To Hang or not to hang? [Archive] - WhiteBlaze

santa

11-07-2008, 01:46

I was invited to go backpacking last weekend with a friend of mine and his dad . I have never hanged my food. I was wondering your opinion on this? His dad gave me about a 20-30 min lecture on why to hang your food. He said the tree you hang it on MUST be like 10 feet tall or something and 10-15 out from the base. I was like uhhhhh are you kidding? Maybe if the area was known for grizzles like alaska but come on? Its pretty difficult to find a tree like that and once you find one its even harder tie your food up there??? Well after he made me promise to hang my food or I can not camp next to him, I watch him spend 2 whole hours hanging up his food bag. Secretly I just took my pack into my tent while he fooled around in the trees. I have done this for the last 5 years so I don't get what the problem is? Also why even hang it? If a bear wants your food he is going to get up in that tree and get it. I could see just setting it under a tree or something far from the tent. But then critters could get it. Tent works best for me. What do you all think? Am i stubborn and foolish? Or is hanging a bag a waste of time.

santa

11-07-2008, 01:48

sorry for lack of comma's and spelling errors in advance:-?

strates

11-07-2008, 02:46

As long as you are at a virgin camp site (as in one that isn't commonly used) you shouldn't have too many issues. If your not going to, though, I would think that you wouldn't want the food in your tent with you. Because if a critter were to get to my food, I wouldn't want to have said critter in the sack with me.

Near shelters or at well trodden campsites (in the Eastern US) it is useful to hang, not because of bears, but because of critters, and can make your trip much more uncomfortable than any bear.

bfitz

11-07-2008, 02:47

I almost never hang a bear bag. If there are metal hooks provided or metal containers I might use them, but on the AT your food is safe with you in your tent. However in shelters or whatever some other hikers might not want you having your food in there, even though they just stunk the place up cooking dinner before they hung their food bag then ate cookies in their sleeping bag before bed. So it becomes a question of etiquette at that point.

Serial 07

11-07-2008, 03:23

when i was in maine, a mouse (cute little guy) ate through my tent and into my food bag that was propping my feet up...only time i ever had a problem...some hikers swear by the hang, others use their food bags as pillows or insulators...i start a fire and tell myself that that bear proofs me and sleep with my food...but, that's just how i roll...

Nest

11-07-2008, 03:30

Kinda agree with everyone else here. On the AT critters are much more of a problem than bears. So I would hang my food if I was staying in a well used campsite because critters might have a habit of checking it out for food every night. If I were in a random spot of the woods I wouldn't even bother. I don't even call it bear bagging, I call it critter bagging.

mtnkngxt

11-07-2008, 07:06

I hang regardless. Why not take the 10 minutes to do it, instead of hours trying to resupply or patch your tent. HYOH plus then the bears have options.

papa john

11-07-2008, 08:06

2 hours to hang his food? Did you take any video? Watching someone hang a foodbag is highly entertaining. I am sure I have provded many with a good chuckle or 2.

Lone Wolf

11-07-2008, 08:07

superman

11-07-2008, 08:08

Be careful...your freinds dad may say "the next time we take you with us, we'll leave you home." :D

Montana Mac

11-07-2008, 09:06

In griz country if you can find a tree I would hang my food and NOT bring it into the tent with me. You are from CO but didn't say if you were in griz country.

Here is an easy way to hang

Johnny Swank

11-07-2008, 09:38

I rarely hang food, but we almost never camp in established campsites. We'll probably hang more on the PCT though.

john gault

11-07-2008, 09:57

sorry for lack of comma's and spelling errors in advance:-?
You should also apologize for your piss-poor sentence structure.

I never hang food.

Lone Wolf

11-07-2008, 10:00

I never hang food.

once in a while i have a pinata party
http://www.pinatas.com/Bear_Pinata_p/ps250.htm

buff_jeff

11-07-2008, 10:33

Haven't done it yet and don't plan it.

