camping question, bears...

[txrider]

You guys that live in bear areas or those that ride and camp in the wilderness, what do ya use when camping on your bike to keep em away from you, and out of your food?

Also are aluminum panniers approved for hlding food in places like yosemite or others that require bear canisters etc.?

No experience with bears here, but I will be going to areas where they roam and would like to camp safe and have food in the morning. The worst I have to deal with around here is nosy racoons.

[Stephen]

Oh, this is going to be good.

[rtrider]

start here:

http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/campw_bears.html

[Gusgus]

My riding friend and I were in NWT, Canada last week and came upon a man asking for food. He was bicycling up the Dempster Highway. A bear had eaten all of his food, except the garlic.
He had placed his food on the ground near a road, covered in rocks. At least he was smart enough to put it far from his bike and sleeping spot. But here he was,, foodless and in a bad situation. Yes we gave him all of ours.
Here is the trouble with bears. They will destroy any container, even the bear proof ones to get food. They may not be able to open the bear proof ones but damage them they most certiantly can. Your side bags couldn't stop them. They would just tear them apart until they got all of it. Hanging them in a tree is one very good place. I am sure there are other great ideas, but the tree method is what I use and have had great success.

Well I must confess, The Motel room is my favorite place, unless you include their kitchen and their fridge. The Menu is a great supply spot.

[Retro]

They don't like it if you try to pet them.

[RT jim]

Originally Posted by txrider

You guys that live in bear areas or those that ride and camp in the wilderness, what do ya use when camping on your bike to keep em away from you, and out of your food?

Also are aluminum panniers approved for hlding food in places like yosemite or others that require bear canisters etc.?

No experience with bears here, but I will be going to areas where they roam and would like to camp safe and have food in the morning. The worst I have to deal with around here is nosy racoons.

HaHa that's Funny when I rode my bike into Yellowstone(great place) I was reading the notes at Ranger Station 1. hardbody vehicals camping area 2. place food in steel containers provided at camping areas.Bears this,Bears that. As i read more.....don't sleep in clothes you cooked in (smells good to Bears?) Thinking twice the container of Honey was thrown away.Next time i go I'll bring one of my Wifes dogs Better him than me.

[Kingsqueak]

(Charlton Heston Voice)

From my cold dead hands.............

[svs]

Bears are Land Sharks....You will be assimilated.

[Tallboy]

From what I have read the last couple years in camping/backpacking books/magazines, it seems that there is a sort of 200' triangle rule of thumb for bear country: think of your camp area as a triangle with 200' sides - camp at one corner, cook at the second, and store anything with a scent at the third in a bear proof container or suspended from a tree or preferably - both. The common theme I have read is keeping any attractive scents out of the area where you plan to sleep - no bed time Snicker's bar, no flavored drinks, and no toiletries like toothpaste or the like. This is all to be kept with the food. I, too, have heard of backpackers always cooking in their rain gear when in bear country and then packing their raingear in with the food/smelly stuff at night. I think all of this is for areas that have bigger/more aggresive grizzlies, but I am a little paranoid on the topic (planning to trip into bear country in the near future). What I was thinking of doing was to pack, from the beginning of the trip, all of my 'smelly' stuff in a waterproof duffel and strap it to the top of my load for the trip and hang it at night - keep all of it together, and keep it out of my sidecases.

Interesting topic...have heard of larger bears tearing trunklids off of cars in parking areas in parks when people store stuff 'securely' while off hiking. Don't think motorcycle luggage would put up much fight.

[txrider]

Some good answers, from the one link it seems at least at yellowstone this isn't as big an issue as it gets played out to be on TV.

But you can't believe everything on the net.

My logical conclusion has always been carry a big semi auto gun. That's not very practical and illegal in many places.

I ask for practical experience here, as I have found little in the way of good info on the net, just rules for parks etc.

One site says hang stuff, another says that's useless and to use a bear canister, here I get that's useless hang it. :) No site says how high, or how to hang, etc.

Is there anything you can spray on stuff that bears would steer clear of? I used to use cayenne pepper to keep dogs out of my trash. :)

[commo_soulja]

Having camped in Yosemite, I can tell you that if you're gonna be camping, definitely use a bear canister (buy one or rent one from the park) or use the metal food boxes located in the main camping/parking areas. DON'T leave any food in your vehicle (2 or 4 wheeled). Aluminum panniers are not sturdy enough to keep a hungry bear away from you vittles. If you're gonna camp in bear country out east, the food sack hung on a high tree branch should be fine, any place west of the Mighty Mississippi = bear canister. Ditto the "dont sleep with your food/fragrant stuff" and cook and store food away from your campsite.

[Gusgus]

Originally Posted by txrider

One site says hang stuff, another says that's useless and to use a bear canister, here I get that's useless hang it. :) No site says how high, or how to hang, etc.

Is there anything you can spray on stuff that bears would steer clear of? I used to use cayenne pepper to keep dogs out of my trash. :)

Easy answer?

No, there are no easy answers and no sure fire, 100% fix.

How high depends on how tall the bear will be that happens along.

If you are on Kodiak Island "real high" would be best.
as far as repellant for bears, not a good idea to use them.
It just pisses em off, they still get the food but now they are angry too.

10 to 12 feet should be a good height.

Black bears which in most of North America are the normal threat, can climb trees. Brown Bears cannot climb trees. Smaller trees are best, so using a tree which will support the food & resist being bent over by a bear yet can't support a bear, IMHO are best. They won't climb anything which risks their safety, even for food. I'm sure there are exceptions, yet one has risk just being out there.

[DRGNHTR]

that he takes along two bear proof cannisters. One (with food) gets hung in the tree. The second (with quarter inch hole and peanut butter inside) gets thrown out in the woods. Claims that he can keep track of the bears by listening to them beat the shit out of the one on the ground. I doubt if it is a park approved solution.

[RT jim]

Originally Posted by DRGNHTR

that he takes along two bear proof cannisters. One (with food) gets hung in the tree. The second (with quarter inch hole and peanut butter inside) gets thrown out in the woods. Claims that he can keep track of the bears by listening to them beat the shit out of the one on the ground. I doubt if it is a park approved solution.

Hey screw this crap .I'm hanging my hammock up in trees with all my junk food. I'll be watching you guys getting woke up by the bears

[Waco]

We live in a big country with lots of beautiful places to go camping. I think I'll pick a place without bears. Camping is enough hassle without worring about a bear eating my food or me.