If you've been hanging around here at all you know you're gonna get a bunch of differing answers. Some will say hang it and some will say sleep with it. You might even get a canister user to chime in (that's actually my current method). With that said here's my thoughts:
Originally Posted by
DH42
As a Brit doing his first section hike of the AT (between Harper's Ferry and Duncannon), I was hoping someone could clarify what I should do with keeping food away from bears.
From what I have read it seems I need to hang food so will bring a rope of some description. In terms of hanging it do you just use stuff at the shelters?
If my memory serves me right the section you are doing does not have any shelters with bear food storage (i.e. boxes, cables or poles). So if you want to hang your food then bring some para cord or better yet some small diameter dyneema cord (this stuff does not bind on the tree branches like regular para cord).
Originally Posted by
DH42
Do I need a bear cannister for this section or would some kind of food bag be sufficient?
The short answer is no. Canisters are not required, and may be overkill for this particular section. They do provide piece of mind though...at least in my opinion.
Originally Posted by
DH42
Does anyone have any gear recommendations for this kind of thing?
If you are going to do a hang then a sil-nylon dry sack and some dyneema cord works. If you want to do the PCT style hang (recommended) you will also need a carabiner. If you are talking about canisters then the main one most people get is the Bear Vault. I have a Wild Ideas Bearikade myself. The other option is the Ursack that was mentioned by another poster, and lots of people on here use them. Don't have any personal experience with one.
Originally Posted by
DH42
Is there anything else I need to bring/plan for?
For bears specifically? Ummm...a camera...cause if you actually see one you might get a chance to take a picture of it.
Originally Posted by
DH42
Sorry for the newbie questions - we don't have any bears in England anymore.
No problem. Bears aren't as big of a deal as many would make them out to be, and you are probably not going to even see one on that section. I hope you have a great time on your hike.