Peaks

11-07-2008, 10:39

It doesn't really take much effort to toss a line over a branch. Hang your food and you don't need to worry about critters big and small getting into your tent and into your food.

buff_jeff

11-07-2008, 10:49

It doesn't really take much effort to toss a line over a branch. Hang your food and you don't need to worry about critters big and small getting into your tent and into your food.

They never have.

garlic08

11-07-2008, 12:17

Your dad seems to be the cautious type, but definitely needs more practice, unless you're exaggerating slightly about the 2 hours.

The risk from black bears (in the backcountry) is practically nil, I agree, but here in Colorado I've had serious trouble from mink, ferrets, whatever. They're nasty, all claws and teeth, and will quickly make huge holes in whatever is between them and your food. On the AT, mice are the main threat to your gear, as most have already said.

I hang my food to protect my tent and pack now, even if I have to leave it for just a few minutes. I had a mink drill into my food bag from outside my pack while I went down to a stream to get water, 15 feet away. Couldn't believe it. Lots of damage.

A skilled camper should take no more than 5 min to rig a decent food hanging site, maybe 10 in poor conditions.

I was on the PCT just ahead of Capt ***, when a black bear yanked his food bag out from under his head, cowboy camping in the San Gabriels. He got demoted to private. It was at that same site that I hung food on the PCT for the first time, just looked like bear territory to me, and a popular site.

I got really mad at the Standing Bear hostel this year, listening to an AT "legend" discoursing to a group of admirers how he never hangs food, there aren't any bears on the AT, etc. A few days later I walked past a raided shelter and several hikers were inventorying their food to see how they were going to make it into town.

Sorry, too many bear stories, this is getting too long.

Blissful

11-07-2008, 13:06

I dont know but this young guy live out west in CO. Not sure it is is wise for easterners to say - "don't hang bear bag" to those out west with grizzlies and other animals. Glad for the other hiker who is from CO who talked about it.

I hang food. It's not that big a deal to hang. Better safe then sorry. And I have heard from hikers of ripped bags, packs, and tents from invading critters. We left a bag of food in our vestibule in New England and squirrels ripped it. And I had a daypack ripped to shreds by a raccoon. But to each his own.

OldStormcrow

11-07-2008, 13:45

The black bears are fairly bold, particularly around established campsites, but the other critters (skunks, possums, raccoons, foxes, mice, flying squirrels, ants, etc.) are what you really have to watch out for. They are not above chewing through your tent to get at your food. Hanging a bag over a limb is a fairly cheap alternative to having a hole chewed in the side of your nice new tent or pack. It doesn't happen that often, but many years ago when I was just out of high school we had a skunk to chew through the side of our el cheapo K-mart tent while we were trying to sleep.

lonehiker

11-07-2008, 15:10

Hikers' poor habits with cooking and food storage is a contributing factor in bears becoming desensitized to humans. A little effort on your part may save someone's life and perhaps more importantly, the bear's life.

I look at it another way; I have never been in a car accident, but I still wear my seatbelt. I've never had my food taken by a bear......

Bare Bear

11-07-2008, 21:58

I always hang my food as I have had too many bears in Florida try to get it anyways. Besides it is so amusing to just sit there and watch the other hikers try to get their rock over the branch, watch the rock come back and hit them in the head or send them scrammbling, the branch break under the load, the rope get caught, etc. Someday I swear I am going to carry that heavy camera just to film bear bag hanging adventures.
Isn't hiking about seeing stuff no one else even knows about? This is one of those secrets we must not let out or they will be doing a reality show about it.

No Belay

11-07-2008, 22:27

I use my food bag as a pillow and don't worry about my tent. I use a tarp. I snore so bad that I'd suck the fur off anything that tried to get my chow. I keep the bears away from me by throwing a Hershy bar on the roof of the last shelter I pass and then camp at least a 1/2 mile away. Never had a bear bother me yet.

