Bear Cannisters in Winter?

[Neil]

No, this aint another bear cannister thread!!
Would you carry your food (freeze dried suppers, oatmeal, chocolate, nuts, candy, coffee)in a bear cannister at the end of Dec.? Or all winter long for that matter? I'm not only thinking of Mr. Bear but also of Pine Martins and any other furry, fanged and claw possessing denizens of the ADK high peaks.

 

[Silverback]

I would. Those "other" critters can do as much damage to my breakfast as a bear could. Problem of course is the extra weight and space which is much easier in the summer to compensate for than the winter, given all the "extras" needed in the bugless season.

Too bad they don't make miniature versions of the canister for those times when the bear jaws are not a security issue.

Anyone know of such a product?

 

[spaddock]

Too bad they don't make miniature versions of the canister for those times when the bear jaws are not a security issue.

Anyone know of such a product?

Big Nalgenes with the cap loop cut off? To me the screw top bear vaults remind me of jumbo nalgenes anyways...


-Shayne

 

[Mark]

I wonder if a suitable alternative to a bear canister during the non-bear season would be something like the big, clear plastic pretzel containers from the wholesale clubs. They're smaller and certainly lighter than a bear canister. A larger, determined rodent with plenty of time might be able to chew away the edges of the screw on lid, but I would think it would take some time. Fill one with a few peanuts and toss it in your yard. See how long it takes the squirrels to get in. I think it would work fine for smaller critters like chipmonks and mice. (Just trying to think economically.)

Of course, if you have an Ursack, that would work too.

 

[Neil]

That's a great idea. Can you get jumbo nalgenes? ie. greater than 2 quarts in volume? For a one night trip it might be easier to just carry all the food all the time rather than lug that cannister in on the approach.

 

[spaddock]

That's a great idea. Can you get jumbo nalgenes? ie. greater than 2 quarts in volume? For a one night trip it might be easier to just carry all the food all the time rather than lug that cannister in on the approach.

http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/subcategory.asp?categorysubcategorycode=25

Not sure where you could get these. A local store, Bushtukah, could probably get them from the Nalgene wholesaler in town if I asked nice.
Or I guess it looks like you can order them from the Nalgene site.

Only thing they are white, and in snow that would not be cool... I'd probably plaster it with stickers. Not sure how effective it would be against rodents, worth a shot in the backyard filled with stuff.


-Shayne

 

[sli74]

http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com/store/subcategory.asp?categorysubcategorycode=25

Not sure where you could get these. A local store, Bushtukah, could probably get them from the Nalgene wholesaler in town if I asked nice.
Or I guess it looks like you can order them from the Nalgene site.

-Shayne

Also, if you know anyone who works in a lab environment, academia or biotech, they can probably order them for you as I am unsure if nalgene sells those items direct/retail . . .

sli74

 

[carole]

Rather than plastic how about the large metal tins that popcorn or other such treats come in? Sometimes I have a hard time getting the lid off those

 

[Whiteman]

What about the old fashioned method?

Wouldn't hanging the food be effective against the pine martin? Or are they so acrobatic and intelligent that they will spot a green rope and either tightrope over or shimmy down? A length of cord is a lot easier to pack than the bear cannister I don't currently own.

 

[Guinness]

Just an added thought...I use a 4" diameter piece of drainpipe commonly found at Home Deport in the plumber’s area. On one end I sealed it (glued) with a PVC plug, the other end a screw on plug. It makes for a sturdy, and vermin proof container. Cost less than $10 to build and weighs around 1 pound. Cut it to the length required for your needs. I have had Nalgene containers compromised by vermin which drove me to this idea.

 

[ADackR]

funny story, my first trip into the high peaks in winter time included a stay at uphill lean-to...my friends and i set off to do skylight for the day and before we were off we saw this neat creature in a tree..very cool looking as it looked like a fox..so, we took some pictures and left...we had a bunch of food in the lean-to and never thought about hanging it....we came back from skylight, hungry and tired...we noticed that some of our food was scatted about... and a bunch of tracks around the lean-to...well, that darn pine marten got our pitas and some crackers but we were spared to full wrath...so now i hang my bags during the day..

i usually hang my food... this has always proven good because the pine martens come out in full force during the winter....

the weekend of 11/27 i saw 3 sets of tracks...

oh yeah, and the red squirrels are everywhere also....hanging food ususally stops them aslo,, but i have seen bags chewed through by them...
happy hiking

 

[Doc McPeak]

Good suggestions. I've made a 4" drainpipe, and a 3" drainpipe container myself. They work great when camping on ridges or treeless areas where a full bear can isn't needed. (Don't do the winter camping thing...)

Related vermin question: Do Flying Squirrels hibernate, or are they still flying thru the winter?

 

[oldfogie]

Of course if you are staying with your food as in a hike-through, you wouldn't need any canister at all. BUT.... I've discovered that the weight of all those plastic containers I use to hold crumbly food or sandwiches etc when totalled, is nearly as much as my carbon fiber bear canister anyway. Also, in winter, m bear canister makes a nice flat seat. I stuck a few velcro strips on mine and cut a lightweigh foam plastic circle to stick on it. Warm, soft, comfortable.

PVC is too heavy for me and any self-respecting squirrel can gnaw through plastic.

Several years ago I did a solo to Marcy from the Garden in very deep new powdery snow. Slept wherever I was when night fell. I didn't realize it at the time but I had just caught a bad cold or the flu at the start and was so sick I had no appetitite. Made me wonder if food is actually necessary on short trips, just a stove to melt snow for water. But admittedly I was a very strong hiker back then with some belly flab that fueled my bod. (OK now let the flames begin.)

Joe 3102w

 

[1ADAM12]

Wouldn't hanging the food be effective against the pine martin? Or are they so acrobatic and intelligent that they will spot a green rope and either tightrope over or shimmy down? A length of cord is a lot easier to pack than the bear cannister I don't currently own.

The only problem with hanging is the red squirrel can still get your food

I came back from a hike one day and the damn red squirrel was still in my food bag. It totally scared the hell out of me when I opened the sack. HE chewed a tiny enough hole to get in but forgot how to get out. HE was to worried about eating all my peanuts....lol

 

[kiteflyer]

Related vermin question: Do Flying Squirrels hibernate, or are they still flying thru the winter?

I have them at my house all winter not sure about the one's in the mountains though.

 

[percious]

The squirrels and Martins are ferocious at Lake Colden.

In order to keep them out of your food during the day, I recommend taking your MSR Circular anti-wind thingy, and poking a hole in it. Place this above your food in a knot, and the squirrels will have a harder time getting around it. This way they will go after the other guys food.

Alternatives include coffee can Lids, tuna can lids, etc. Watch out for sharp edges on those however.

-percious