View Full Version : How to hang a food bag
Slo-go'en
11-15-2008, 23:29
I think the reason a lot of people don't bother to hang thier food is because it can be a pain to do if you don't know an easy way to get the line up and over a tree branch. Here's a trick I learned a few years back which makes it really easy, even if your dog tired.
First, you don't need a heavy rope. All you need is some nylon surveryers twine. Its light, strong and 50 feet of it takes up little space. I use the fluorescent pink stuff, as its easy to find if you forget exactly where you hung the bag.
Second, forget about rocks, carabiners, socks with pebbles in the toe, and what not for a wieght. More often than not these things get tangled up in the tree branches or wrap around the limb.
What you do is fill a 20 oz plastic soda bottle about 1/3d with water. Put the end of the string in the top of the bottle and put the cap back on. Now you just lug the bottle up and over the tree limb. You can get it up 20 feet easy. With a little practice, you can do this the first and every time. The biggest problem is the string getting tangled in the scruff on the ground as it goes up.
The shape of the bottle is such that it is easy to hold and is big enough it will not wrap around a limb, will not get caught up on anything - usually - and is just heavy enough to come right down.
Yup. Plus most people already have the bottle in their pack. I've never spent more than 5 minutes bear bagging this way.
Lone Wolf
11-16-2008, 08:37
I think the reason a lot of people don't bother to hang thier food is because it can be a pain to do if you don't know an easy way to get the line up and over a tree branch.
no, it because there's no reason to hang hang food on the AT
Homer&Marje
11-16-2008, 09:20
I think if you find the prospect of getting a rope over a tree branch a difficult task it's time to go back to the smaller puzzles. Try under 25 pieces.
I use a stick, not a water bottle. Ever seen how many sticks are already provided?
ofthearth
11-17-2008, 16:07
I hang my bag..... well sometimes, sort of but am wondering about it.
Reasons others have given:
1) The stuff that gets left hanging in the trees
2) Damage to the trees/limbs. I'd never thought about it but..........
3) LW (enough said)
4)http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=8473&c=member&imageuser=3920
see all four images
5) To Hang or not to hang? not a reason but another thread on the topic already http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=42943
Blissful
11-17-2008, 16:09
I think if you find the prospect of getting a rope over a tree branch a difficult task it's time to go back to the smaller puzzles. Try under 25 pieces.
I use a stick, not a water bottle. Ever seen how many sticks are already provided?
Agree - I used a small heavy stick and was successful. Tried a rock but it came undone. (then again, PB had always hung the food for me...)
ofthearth
11-17-2008, 16:16
If you really want to do it :
A small mesh bag (weighs a few gs)to keep your line in(keeps it from getting lost, tangled etc) can be used on the end of the line to put rock/s in. Leave the line tied to the draw string and you won't loose the bag.
Bare Bear
11-17-2008, 18:07
Bear Bag Hanging
still the funniest free entertainment on any trail. Hey LW, come down to Florida mid December and hike some with us and you NOT hang your food. That will be good for some fun too. I guarantee you will want to BBH after that. :)
Lone Wolf
11-17-2008, 19:06
who the hell wants to hike in florida?
ofthearth
11-17-2008, 19:19
who the hell wants to hike in florida?
Why not? A lot fewer people and NO I repeat NO shelters :eek:
Lone Wolf
11-17-2008, 19:21
I guarantee you will want to BBH after that. :)
and why is that?
aaroniguana
11-17-2008, 19:36
Someone once told me that using anything thinner than good old chute cord would be a mistake because pulling a 7 or so pound foodbag up 20 or so feet would fray the line and probably cause the thin line to saw into the bark of the limb and lock up. And you wouldn't be able to get your beg up OR down.
I didn't listen.
The first time...
Hey Lw, Come Down To Florida Mid December And Hike Some With Us And You Not Hang Your Food. That Will Be Good For Some Fun Too. i Guarantee You Will Want To Bbh After That. :)
Why?
Lone Wolf
11-17-2008, 20:07
Why?
raccoons if anything but i'd still sleep with my food
I always get to camp early so that I can rig my patented 4 pulley bear-bag hanging system. The block pulleys are kinda heavy, but the 16 guage steel cable is a must.
ofthearth
11-18-2008, 16:52
I always get to camp early so that I can rig my patented 4 pulley bear-bag hanging system. The block pulleys are kinda heavy, but the 16 guage steel cable is a must.
I think 16 guage is about right.
Dmanhiker
11-18-2008, 17:32
The PCT Method supposedly developed by hikers on the pacific coast trail. I haven't tried this method on the trail yet but I have tried it in my backyard. You still have to throw the rope over a branch, but it's practically bear/animal proof. Here's a link to backpackinglight's article. The pct method is halfway down the page.
Link (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/bear_bag_hanging_technique.html)
I usually hang my food under my head. What else would I use as a pillow?