TaTonka

tom_alan

11-07-2008, 22:46

Here in Colorado I choose to hang it. Besides bears there are cats that will go after your food. Don't think I would want either one in the tent with me. JMHO

Bulldawg

11-07-2008, 22:54

I hang just because it is so easy. I'd rather keep my food as I like to eat pretty good.

Lone Wolf

11-08-2008, 00:27

I hang just because it is so easy. I'd rather keep my food as I like to eat pretty good.

sleeping with your food is easier

Tin Man

11-08-2008, 01:04

I hang food. It's not that big a deal to hang. Better safe then sorry. And I have heard from hikers of ripped bags, packs, and tents from invading critters. We left a bag of food in our vestibule in New England and squirrels ripped it. And I had a daypack ripped to shreds by a raccoon. But to each his own.

Sometimes I hang it. Like others said, it takes five minutes, no biggee. If it is raining (or I am not in the mood), I bring it all the way inside the tent, not the vestibule. Bear boxes make it easy and there are plenty now in CT/MA that I don't recall seeing the last time I camped on the AT in northern CT and southern MA. All the sites in the Whites have bear boxes, except the stealth sites. :) I didn't hang when stealthing there and had no issues.

santa

11-08-2008, 02:58

Here in Colorado I choose to hang it. Besides bears there are cats that will go after your food. Don't think I would want either one in the tent with me. JMHO

I dont blame you because it is safer, but I have never seen a bear or cat in colorado. (only bear sightings was in NJ) I know there out there but honestly what are the odds of one coming in the middle of the night and attacking me? I think thats why we all hang our food because we dont want it near us when the animal comes to get it. I am pretty sure if you hang it or not if it wants it, it will have it. I just wanted to see what other people were doing and thinking. Im thinking my foods going to stay in my tent unless I hear or am warned there was a lot of bear activity in that area.

bfitz

11-08-2008, 03:19

Nothing ever got inside my tent that I didnt let it. I usually slept righ on the back, I heard rustlers i the dark i the shennies ad I know theyre bears, so I ake a lot of noise i the tent ad the unzip ad look out. As soon as they see me see them they bolt. I have had a few bears lurk near my camp before but never come close to the tent. Its waaay too scary for them.

Stir Fry

11-08-2008, 03:49

sleeping with your food is easier
Untill something biger then you decides it wants what you have. With a little luck it will leave your head and just take the food. Is never a problem untill its a problem.

Montana Mac

11-08-2008, 08:53

When Santa asked about hanging food I saw he was from CO. In the west the bears are a little different and a lot bigger.

Here is one reason I recommend hanging in Griz country

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/08/27/news/state/28-silvergate.txt

I use to live about 500 feet from this place and my yellow lab got knocked unconscious by a Griz.

And if you are interested in more bear attacks go here

http://billingsgazette.net/sitesearch/?submit=SEARCH&search=go&d1=07-01-1996&d2=12-31-2015&o=0&l=50&s=recent&r=Subject%2CAuthor%2CContent&q=bear+attacks&txtLastName=bear+attacks&query=bear+attacks&TodayOnly=0&Product=0&reset_path=%2F&path=&whereto=Sitesearch&se.category.kq=bear+attacks

Yes I know this it is NOT AT but may explain why his buddies father wanted to hang his food

Tin Man

11-08-2008, 08:57

Another reason to hang in Griz country...

WARNING: Do not open this link if you are eating or drinking or have a weak stomach

Link (http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/bigbear.html)

mudhead

11-08-2008, 09:09

Maybe in the future you could post a clickable link and warning. I was eating .

Tin Man

11-08-2008, 09:14

sorry about that. i fixed it for others that may follow

mudhead

11-08-2008, 09:21

Thank you.

Saw an August 2008 Field and Stream the other day. Good study on bear spray used in griz encounters. Very good.

Very cool picture of two deer in a field. Aerial shot. Tried to find it and the bear spray study online, but no luck.

