or cannister would be even a better deterent. If you want to spend the money and carry the weight on every trip. I just haven't had enough trouble over the years to worry about it.

Now regarding bears, Judy, you will have more need for protection on the AT than we do here. Because of hunting in these western states, the black bears are very shy of humans. Utah does not have bear hunting in that area where the boy was killed so their bears are more aggressive. I believe Trail Turtle uses a cannister on the AT, but just hangs when she comes out here.

[Judy Ann]

Thank you Grandpa. I won't make the Turtle Patrol this year, but by next year I'm hoping that with Trail Turtle's suggestions I'll be having some fun with the rest of the girls. I consider myself to be fairly fearless if adequately prepared, but this first solo trip is overwhelming at times. Time to bite the bullet and just do it...in October! :-)