Experience with Bear Cans?

ppine · 08-20-2012, 08:06 PM

Just returned from a day hike in the Hoover Wilderness near Sonora Pass, CA. The rules now require bear cans for overnight backcountry food storage. Does anyone have experience with these things?

It was warm and greened up out there above about 6800 feet from recent rains. The lakes were warm and swimmable. It was perfect, and we ran into a pack string. A great day and I would like to go back and spend the night.

Grandpa · 08-20-2012, 08:33 PM

I've used them in Yosemite. They rent them quite cheaply. Also, the California friends all use them everywhere. We had two of them in Yellowstone last week as well as one of the new Ursaks. Several friends use the Ursak although the older ones were deemed to not really be bear proof.

I've been thinking of getting one since most of my worries come from rodents anyway and them squirrels can climb most anything to get at the food. In this pic, Maxine is carrying the food for both her and her little sister in a long model.

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Boboque · 08-20-2012, 08:59 PM

Interesting. I've never seen those but of course, I don't have any experience with bear. We are reported to have black bear coming back in our area but I have never seen one around...yet. There have also been reports of large cats of some type but no one has been able to catch them on camera so I don't know how accurate the reports are.

ladymtnwalker · 08-22-2012, 11:05 AM

We have to use canisters or buckets on the coast here in the PNW due to raccoons, not bears. I've used the canister once or twice, however, prefer the Ursack's. I have 2, an older one, not made of Kevlar but the other fabric, and I have a newer one that I just bought prior to the Yellowstone trip. I've not had any trouble with them whatsoever, not even little critters. If you go to Ursack.com, there are many great testimonials to read. I've been lucky I guess. If I can take an Ursack over a canister, I would do it in a hot second.

Marshmallow · 08-22-2012, 12:26 PM

My father-in-law has been reporting bears getting into his storage building here at home. We don't often hear of bears around here, but there are definitely a few of them. He might enjoy having one or two of these for use in his shed.

ppine · 08-22-2012, 12:34 PM

Thanks for the comments. I like the concept of the Ursack, but it has been slow to be approved by the NPS and the USFS. I hate the idea of buying one and being given a citation anyway because it is not approved. The hard-sided cans work but are awkward and mostly end up on the outside of packs.