How to Protect Your Food While Backpacking | Food Storage Tips

[@tangenttrails]

Don’t turn your back on your trekking poles when you go off trail to do your business. A determined deer may just drag em off for the salt on the handles. Seen it happen.😄 Great tips there, Sir!

[@BG-ez1jm]

Thanks for that tip too!!!

[@daven.7685]

Lordy! Had no idea!

[@TheHikingRev]

Yeah, I had a deer try to get the salt on my trekking poles while it was holding up my tent.

[@shirleyhall1924]

Oh my! That's one I've never heard.

[@Henning_Rech]

I have seen a deer licking the ground exactly where i had peed in the night.

[@davyhaynes6716]

I agree and use similar double and triple bagging myself and generally do not hang my food unless I'm worried about little vermin. I hike mostly in the Appalachians, so the only bear concern is black bears. Although it is impossible to totally eliminate food smells, especially after you've used your equipment for a while, mitigating as much as practical is a reasonable and easy approach as it weighs next to nothing, and you need something to store your food in anyway. I still always carry means of hanging my food bag and occasionally use it, as sometimes the little vermin are a concern. Another strategy I use is purposely spreading my human scent downwind of my camp. Black bears are naturally afraid of humans and so this MAY deter them from entering your camp or proximity in the first place. The easiest method for doing this is when you need to go pee, do it downwind of your camp, ideally in a few different areas downwind (avoiding, of course, urinating in or near a watercourse). By the time I go to bed for the night, I've generally "christened" two are three areas downwind of my camp.

[@TheHikingRev]

Great advice Davey.

[@youareIndenial981]

Thanks Rev.

[@TheHikingRev]

You’re welcome. 😁

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thanks for another great video. For the record, I do not always steal food.

[@TheHikingRev]

You’re welcome Bjorn. Just sometimes.😂

[@Henning_Rech]

Hey bear! (Björn = bear in Swedish)

[@stephenrrose]

Great advice Rev, thank you!

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Stephen. 😁

[@SasSaga]

Love your videos, Rev! 57 tomorrow, and thinking about doing the PCT next year!

[@TheHikingRev]

Thank you very much. Have a happy birthday. I’m excited about your PCT journey.

[@kristymoore7052]

59 a few days ago and am thinking the same thing.

[@TheHikingRev]

@@kristymoore7052 Good for you Kristy. Go for it! 😁❤️👍

[@markfletcher8084]

Great video and good information as always. Years ago I backpacked Enchanted Rock in Texas, I had a breakfast meal stored in my cooking kit and placed it in my backpack. I swear I zipped up my backpack. But at 3:00 in the morning I woke up to the sound of my cook kit rattling and a raccoon rolling it downhill from my campsite. Somehow he got it out my pack. I couldn’t scare him away. 😂

[@TheHikingRev]

I bet you’ll check to see if your backpack is zipped up next time. 😬

[@markfletcher8084]

@@TheHikingRev Yep.

[@deputyowl]

Rev here in Louisiana people think that they can keep feeding wild alligator as pets by feeding them off their decks or from the shore without thinking that the alligator will start to associate humans with food. Last they don't realize that the alligator can come out the water half it's length.

[@TheHikingRev]

I grew up in Mobile, Alabama and saw many alligators in the bayou’s in the mouth of Mobile Bay. You don’t want them associating humans with food. 😬

[@barbarapaine8054]

It’s not much of a leap for them from “Humans have food” to “Humans are food”. They don’t think the way we do. Humans have a tradition of charity and hospitality towards strangers. Alligators, not so much.

[@rrichardson53]

Great advice! I don’t overnight hike but when I stay at Mt Rainier Cougar Rock campground I put my food in the bear locker provided at my campsite. I remember in my 20’s camping at Yosemite and waking up in the morning seeing several vehicles with smashed windows and backpacks strewn around due to bears coming at night and breaking into cars because campers stored their food in their cars.

[@TheHikingRev]

Hey Rebecca. Yep bad idea.

[@jdkarns]

I asked earlier today in a video 3 months ago how you were doing right now. I just now saw this video uploaded 2 days ago. It's great it looks like you're out hiking and talking and on a video fantastic!

