It seems some people think this is how bear spray works so they spay it on their gear or themselves. In fact the opposite is true. Bears are attracted to bear spray. It seems they like spicy food. It works because (as Tom Smith puts it, they don't like having it sprayed up their nose).
https://www.backpacker.com/survival/...ar-not-on-you/
Here is my rant with them......they don't seem to stock anything. Everything seems made to order and the leadtimes on their website are very optimistic.
What was it 5or 6 years ago the RTC had to put bear boxes towards MCcafees knoB and bear warnings are out it that area each year. The bears are not getting alot of food in Virginia. The acorns are down so bears are going after packs open food etc. ITvactually pays to talk to wildlife officers about the issues with bears in the area..In the past we hadnt really had an issue ..SO I will admit I did sleep with my food in my tent on a lash from Georgia to Harpers ferry. BUT thinking about it I could see the AT going to bear canister. It woul;dnt bother me.Point blank wildlife the woods is their home.I am just vacationing in it. SO if it protects the wildlife then should be manditory on the trail.
My love for life is quit simple .i get uo in the moring and then i go to bed at night. What I do inbween is to occupy my time. Cary Grant
I wondered where my post went. I think my rant was supposed to be posted on a different forum.
I used to always sleep with my food. I got pressured recently to hang. I did it properly. A pain. Then, I see the lousy job the peer pressure mommys did hanging their bags. Like 7 feet off the ground. I could reach it easily with my hand.
Packing out an elk is a lot of work but at least having a suitable rifle slung around is somewhat comforting especially when not alone.
I sleep with my spouse, you guys are weird.
I'm late to the party here, but here's my 2 cents: I know people (Iraq war vet) who ended up in the emergency room from trying to do a bear hang using a rock tied to a rope. The same couple also got their food stuck up in a bear hang, and got injured (wife riding on husband's shoulders) trying to reach the bag. Comedy of errors, and these were expert thru hikers. You may have similar experience if you try to hang on really suitable high limbs. I know I have. Yes I sleep with my food, without any problems. going on 50 years.
I don't think it's a one trick pony show. I do it all depending on the circumstances.
When required, I use bear canisters. When in open areas (i.e. no trees) with heavy bear populations and/or problem bears, I use bear canisters. When risk is moderate to moderately high and trees are available, I'll hang my food. Probably 80% of the time, which is in areas without problem bears or high bear densities, yeah, I sleep with my food and have done so for more than 50 years now. I have also slept with my food in areas of high bear density, but few bear/human interactions, when a bear was in site of my camp. I've never had problems with bears and my food. I have had problems with rodents, ants, and racoons in my food. . . knock on wood . . .
I'm not lost. I'm exploring.
knots in hanging, sticks and rocks bouncing off trees....entertaining mornings but somewhat hazardous.
Like NSherry, my food storage depends on circumstance. Sometimes a canister, sometimes a hand, and working with an Ursack now. I've slept with my food in shelters on occasion, but in a mouse-proof pretzel jug.
Interesting perspective on the "bear problem": I've been following a handful of hikers on YouTube while waiting to get out myself. They all started quite early, well ahead of the bubble. Only one has seen a bear, and not until last week in New York. I'm sure it's a much different scenario if you start at Springer in April.
I’ve always slept with my food 3500 AT miles. Lost my food out west in sierras the only time I hung it. The key is to eat a mile or so before you camp. In a shelter I don’t believe a bear would come unless people are chomping food like crazy, cooking bacon etc., even then with the snoring rattling the rafters I think not...mice not bears.
There's only a few places on the AT where I'd be worried about sleeping with food. In those areas I'll just hang it on a tree (not pct style or from 10ft of lawson glow) where I can reach it. So far no problems. I prefer the bear canister approach for many reasons and there are now some compact versions that will hold 3-4 days of food in a 38L pack.