Packing the Blue Barrel for our Family Canoe Trip - BWCA 2016

[@cocacolafiesta]

That was awesome packing!

[@ktownc936]

This always has stumped me though. I live in black bear country so, what to do with the food. Leave it in there ? Or do you have to take food out at night and put it into a bear bag for hanging?

[@MamasBasecamp]

Thanks for watching, with ropes and small pulleys we hang the barrel.

[@danoconnor1664]

what size is that barrel? i am seeing options for 20 30 and 60 liters.

[@MamasBasecamp]

That’s around 60. We lightened up our cook set since this trip, now we’re doing single portages, but still using the barrel. That way we get more days of food squished into the barrel so our family can have enough meals for longer trips.

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

Well done!! So what did it weigh??? LOL

[@MamasBasecamp]

Oh gosh, I can't recall, there has been a number of trips since that time. Last 10 Day trip barrel weighed 45 pounds.

[@jimfromoregonusa9899]

@@MamasBasecamp LOL....I guessed at least that much but you heaved it well.....LOL...thanks for responding...

[@scottleuning7677]

What size barrel do you use for your trips and how has it worked for you for space and weight?

[@MamasBasecamp]

60 liters - it can fit enough cookware, dishes, food and such for our family of 3 for a 10 day trip

[@MamasBasecamp]

Oh, I didn't mention, it is petty heavy on a 10 day trip, around 50 lbs.

[@explorermike19]

Wow! That is pretty efficient packing! Did all that stuff go into that one barrel?

[@MamasBasecamp]

Explorer Mike, it all went in. I have found my "limit" at 10 days with meals and cookware for our family of 3 people. If we want to go longer we will have to add a second barrel or food bag.

[@explorermike19]

@@MamasBasecampThat is pretty amazing that the barrel holds all your food and all your cookware, fuel, and other stuff. Sure, the barrel is big, but you must really do a great job of organizing and packing. I noticed that you also had TREATS in addition to real food. Very good job. You can canoe camp with my crew any time (if you would please do the meal planning and packing!)

[@mountainmands]

personally i wouldn't pack all the stuff i need daily in the bottom of the bbl. you haul everything out jut to get to your pots and you do that twice a day

[@MamasBasecamp]

That's true. I do haul alot of stuff out to get my pots at the beginning of the trip when there is alot of food in the barrel.

[@5heinens]

We have been using recreational barrel works barrel organizers and love them. We sort into 3 organizers. One for suppers, one for breakfasts and one for lunches and other things like spices, etc. we can pack 8 days worth of meals for two into each organizer. Then, when we want supper, we only have to pull out the breakfast and lunch organizers (2 items). It makes finding what we want really efficient and organized. Sometimes I’ll just pack the next meal on the top of the barrel (after lunch, I put the supper bag at the top). We used a 30 liter barrel for 2 people for 8 days, but we can only get food in the barrel. Other kitchen items don’t fit so we are considering switching to a 60 liter barrel. This video was very helpful to be able to compare the sizes! Thank you!

[@ktownc936]

@@5heinens Do you just leave the food in there overnight? Do you hang the whole barrel?

[@markdriggersadventures9419]

So organized! Can you come do my packing for me? Haha

[@MamasBasecamp]

I've seen others much more organized but I try. We updated my kitchen set to be lighter weight so we can get down to a single portage. I should do a video about that sometime.

[@TheHawkTheHawk]

Where'd you get the barrel?

[@MamasBasecamp]

Thanks for watching. We picked up the barrel and pack at Rutabaga Paddlesports in Madison WI, but there are other places. For instance, I think I remember seeing one at Piragis in Ely MN. The pack for carrying in the video is by Cooke Custom Sewing. I've ordered something online directly from CCS before, but in this case we also picked up the barrel pack at Rutabaga. You can get a barrel harness instead of a barrel pack, but I have uses for all the side and top pockets so I like our pack.