[@TheHikingRev]

Hey John. I’m doing great. Out hiking on local trails in the area twice a week. I don’t have any backpacking trips scheduled until after the first of the year. My cardiologist said that he doesn’t need to see me on a regular basis anymore, only when needed. So…so far so good. 😁👍

[@winstonbelisle3560]

Rev, when getting started getting outdoors, I plan on using freeze,- dried meals with me. Lighter in the long run. Bacon a different story. Ziplock bag it. Carry a 1 liter soda bottle of besides my canteen. Boil water when necessary.

[@TheHikingRev]

Sounds like a great plan Winston. Just don’t stress over Trail food. You can make up for the lack of calories in town. (ie: PIG OUT!)

[@behindenemylines9033]

Morning Rev, great video, appreciate the info.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks.❤️

[@MarmaladeOutdoors]

Hey buddy, great topic. How do you keep fellow hikers like me from sneaking some of your food when you’re not looking? Lol hey one thing that’s different in the Sierra this year you may remember I had to do was as of July 18th 2022 they required hikers to carry a bear canister past Sonora Pass all the way through desolation wilderness to Truckee. I know because I had to this year because it was early august when I went through there. Really enjoyed this and let’s hike together soon my friend!

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks my friend. Carrying a bear canister is not really that big of a deal. You just got to keep your hiking partner out of it though. 😂

[@MarmaladeOutdoors]

@@TheHikingRev I was always eyeing your “breakfast meats”!!! 😂

[@adventureswithfrickandfrack]

I use a BV 450 also. Jeff carries the 500. When bear canisters are not required I use the same strategy as you. Put the food in an opsak and put as many layers between the food and the air as you can and sleep with it. I did have an issue at Deep Creek Hot Springs. A squirrel chewed around my water port on my unattended backpack. He didn’t get my food but he chewed a hole in my opsak.

[@TheHikingRev]

I had a squirrel (I think) chew my hat looking for salt. 😁❤️👍

[@michaelschafer5493]

Thanks for another great video. Suggestion: Off season training. Especially for seniors. Thanks.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Michael. I was actually thinking about doing a video on that subject.

[@bkf238]

I used a rat sack and the opsack when we hiked to Havasupai to keep all the raccoons and squirrels out of my food. Worked great

[@TheHikingRev]

Great strategy! ❤️👍

[@clydevanwinkle7382]

Always enjoy your videos! Thank you for the post!

[@TheHikingRev]

You’re welcome. Clyde. 😁❤️👍

[@plumeria8357]

Very interesting.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thank you.

[@mtadams2009]

Good subject. I am a East Coast hiker and for decades I did absolutely nothing. I simply slept with my food. I am talking steaks and bacon. I never had an issue. To be honest no one I knew was doing anything special either. I now hang me food and rarely sleep with it. One time In Yosemite over forty years ago I woke up and found someone’s ripped up food bag two feet from my tents door. I now hang my food about ninety percent of the time. I often use bear boxes as they are all over the Whites of NH. Hanging takes a little practice but it’s certainly doable. I have done some long distance hikes on the AT and LT and I can tell you most through hikers are not hanging their food. I wonder how many times bears have actually attacked people in their tent for food. I am not saying it’s never happened but how often? If we are talking grizzly country I am totally using a bear can, eating an hour or more before my camp. They scare the hell out of me.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Scott. Most “Yosemite Bears” are used to people and associate them with food. They will literally break into a car just to get to food. Yes. Grizzlies are a different animal.

[@mtadams2009]

@@TheHikingRev I remember that too. Back in the day I would travel to Yosemite to spend the summer rock climbing and live the park rat lifestyle. Almost every night someone’s car window would get smashed. It was crazy. We would wash our table down and try and be super clean. I had never seen bears like that before or since. I hear now the campgrounds have bear boxes. Take care

[@shanksmare]

Hi Rev. Nice video, but I have to disagree with you on storing food in your tent. If a couple of baggies and an opsak worked to prevent orders from escaping, then all the drug smugglers would be using that method to evade the dogs. Bears and other critters might need to be closer to smell the contents, but remember you also cross contaminate the outside of the bag when you pack/handel the bag. Just because you did not have a negative experience on the PCT (or elsewhere) does not prove storing your food in your tent is safe. July 2022, Leah Logan was killed in her tent by a bear looking for food. She had stored it in her tent earlier in the day and then moved it to a different location. Keep up the good work, always enjoy your videos.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thank you very much.