Lone Wolf

11-08-2008, 09:33

Untill something biger then you decides it wants what you have. With a little luck it will leave your head and just take the food. Is never a problem untill its a problem.

whatever. i don't hike in fear like most

Homer&Marje

11-08-2008, 10:04

whatever. i don't hike in fear like most

I don't hike in fear either. I do sleep in fear of not having breakfast in the morning no matter what animal takes it:D

You have never lost any food sleeping with it, I have never lost any food hanging it.

Tin Man

11-08-2008, 10:11

whatever. i don't hike in fear like most

i don't live in fear either, but i do take 2 minutes here and there to do stuff that may be considered unnecessary - like check for ticks, look up before i set up my tent, wash my hands before cooking/eating, put on a rain jacket when it's raining, etc.

throwing a rope over a tree branch (or not) is a non-issue

superman

11-08-2008, 11:25

So the point is that if it blows your skirt up to hang your sack... go for it. You may not be a bad person if you hang it. Is it necessary...maybe if you’re close to a shelter? It's not a big issue on the AT but it can be fun watching people trying to hang their stuff from a branch. This may fall under the heading of HYOH. The option to hang or not hang has been made fairly clear...just pick the one you want...evil vs. not evil.:banana

Tin Man

11-08-2008, 11:40

If I can't hang my food bag in two minutes, then I should have done it before cocktails and I just throw it in my tent instead. Lately, I have been skipping the first part. :)

A.T. Hiker

11-08-2008, 12:21

Never have food in your tent if you don`t want to hang your food put your pack against a tree near your tent but not in your tent.

Mr. Clean

11-08-2008, 12:27

I agree with L. Wolf that you may not need to hang when at a stealth site, but if you're near a shelter, why not take the several minutes and be safe. All the critters that take your food are learning bad behaviors and are teaching their young ones, and hanging properly can avoid it. Or, simply don't use shelters.

santa

11-08-2008, 12:56

Just for the record colorado there is no grizzlies in colorado

mudhead

11-08-2008, 12:59

Just for the record colorado there is no grizzlies in colorado

One might hitch down from Montana.

Lone Wolf

11-08-2008, 13:13

Never have food in your tent if you don`t want to hang your food put your pack against a tree near your tent but not in your tent.

i always have food in my tent along with my pack

Pacific Tortuga

11-08-2008, 13:32

i always have food in my tent along with my pack

You've been sayin that for years, dont know how you get away with it.
It sure seems to work for ya. Figure it out and bottle it, hikers will buy :)

tom_alan

11-08-2008, 13:51

Just for the record colorado there is no grizzlies in colorado

So many people say. However, many feel there are some in the San Juan Mountain though very few. The last place in Colorado where a grizzly was tracked and killed was in the San Juans.

There is also rumor that there maybe some that have migrated to the nothern part of the state from WY after finding a wolf that was tagged in Yellow Stone and getting hit and killed by a car on I 70.

In both casses there have been no confirmed sightings for about 30 to 40 years.

DavidNH

11-08-2008, 14:45

I never really saw a need to do a bear hang. The shelter's are full most of the way up the AT (during thru hiking season) so why would a bear want to come anywhere near so many people? Many hikers at the start seemed terrified of bears.

One humerus anecdote: at a shelter in NC, before the smokies, there where like 8 people sleeping in the shelter. All these food bags where hung outside within very easy reach of any bear's paw. I mean six inches from the trunk and maybe 6-8 feet up. What's the point?

From Virginia on, people hang food bags on the mouse hangs in the shelters (that is the purpose of those things) for the rest of the trip. NO One was hanging food away from shelter the rest of the way.

That said, I don't think I would want any food IN My tent. Even if no bears come that would at least invite rodents who might chew their way through the tent wall to the food.

The problem to be concerned with on the AT is MICE not Bears!

