Dumb question 3: things hanging in shelters

[dmperkins74]

Hi all,

I've never stayed in a shelter, but have stopped to sit and fill out register at several in my various hikes. What are the strings that hang from the ceilings with cans halfway down and a stick on the bottom for?

Is it for hanging clothes to dry them?

alphaPig

[fins1838]

ash trays.

[moytoy]

Hang your food. The can is supposed to keep mice from climbing down the string.

[Don H]

Wind chimes

[dmperkins74]

I didn't want to guess hanging food... figured that'd invite bears into the shelter, that's why you're supposed to hang from trees, right?

[flemdawg1]

I didn't want to guess hanging food... figured that'd invite bears into the shelter, that's why you're supposed to hang from trees, right?

At most shelters, bears aren't a problem.

[T.S.Kobzol]

It also confuses bears. They leave with a puzzled look on their face.

[pyroman53]

Since you asked a serious question, I'll try to give you a serious answer. Those inverted cans on strings are to hang your pack (or food) so mice are less likely to get to it. I've heard that athletic mice can get around them by jumping, especially to your pack. Jumping onto a slinylon sack of food may be a bit harder (I've never tried it). You ask a great question - shouldn't you hang your food? That question - on this forum - can open up an old wound that never heals...the question of "Should I hang my food or should I just sleep with it (or in this case maybe just hang it on those mice lines around the shelter)? My suggestion is you hang around here, read the various arguments for and against each choice, and make your own choice. After a few years hearing the arguments, I can honestly say both camps have valid points expressed by solid outdoorsmen whom I respect. Maybe success depends on karma - I don't know.

The interesting dilema is when opposing camps are staying in the same shelter. Then, I guess the answer depends on who carries the biggest knife. If you've got the shelter to yourself, do what you want. If there are others - go with the flow (and don't discuss it!!)

[pyroman53]

Addendum: If you're going to hang your food in a tree - learn how to do it right before you go hanging food-filled pinatas that even BooBoo can get to. I've seen enough of that and thats just plain dumb!

[mad4scrapping]

I thought they were for curing bacon or cheese.

[solobip]

I thought the were old fashioned telephones, like we used to have as kids. So you could talk to the other shelter dwellers at night without disturbing anyone sleeping.

[hikerboy57]

you're all wrong. these are to hang your bear canister from.the cans are to keep coons from using their prying little fingers to get them open.

[vamelungeon]

It's to talk to the cooks at Progresso Soup company. Surely you've seen the commercials.

[shelterbuilder]

3-D hiker art!
Actually, they are traps (hung by bears) to snare unsuspecting hikers who get up during the night for nature calls. It's an evolutionary tool designed to weed out "unfit" hikers from the gene pool....

[hikerboy57]

i can only wonder if the OP figured out which answer was correct.

[House of Payne]

interesting question, some great "progresso soup"type answers. I have a question to add to it. Do the mice and rats venture far from the shelter to seek food from the hikers. IE: will mice climbs trees to get at bear bags? and will mice get into backpacks even though there is no food in it?

[daddytwosticks]

interesting question, some great "progresso soup"type answers. I have a question to add to it. Do the mice and rats venture far from the shelter to seek food from the hikers. IE: will mice climbs trees to get at bear bags? and will mice get into backpacks even though there is no food in it?

Had some sort of a small rodent get into my food bag hung in a tree about 20 yards from Carter Gap shelter. Chewed a tiny hole, so I think it was a mouse. Use an Ursak Minor now.

[Pedaling Fool]

Interesting observation on those mouse-proof lines. All shelters have them, but not all shelters have professionally installed bear-cable system. People generally use the bearcables when provided, but virtually all use the mouse-proof lines when cables are not provided, as opposed to hanging their food.

[chip2012]

If you sprayed your food bag with bitter Apple would that keep mice and rodents off of your gear and food bags?

[ChinMusic]

If you sprayed your food bag with bitter Apple would that keep mice and rodents off of your gear and food bags?

If you want to go that route, try predator unine: http://www.predatorpee.com/