Re: The Bear Canister Challenge
Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 8:56 pm
Same amount of days for me too with the Bearikade weekender. Nine days food (which is a 10-day trip) at 1.25 pounds and 2600 calories per day. When I fish, I can drop it to 1 pound per day. You do have to be careful about the bulk of your food. For example, thin spaghetti instead of those wide open noodles. I do not use the standard freeze-dried meals - they are quite bulky. I pack it one day per layer with a round cut wax paper between layers. If you stuff your bear can to the hilt, it is hard to do it again in the field if you have to dig around in it too much. Once 3-4 days food is eaten, then the organization of the food is not as critical.
I can go one more day and for the first day keep out a few items that would have little food value to a bear or me for that matter, such as coffee (as much as I like my coffee, it is not absolutely necessary). Also smelly hygiene items would not fit the first few days. You can also plan your first night's camp at a bear box, easy to do for example if going in to Hamilton Lake.
I also have an old Kahmsin 38. What I liked is that I could buy different sized components- medium pack, small waist belt and straps. Great pack. I did an 8-day trip from South Lake to Lakes Basin and out Taboose Pass with that pack. However I did not take a bear can, probably illegal at Barrett Lake the first night. No tent, just a bivy sack. I had to put the bear can vertical in my Go-lite Quest (woman's medium). I did find that the stiffness bothered me when had to do a lot of bending down or rock scrambling- not so much just on the trail.
When I take my Kelty, it is because I am doing a very long trip, a climbing trip with technical gear, or carrying most of the group gear for a family trip, so yes, the pack is full. But I have made my own pack sack and it is considerably smaller than the original. My frame is also the smallest adult size.
I prefer to carry more weight high rather than low, so the bear can on top is perfect for me. Everyone is different.
I can go one more day and for the first day keep out a few items that would have little food value to a bear or me for that matter, such as coffee (as much as I like my coffee, it is not absolutely necessary). Also smelly hygiene items would not fit the first few days. You can also plan your first night's camp at a bear box, easy to do for example if going in to Hamilton Lake.
I also have an old Kahmsin 38. What I liked is that I could buy different sized components- medium pack, small waist belt and straps. Great pack. I did an 8-day trip from South Lake to Lakes Basin and out Taboose Pass with that pack. However I did not take a bear can, probably illegal at Barrett Lake the first night. No tent, just a bivy sack. I had to put the bear can vertical in my Go-lite Quest (woman's medium). I did find that the stiffness bothered me when had to do a lot of bending down or rock scrambling- not so much just on the trail.
When I take my Kelty, it is because I am doing a very long trip, a climbing trip with technical gear, or carrying most of the group gear for a family trip, so yes, the pack is full. But I have made my own pack sack and it is considerably smaller than the original. My frame is also the smallest adult size.
I prefer to carry more weight high rather than low, so the bear can on top is perfect for me. Everyone is different.