3 Easy Ways to Hang a Bear Bag
video description
1. There are lines out there that are lightweight and small, like the zpack dynema stuff. They are good options for weight conscious hikers but may be spendy. Arborist lines work but can stretch so look for the ones that don't.
2. Be very careful of the line you use. Any line you use, can and will snag at Murphy's discretion. So, find line that does not snag or cut into the tree when pulling up the weight. I can't count the number of lines I've seen left in trees due to being snagged. Test your line before you go.
3. A good option is to hang a biner from a tree branch using one line and have it act as the friction point for your actual food line. All it costs is a little extra line but it makes raising the food much easier and is way less likely to snag. To do this, throw a line over a branch. Tie/hook a biner to the end and run your actual food line through the biner and hoist it up. Now tie/hook your food bag to the line you pulled up with the biner and hoist it up.
Bags:
A dry bag is a good option. If you keep a trash bag in it, you can keep your trash in the bottom, then just add your food on top when you hang the bag. Since you need to hang both its a natural option.
Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
George
Dixie,
How long did it take to unwind the cord wrapped around the branch at 5: 31? The way to prevent that from happening is to completely let go of the cord and just let it fly. If you hold on to the cord after you throw the weight it tends to wrap around the branch, if you release the cord, the weight will fall to the ground. I temporarily secure the loose of the cord to my bag on the ground to keep it from following the weighted end over the tree. Our club is doing bear bag hanging training/competition today at a local park. Happy hiking.
George, Appalachian Trail Club of Florida
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Dixie,
How long did it take to unwind the cord wrapped around the branch at 5: 31? The way to prevent that from happening is to completely let go of the cord and just let it fly. If you hold on to the cord after you throw the weight it tends to wrap around the branch, if you release the cord, the weight will fall to the ground. I temporarily secure the loose of the cord to my bag on the ground to keep it from following the weighted end over the tree. Our club is doing bear bag hanging training/competition today at a local park. Happy hiking.
George, Appalachian Trail Club of Florida
reply
Valerie
I learned a method from Yosemite hikers back in the hippie days: Divide food and cooking/garbage into two equal weight bags, pull first bag all the way up, reach up as high as you can to attach second bag, wrap up extra cord next to second bag with a loop hanging out, use your hiking stick or pole to push second bag up which lets first bag come down so they are both on the same level above where a bear can reach. Use the same pole to grab the loop to retrieve in the morning. The good thing about this method is you are not leaving anything in reach of the bear for them to mess with.
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I learned a method from Yosemite hikers back in the hippie days: Divide food and cooking/garbage into two equal weight bags, pull first bag all the way up, reach up as high as you can to attach second bag, wrap up extra cord next to second bag with a loop hanging out, use your hiking stick or pole to push second bag up which lets first bag come down so they are both on the same level above where a bear can reach. Use the same pole to grab the loop to retrieve in the morning. The good thing about this method is you are not leaving anything in reach of the bear for them to mess with.
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Walter
I spent a summer in late 70s working at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Lots of Boy Scouts hiking through and lots of bears. We always used the third method of suspending bag between two trees since the bears always seemed to be able to down a bag suspended from a tree limb. This usually worked, but some bears there had learned the Kamakaze technique of climbing above the suspended bag and diving onto it!
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I spent a summer in late 70s working at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Lots of Boy Scouts hiking through and lots of bears. We always used the third method of suspending bag between two trees since the bears always seemed to be able to down a bag suspended from a tree limb. This usually worked, but some bears there had learned the Kamakaze technique of climbing above the suspended bag and diving onto it!
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That
This is an amazing video! The 3rd method is what we wish we knew on the Foothills Trail! We ended up just packing all the food in our odor free bags and into 1 pack and set it far from the tents and just prayed. Luckily we had no issues but this will make my Mom, kids, and I feel so much better on our next backpacking trip!
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This is an amazing video! The 3rd method is what we wish we knew on the Foothills Trail! We ended up just packing all the food in our odor free bags and into 1 pack and set it far from the tents and just prayed. Luckily we had no issues but this will make my Mom, kids, and I feel so much better on our next backpacking trip!
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hardluk3
Rather tan trying to throw the bag, try paying out about a foot and a half of line get it spinning and let momentum do the work. I couldn't throw a rock and hit the broad side of a barn, but could swing the line up. May have been suggested already but worth repeating. Love your videos.
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Rather tan trying to throw the bag, try paying out about a foot and a half of line get it spinning and let momentum do the work. I couldn't throw a rock and hit the broad side of a barn, but could swing the line up. May have been suggested already but worth repeating. Love your videos.
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Walter
Is there a repellent that you could attach to or treat your bag/canister with? Say, a plastic bag of strong pepper that would break open if a bear clawed at your canister/bag? Just an idea, though I wonder if it would just tick the bear off. Ticked off bears are not a good thing.
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Is there a repellent that you could attach to or treat your bag/canister with? Say, a plastic bag of strong pepper that would break open if a bear clawed at your canister/bag? Just an idea, though I wonder if it would just tick the bear off. Ticked off bears are not a good thing.
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Ian
The loop in the middle was a granny knot, and you may never be able to untie it. Use a figure 8 knot. It is just as easy, effectively the same, and it can be untied. Thanks for the videos by the way. Good stuff. I'm getting back into backpacking. Cheers!
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The loop in the middle was a granny knot, and you may never be able to untie it. Use a figure 8 knot. It is just as easy, effectively the same, and it can be untied. Thanks for the videos by the way. Good stuff. I'm getting back into backpacking. Cheers!
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Laurie
Realize this is an older post, congratulations on your award anyway! I'm hooked on your great content and the really cool person you are. Thank you for all you give to the community.
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Realize this is an older post, congratulations on your award anyway! I'm hooked on your great content and the really cool person you are. Thank you for all you give to the community.
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Early
Your content is so good! I love seeing a fellow female hiker making videos. We are probably going to backpack into the Dolly Sods in WV next month. Have you done this before?
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Your content is so good! I love seeing a fellow female hiker making videos. We are probably going to backpack into the Dolly Sods in WV next month. Have you done this before?
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