How to hang food

[steph]

I was wondering what a good method/procedure for hanging food is, how much rope you carry, how far from the ground/tree you need to hang your food bag, etc. I am fairly inexperienced at this, and it seems to take me way to long to do it, not to mention that I am "winging it" to begin with. Thanks!

[jlb2012]

unfortunately bear bagging varies with how smart the bears are - in the simplest case in say SNP just throw the rope over a branch so that the bag is 10 feet up and 4 feet out from the main trunk and 3 feet down from the branch. Rope to use - a flat shoe lace cord is reasonable, personally I use a 550 cord with the cord stripped out. Amount - 40 to 50 feet.

[Ankle Bone]

Another option is to counter-balance two bags if you're in a group. Tie one bag to a branch as HOI described, then pull on free end of rope until the bag is at the top of the branch. Then tie bag #2 to the free end of the rope. Now let the weight of Bag 1 pull the other bag up to position as also described by HOI. You can use your stick or pole to push it up if needed. In the morning you can push one bag upward until the other bag is within reach. The bears will still get the food, but you may fool a few people into thinking you know what you're doing!

[Hikerhead]

I learned this from DebW.

My old way was to try to find a limb that was the perfect height and big enough to hold a bag so far away from the trunk. I know this sounds dumb but I have had problems finding trees that will work. Throw the rope over the limb then find another tree to tie off to.

What I learned from DebW. Take any tree, throw a rope over any limb and tie it to the trunk. Find another tree and throw the remaining rope over a limb on that
tree. Now, let the rope drop down between the two trees. Tie your food bag to the rope, then pull it up into the air and then tie off the loose end.

Doing this you can have your food suspended 10 feet between trees and 10 feet off the ground. Even the rodents and raccons will have problems reaching your food done in this manner and you can use any trees, even ones with stubs for branches.

You will need a little more rope for this but 50 ft of the smallest dia cord will work.

[jlb2012]

watch out for the "smallest dia cord" - a small diameter cord like say Triptease can cut the bark on the branch and with some types of trees the sap from the cut can "glue" the cord to the branch giving one a real crappy time in the morning

[steve hiker]

watch out for the "smallest dia cord" - a small diameter cord like say Triptease can cut the bark on the branch and with some types of trees the sap from the cut can "glue" the cord to the branch giving one a real crappy time in the morning

I use yellow nylon cord from Home Depot that's sold in 50 foot packs. Light as hell, strong, and thick and slippery enough so it won't cut a groove in the branch or get stuck.

[squirrel bait]

Steph try the Cooking/food forum under do you hang your food bag everytime. I asked basically this same question and the answers were/are very helpful. Hope this helps.

[highway]

I learned this from DebW.

What I learned from DebW. Take any tree, throw a rope over any limb and tie it to the trunk. Find another tree and throw the remaining rope over a limb on that
tree. Now, let the rope drop down between the two trees. Tie your food bag to the rope, then pull it up into the air and then tie off the loose end.

Doing this you can have your food suspended 10 feet between trees and 10 feet off the ground.

Hikerhead or DebW:

I sure hate to appear so dense in front of so many but would you please elaborate slightly on the above? Did you use 2 cords, one suspended between the two trees and another tossed over that line pulling the food bag up?
Thanks

[squirrel bait]

Use the drawstring on your food bag, attach any number of kinda of clips, couple of knots on the mainline and the wieght of the food bag will keep it in place, experiment with any of the above, invent a new one, sew a tie down onto the bottom of the bag, hang upside down, less chance for rain entering. Good luck.

[Hikerhead]

Hikerhead or DebW:

I sure hate to appear so dense in front of so many but would you please elaborate slightly on the above? Did you use 2 cords, one suspended between the two trees and another tossed over that line pulling the food bag up?
Thanks

Where's DebW when you need her. She's out celebrating (B-Day).

I'll try to explain this a little better. One rope goes over limbs from two different trees. Tie off one end, then let the rope slack down between the two trees and tie your food bag on. Pull tight on the loose end which raises the food bag ito where it's in between the two trees. Then simply tie the loose end of the rope and you're done.

[Hikerhead]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/sh...php?photo=2068

I drew this. Signed copies on request.

[illininagel]

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/sh...php?photo=2068

I drew this. Signed copies on request.

Hikerhead,

Thanks for the great tip and clear illustration. I can't tell you how much trouble I've had hanging my food on past trips. I dread the task before hitting the sack at night. This should help...it looks like I'll need to carry plenty of rope, though.

[Blue Jay]

I agree with almost everything that has been previously stated (amazing isn't it), however I would add on more thing. No matter how well you hang your bag a determined bear or raccoon can get it. My suggestion is to hang your pot with something in it as a warning bell and sleep close enough to hear it. If the animal has not yet actually got to the food you can scare them off.

[smokymtnsteve]

I agree with almost everything that has been previously stated (amazing isn't it), .

you feeling ok blue jay??????????

[Blue Jay]

you feeling ok blue jay??????????

Bite Me!!!!

[DebW]

Hikerhead or DebW:

I sure hate to appear so dense in front of so many but would you please elaborate slightly on the above? Did you use 2 cords, one suspended between the two trees and another tossed over that line pulling the food bag up?
Thanks

I've used this technique with both one and 2 cords. If you're hanging alot of weight (like 6 days food for 2 people) you may find it very difficult to lift the food up with the one-rope method because there will be alot of friction between the cord and the tree. In this case, hang a horizontal cord between 2 trees with a biner in the middle. Put a second rope through the biner (before you raise the first rope, that is) and lift the food on it. You don't damage trees this way. Another variation I use is to loop the cord over one tree branch near the trunk. Tie a loop in the end of the cord, put a biner through the loop, clip around the middle of the cord on the other side of the branch, and clip the food bag to the biner also. Now pull on the cord to raise the food bag (you may have to lift the food bag at the same time). Tie it off as high as you can reach to a different tree about 20 feet away so the food is between the 2 trees and 8-10 feet off the ground.

[Jaybird]

Steph:

ALL have been good suggestions...again, its what works best for you.

i like to keep it simple...i take ONE rope (small gauge climbing rope available from your local outfitters' store) & tie it directly to my foodbag (with 7 days worth of food in it) which has been bound tight with 2 or 3 double knots...then hang from limb AWAY FROM YOUR CAMP 10 - 15 feet off ground & about 6 feet out on limb away from tree trunk.

i've seen some "ultra-lite-ers" actually use twine!

good luck & happy hikin'!

[Lone Wolf]

A lot of folks like myself never hang food. We keep it in our tents.

[Blue Jay]

A lot of folks like myself never hang food. We keep it in our tents.

But not everyone smells as bad as you (sorry I could'nt resist).

[No_trailname_yet]

heya,

Anyone used an URSACK? (www.ursack.com)

At least the working premise is they use a super 'zip-lock' type bag that seals all the smells inside - if the critters don't know it's there, they won't try to get it.

Then the outer bag is a high-tech aramid fiber (if I remember right) bullet proof vest stuff.... Reasonably light too.

Anyways, they haven't gotten the 'stamp of approval' yet for use in some of the heavily populated grizzly bear areas - places where you're required to carry canisters - but I'd think it would be almost overkill for the black bears of the AT.

What was attractive to me was that I could just tie it directly to the trunk of a tree. Even if a bear found it and decided to use it as a chew toy, he supposedly can't tear the bag or pull the cord from the tree (read - if you tied/used it properly).

Since everything I'm bringing is pretty much powder already, I figure if it won't hurt if it gets some pre-chewed action.

Check out the video at the Ursack web site of their 'test' bear trying to get into the bag....