Bear Bag Basics
Why Use Bear Bags?
Bear bags are an essential part of safe practices while camping in the backcountry. Keeping your “smellables” (food, sunscreen, toothpaste, deodorant, etc) away from your campsite makes sure that no wild creatures disturb you while you’re sleeping. While they are called “bear bags”, these bags also work to keep other animals such as raccoons and squirrels from getting into your belongings. Making sure to hang bear bags properly is important so animals aren’t able to get into your things– that wouldn’t be a good situation for anyone (bear or human) involved!
WanderPack Bear Bag System
WanderPack hangs as a standalone bear bag so you can hang your period products separately from your food and toiletries. No more stuffing used tampons/pads in the same bear bag as your granola bars!
How to Hang a Bear Bag:
First thing to is find the right tree– at least 200 feet away from your campsite
Make sure you include all “smellables” such as food, trash, toiletries, and ~period products~ in your bear bag (Unless you have your WanderPack… which can hang your period products separately from your food!)
Tie the bear bag to the end of a rope, keeping the rest of the rope loosely coiled in your hand
Tie a small weighted bag to the other end of the rope (you can use your tent stakes bag, which can be filled with small stones). We’ll refer to this end of the rope as the “tossing end”
Find a suitable branch– preferably horizontal, at least 15 feet off the ground, and focus on a spot on the branch that is at least 10 feet away from the trunk of the tree
Throw the weighted tossing end of the rope over the chosen branch
It may take a few tries… don’t get discouraged!!
Once the rope is over the branch, go grab the tossing end and pull it over the branch to hoist your bear bag up in the air
Remove your small weighted bag and tie off the tossing end to the tree trunk
Enjoy a peaceful night of bear-free sleep!
References:
1. Washington Trails Association. “How to Hang a Bear Bag”. Available at: https://www.wta.org/go-outside/trail-smarts/how-to/hang-bear-bag-secure-food.