Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: To hang your food from a tree?
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moosedog |
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Soledad |
pulley |
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BWPaddler |
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kanoes |
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billconner |
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Savage Voyageur |
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Boppa |
Boppa |
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labman |
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Mort |
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fishguts |
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Boppa |
Boppa |
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bradcrc |
2 ropes, pully, carabiner attached to food pack. huge pain in the butt. I don't hang anymore, got a bear vault, and hopefully a blue barrel coming this week. bear vault was so much nicer than hanging/raising/lowering the pack. |
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shr2807 |
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IBFLY |
I have had squirrels and other varmints chew through a couple of bags/pack so I bought a bear vault and blue barrel a few years ago and have been footloose and fancyfree ever since. |
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Merganser |
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drnatus |
Last trip used 30L blue barrels, worked great. |
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topcat |
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SunCatcher |
SunCatcher |
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Appolion |
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BWPaddler |
quote Appolion: " " I've never seen a system like this - nice art work! I've never come across a tree anywhere near a campsite with a limb that could support a food bag 10' out from trunk and 10' off the ground. Most that are even close to those specs have been virtually destroyed by other campers hanging packs that are too heavy. Maybe the eastern BW just has different trees... When I used to hang, I almost always had to use two trees and plan it so the pack hung between them at the appropriate height. SunCatcher - that's quite a kitchen you've got there! |
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Koda |
quote Appolion: " " This pulley arrangement is basically what I prefer to use. There are times, however, when I have to get more creative. |
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kanoes |
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natnkath |
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labman |
Thanks for all the replies. I don't usually expect so many replies to threads on websites. This place takes the cake. |
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andym |
Do you put the carabiner around a tree limb? We just tie them to the tree. |
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BWPaddler |
quote jthieret: "as mentioned in my earlier post, i have used ursacks exclusively for the last maybe 6 years. ... i am also surprised that nobody on this site mentions them." They looked small to me. I like to keep food (for five) and kitchenware in one pack. Don't hang, but couldn't get all that in an ursack to save my life. Glad to know they work though, love the concept. |
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mc2mens |
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Traveler |
If there is a good tree I throw a rope over with a rock. No pulleys. If no good tree I try not to worry about it. I have paddled the food pack out to a tiny island to leave for the night a time or two as well. |
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jthieret |
I use ursacks (http://www.ursack.com/ursack-catalog.htm). Just use a carabiner to clip them to a tree and you're done. In an area in which bears commonly raid camps, they might chew on the bag a little though I have never had this happen. And in an area like this, even hanging the food is not 100% safe. Safest method is probably bear canisters but they are heavy and don't pack well. |
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canoller |
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BlackMagic |
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billconner |
We fly a whole Duluth pack - all food starting out - with trash bag on top. Hopefully will work same with new this year CCS insulated pack. |
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Evenflow |
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BWPaddler |
quote Evenflow: "We don't ever hang our food pack. Most of the stories I hear the bears climb the tree and rip the food pack down anyways...so why bother. Plus most sites are limited to which trees you can even hang your pack, so an educated bear does not have to work too hard to find the food. We just put all of the food and smelly stuff in a pack, we use the Cabelas brand boundary waters packs...I don't believe these let out much sent as they are a rubberized material and waterproof, you could also put contents into plastic bags as extra insurance then place in pack. We just place the pack away from camp and will maybe rotate places we set it each night. The worst that can happen is a bear finds it, and we go home early. I think our group makes enough noise that we pretty much scare any bear off from miles away." Couldn't have described my thoughts any better Evenflow (but we use the plastic pack liner to waterproof and keep scent in). For people who do want to hang... labman, here's some history: best way to hang a pack thread diagram at Feb 10 2010 4:41 post to hang or not to hang |
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labman |
This is how I see it happening: ( I plan on trying this out at home first). Tie the first rope to the top loop on the pulley. Throw it over the branch and let it fall to the ground. Next, run the second rope through the pulley wheel and attach to food bag. Then lift first rope to about a foot below the branch it is looped over and tie it off to another tree or branch from same tree. This would make the pulley "stationary".Then pull on the loose end of the second rope until the food bag is at the correct level and tie off. There should be the ability to pull to one side or another ( if the bag is at the pulley or a knot is on the rope stopping further advancement) to keep the pack away from the main tree. Does that sound right? I'm assuming this can be done with a small block and tackle setup if weight dictates the need for one? Thanks for all the comments. Manny |
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buz |
Those threads have great info on them for hanging, especially the throwing thing, that is usually the time sucker. Choose your branch wisely, and having lots of main line rope length is important, as some sites the trees are far apart. I am a double pulley guy for bigger (4 or more) 1 week trips. Just makes lifting the bag(s) way easier. Secure one pulley and one end of haul line to main line where you want the bag to end up hanging, other pulley to 'biner and the food bag, run haul line appropriately to make lift. Tighten and secure main line, haul up food pack with haul line. |
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ejj |
I went to go scare the bear away, and was confronted with the biggest blackie I've ever seen. He had gotten the bag to the ground, but was still trying to gain entry. I did the usual tricks--shouting, waving my arms, throwing stuff. The bear charged me. It stopped about three feet short; I can still hear it huffing and see its dripping nose. I was scared. The bear returned to the pack after the false charge. With the help of my wife, I was finally able to "scare" it into the woods a bit. After retrieving the gear, we decided to pack up and get an early start! The bear continued to circle the campsite, roaming on the edges in the trees. I have never seen a bear so brazen and determined. Since then, we have taken measures to NEVER rely on a good tree. Bear Vaults have worked perfectly since. |
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SunCatcher |
SunCatcher - that's quite a kitchen you've got there!" Thanks BW...If you saw me you would know that "food" is important :) SunCatcher |
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Johris |
Question I have is Does anyone use an ursack and if so, how does that work for you? I have not read much about the ursacks on this site. |
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myceliaman |
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jthieret |
i use the lighter, bear-resistant version rather than the bear-proof version and think this is adequate for the BWCA, at least the parts of the BWCA that I frequent. |
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Kbert |
I point and laugh watching people try to hang there pack from a tree. |
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jthieret |
And, in response to other comments, yes, the ursacks are a little small. I use several of them. Also, I was fortunate enough to purchase a couple of Ursack Majors (double-size ursacks) before they stopped making them. So I've got 2 small ones and 2 big ones: that's enough for 4 weeks of food for me. |
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CK722 |
We bring a monkey boy for those trees that won't cooperate. |
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labman |
quote labman: "Lots of good info. I will go to a vault at some point. But for my Solo, I will have to hang ($ constraints). I will use the 2 pulley system. Not because I want to make it easier to lift my one person food pack, but more to put this system together (in a pouch) once and not have to refine it later. I also plan to make the pack as scent free as I can. Ziploc and dry bag it. Then in another drybag. I thought to mention that I tried the two pulley system at home. I used a 5 gallon bucket filled with sand. It went up so easy, I could not believe it. Eventually the small carabiner bent open due to the heavy heavy weight. Thanks for all the ideas folks. I leave in 3 weeks and can't wait. Manny |
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buz |
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Royce |
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GSP |
Over a rock face or similiar is great idea if available. Most the rope you see hanging in trees is cheap nylon rope that melts with friction and melts into the crook of a branch. 23 years and 55+ trips and no packs lost to bears and several have looked over the years. |
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L.T.sully |
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