[@oncosurgdoc]

I've found the Ursack to be a great idea outside of areas where a bear canister is mandated. The Ursack is reasonably light and conformable inside your pack. I line the Ursack with a Opsack. When used properly, critters (as well as bears) cannot get into it. No more squirrel or chipmunk attacks. At night, I store the sack either just inside the tent, or, preferably in the vestibule of the tent. Knowing that critters will sometimes eat their way into a tent, I'm always reluctant to store my food inside the tent. I just don't trust the odor protection of various types of ziplocks.

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks Kenneth. You’re very wise to use the Ursack in conjunction with the Opsak.

[@michaelb1761]

What's the point to your Ursack if you are storing it in your tent or just outside it? The animal will just run off with the whole sack.

[@oncosurgdoc]

@@michaelb1761 Thank you for asking. Several points of response. 1. I'm not sure that's ever been noted. A bear may drag the bag for a distance and may crush the contents, but they generally will NOT get into the sack. In bear country, Ursack recommends using the lengthy cords which close the sack to also secure the sack to a small tree or some other object. 2. My greatest worry is not bears but little critters, and it would be impossible for them to drag a bag any distance, assures that they will get into the sack. There are a few reports of critters spending all night trying to chew through the bag, which is why I keep the Ursack close, like in my vestibule.

[@Henning_Rech]

8:19 now I am disappointed - after your description I had expected that you would have put your pack now in a big duffel bag, this duffel bag in a plastic container, then in a wooden chest, and when these matryoshkas have arrived at a 40' sea container, you would simply pitch your tent inside ;) BV450: this is an alibi bear can for a PCT thruhiker ...

[@TheHikingRev]

😂😂😂👍❤️

[@michaelb1761]

If you are going to hang your food be sure to learn how to do a "PCT Hang" . Most people I see hang their food don't hang it high enough and just tie the line off to a tree trunk. Bears will break that line to drop the food. The only reason keepng food in your tent works is because most animals are more afraid of you than they are hungry for your food. An animal like a bear that can smell food from 10 miles away can definitely smell your food no matter how it is packed if it comes sniffing around your camp site. I don't want to have food in my tent when a habituated bear comes around, like the ones in Lassen Park and Yosemite.

[@TheHikingRev]

You are required to store your food in a bear locker or bear canister in Yosemite.

[@shirleyhall1924]

I was wondering if you ever saw a mountain lion on the pct.

[@shirleyhall1924]

By the way.........good video. I was also wondering how inconvenient or easy it was to carry a bear canister.

[@TheHikingRev]

Hey Shirley. Thanks. I never saw a mountain lion on the PCT but I did see one years ago when I hiked in the Henry Coe State Park in Gilroy, California.

[@maxkok655]

You must have a very tasty shampoo Rev ! Regards Max 😉

[@TheHikingRev]

Yes Max, I do. 😁❤️👍

[@DrPatANelson]

keeping food in your tent goes against everything I've ever heard. Don't keep food in your tent, don't cook near your tent, don't keep clothes that smell like food in your tent!

[@TheHikingRev]

I’ll leave a link to an interesting article by Andrew Skurka on “Sleeping with Your Food.” andrewskurka.com/admission-sleep-with-my-food/

[@Henning_Rech]

I wouldn't do it in grizzly country. I have done it in black's country (Sierra). - Keeping food outside your tent/range without solid protection is the real "don't".

[@MoeBergOSS]

I’m a veteran long distance hiker and The Rev’s advice is good. I’ve done pretty much like he suggested for 20 years without incident.

[@TheHikingRev]

@@MoeBergOSS Sage advice from a veteran Thruhiker…not a novice or want-a-be.

[@FishBamboo1]

Hey Rev, Love your videos. Just watched this episode. All great advice. FYI, here is a forest service map of required bear canister areas in the Sierras. Keep up the great videos. www.sierrawild.gov/media/foodstoragemap/Bear-Canister-Required-Area-ver8.pdf

[@TheHikingRev]

Thanks. Yeah, I saw that.

[@BG-ez1jm]

Thank you....very "Rev"alent info!!🦘👍

[@TheHikingRev]

You’re welcome.😂😂😂

[@peterjohnson6273]

Thanks Rev.

[@TheHikingRev]

You’re welcome Peter.