DavidNH

lonehiker

11-08-2008, 16:13

There are no grizzlies in southern WY so highly unlikely that there are any in CO.

tom_alan

11-08-2008, 16:24

There are no grizzlies in southern WY so highly unlikely that there are any in CO.

I tend to agree with that; however, some people don't.

The San Juan Mountain Range covers so much land that is uninhabited that I can see were it might be possible for a few of them to go undetected.

"The San Juans cover 12,000+ square miles of southwestern Colorado, about an eighth of the state. The mountains are relatively new, geologically speaking, and are among the highest and most rugged in North America. Hundreds of San Juan peaks rise above 13,000 feet and many surpass 14,000 feet. One of the harsh realities of the San Juans for would-be climbers is the continual presence of rotten rock, knife-edge ridges and steep slopes covered with debris the size and shape of ball bearings. Another reality of the San Juans is they are reasonably remote from civilization. If you want to go hiking or climbing here, a weekend isn't enough time. That alone makes these mountains a lot less crowded than ranges closer to the cities."

Mags

11-08-2008, 16:35

I tend to agree with that; however, some people don't.

The San Juan Mountain Range covers so much land that is uninhabited that I can see were it might be possible for a few of them to go undetected.

There are lots of old mining trails (and roads) are are visted a fair amount (due to the 14ers).

Maybe there are grizzlies. Maybe not. But the San Juans are a high user area. Not wilderness. Not WILDERNESS. Maybe Wilderness. :)

Anyway, on the AT, I wouldn't be concerned with bear bagging so much as CRITTER bagging (as others have said). I had a squirrel bite through my food bag in Maine when I was talking to a caretaker once. I just left it for maybe 1/2 hr (at the most!).

Still have that food bag..bite marks and all.

tom_alan

11-08-2008, 17:10

I took my son to go camping in the San Isabel National Forest, Colorado. We loaded up my motorcycle and off we went. Around three in the morning I heard a noise and went to investigate. There was a small black bear cub biting and clawing on one of my saddle bags. I went to chase the cub off and heard a very loud growl. It was than that I realized I had placed myself between mamma and her cub:eek:. Not a good place to be. I quickly moved out from between them as the cub went back to it's mother. I never did see the mother because she was in the trees. I found out the next morning that my son had left some candy in the saddle bag so we wouldn't have it in the tent:-?. Go figure.

santa

11-08-2008, 17:26

I found out the next morning that my son had left some candy in the saddle bag so we wouldn't have it in the tent:-?. Go figure.

If i had candy in my tent it would have been gone long before sunset. Then no bear would have came. :) lol but I understand your worry but sometimes we just have no control over what is going to happen. My scoutmaster from scouts had his fuel bottle bitten into but all his food was left untouched? If a bear is going to come and steal my food so be it because its out of my control.

Stir Fry

11-08-2008, 21:30

i always have food in my tent along with my pack

Hope you do not become a meal for something. I do so injoy reading your posts.

tom_alan

11-08-2008, 21:44

I dont blame you because it is safer, but I have never seen a bear or cat in colorado.

I have seen black bear in Colorado and I have seen very large and fresh cat prints on a muddy section of trail after the rain. Never saw the cat though.

Lone Wolf

11-08-2008, 21:53

Hope you do not become a meal for something. I do so injoy reading your posts.

it won't happen. trust me :cool:

Tin Man

11-09-2008, 00:05

Hanging food to avoid mice is a waste of time.
They are smarter than people give them credit.
See...

http://www.guzer.com/pictures/mouse_mission.jpg

gungho

11-09-2008, 00:21

rs u sur. i s dont wont 2 git eats up

:-? What kind of language is that

Tin Man

11-09-2008, 00:27

:-? What kind of language is that

I think it's dwarf, and a rare dialect at that.

windy city

11-09-2008, 00:39

Bear searches for food....... http://www.theonion.com/content/node/79323

santa

11-09-2008, 02:14

Bear searches for food....... http://www.theonion.com/content/node/79323

that was good

Plodderman

11-11-2008, 18:30

I always hang my food and am concerned in some shelters when people do not hang theirs too. Never been bothered by bears but would hate to be miles away from food and have a bear eating it for a snack.

tom_alan

11-12-2008, 00:04

Hanging food to avoid mice is a waste of time.
They are smarter than people give them credit.
See...

http://www.guzer.com/pictures/mouse_mission.jpg

I just saw this ~ LMBO ~ What is this "Mission Impossible" :D:D:D

waldick

11-12-2008, 21:03

Last month we came through Loft Mountain in VA on the AT and there were pictures posted at the ranger station of the several tents that had been completely destroyed by bears. Then there were several other pictures of the same bears in the process of actually ripping tents apart. The really exciting part was when we realized that the pictures had been taken just 2 hours prior to our arrival.

So, needless to say, we hung our food that night and every night...

BumpJumper

11-12-2008, 21:58

Has no one else took notice to a key point in Santa's original post? For starters, why the hell did it take the man 2 hours to hang his bag? What the hell was he hanging, food for an ARMY? I dont know, call me dumb, but the last time I hung, it took ....oh about 5 minutes?????***?:eek:

bfitz

11-13-2008, 01:34

Some people take longer than others.

superman

11-13-2008, 08:08

Some people take longer than others.

That two hours may include trying to find a tree that meets his rigid criteria?:-?

garlic08

11-13-2008, 11:22

The OP is eighteen years old. You've never heard a teenager exaggerate about something a parent did? "I've told you a million times, don't exaggerate!"

dan8794

11-13-2008, 12:02

The way I see it is like this:

I bring a first aid kit and in it are some item I hope to never use, and don't use them. But, I bring them along for precautionary measures.

Same with a bear bag, I'm sure that the food is safe with me in the tent, but why risk it?

ki0eh

11-13-2008, 12:24

4 pages in this thread and no one mentions a canister?

Lone Wolf

11-13-2008, 12:30

4 pages in this thread and no one mentions a canister?

no need for one on the AT

Blissful

11-13-2008, 15:35

Chaplain

11-13-2008, 17:16

I read here that many have not hung their food bags and never had a problem. I think Bears and other wildlife are unpredictable. So I opt to hang my food and never have taken any to the tent. Never had a bear come around yet, but there is always the first time. I would rather do all I can to protect myself and property. Oh, I try to cook away from my tent site also. Usually stop early to have dinner and hike on a couple of miles or so. So this works good.

bfitz

11-13-2008, 21:37

On my first day ever hiking I collapsed at a shelter in the afternoon. I had decided to camp there a thru-hiker came up to the shelter and started making a meal. He pulled out a bunch of bacon and cooked it in front of me. I didnt know much about bears or anything but I knew enough to ask "Isn't it a bad idea to cook bacon here because it will attract bears?" He looked at me and smiled and said, "no worries, I'm not camping here tonight"! Packed up his gear and hiked off. That was my first night. I had never heard of bear bagging or I would have tried it that night. That week I saw like 10 bears.

Big Dawg

11-14-2008, 10:17

Only hung my food in the Smokies on available cable lines at shelters, otherwise it's in my tent w/ me. Never had a problem.

JAK

11-14-2008, 10:40

The only time I've hung my food was when hiking with my daughter. I don't know how neccessary it is in New Brunswick, but it is actually kind of fun. In my opinion if the food isn't that smelly and is bagged well it doesn't need to be totally unreachable. I just want it away from my snack sized daughter. I also use a tent when I'm with her and keep her right next to me. We do have one small snack at bedtime but its not like we roll around in jello donuts. Bears have a great sense of smell and there is one every 2 square miles, but there are alot of smells out there and they are largely creatures of habits. We just act human and try not to tease them with overpowering food smells, out of simple courtesy as much as anything else.

I bought some citron insect repellant for my daughter that trip but decided to leave it in the car because I didn't want her to smell too good. We've had not bear fatalitiesd here but she is small and I think that matters. So we brought Deep Woods Off with 25% deet but didn't need to use it anyhow. She wore these polyester long underwear tops and bottoms 24/7 and that helped alot also. If I used the deet it would be on those but I didn't need to. I think its best to wait until you get a few bites especially around hair and eyes and hands.

Bug bites that is. Not Bear bites.

Father Dragon

11-14-2008, 23:45

Bears have a great sense of smell and there is one every 2 square miles,

Every 2 square miles?

I always hang my food to keep the sasquatch from getting it.

Ziggy Trek

11-15-2008, 02:04

I'm undecided on this issue. This is a common topic and discussed many times. Yet advocates just recite what they've heard because it certainly "sounds" like a good idea. Remember how (because of liability) how parks and officials had everyone so scared of Giardia and how the research showed the actual threat (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=119497#post119497)? Is there fair and acurate data?
I'm not starting a poll. I'm just curious what the outcome would be. Has anyone ever taken a poll? Has there been any research? [First-hand knowledge, not hearsay. Most everything I've heard is hearsay]

How many have had their tents chewed/damaged when food was inside?
How many tents/packs got chewed or damaged when there was NO food or food odors?
How many never had a problem when food was stored inside?
How many have had possums, mice (or even a bear) mess with a hung bear bag?
Before the Internet, I never knew it was dangerous or, obviously "politically incorrect" to sleep with my food in grizzly-free territory. 30 years without a problem. Then again, never had a drunk driver swerve into my lane yet either. I like the belt and airbag anyway.
Is it like worrying about getting bit on the ankle by a rattler? or is it a likely (even probable) danger to avoid?

BumpJumper

11-15-2008, 07:27

Zig...set those up as a poll. I would be super curious.

JAK

11-15-2008, 08:04

Every 2 square miles?

I always hang my food to keep the sasquatch from getting it.On average. We have about 14000 bears and about 28000 square miles.
Makes you think eh.

Ziggy Trek

11-15-2008, 12:15

Click here: Poll is posted (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43207)

Father Dragon

11-15-2008, 15:59

On average. We have about 14000 bears and about 28000 square miles.
Makes you think eh.

Wow, I was told once by a ranger that it is about 1 per 20 in the eastern range. I thought that was impressive.

Source(s) ?

Grinder

11-15-2008, 21:00

poll should be modified to include " camp and hang and never had a problem" and variations on that theme.

I've never had a problem. If no bear cables, I hang food bag quite low, but a few feet away from my hammock.

I know of people who hung food from bear cables and mice chewed into the food bag (from the amazing walenda mouse family, I resume)

Grinder

BumpJumper

11-15-2008, 22:41

ofthearth

11-15-2008, 23:00

from trail journals:
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=357629

Mags

11-15-2008, 23:25

from trail journals:
http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=357629

I know this woman! Small world... She went on a few of my trips before she went back East AND on the AT she bumped into a good friend of mine that I have not seen in a few years.

Small world indeed...

Ziggy Trek

11-16-2008, 21:48

Im with you grinder.....Zig.....dude.....
Ok, what if...you are a "hanger".....and you put your food in your Hammock.....do we need another poll for that too?:D:D:D:D Ok I am being a smart ass now...Carry on.:rolleyes:
I wish a knew how to edit that poll. I barely figured out how to post it. Hammock guys are people too.:) (I'm actually considering joining the ranks.)

My apologies, also, to Santa if the poll (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43207) distracted your thread/topic.

santa

11-17-2008, 00:39

I wish a knew how to edit that poll. I barely figured out how to post it. Hammock guys are people too.:) (I'm actually considering joining the ranks.)

My apologies, also, to Santa if the poll (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43207) distracted your thread/topic.

No worries man I got my answer pages ago. :)