Food Storage and Bear Bags

When to use this

Every night at camp, without exception. Also at midday if leaving camp unattended.

• Any campsite in bear country
• Any campsite where wildlife has been reported
• Preventing raccoons, mice, and squirrels from raiding camp

See it done

What you need

• PCT bear hang: 50 ft of paracord and a stuff sack
• Bear canister: an approved hard-sided container (required in some parks)
• Bear box: many established campsites have one — use it

Step by step

1. 1.Identify the hang tree: 200 feet from your tent, a live branch 20+ feet high and 10 feet from the trunk.
2. 2.Place all food, scented items (toothpaste, sunscreen, lip balm, trash) in the bag. Nothing scented stays in the tent.
3. 3.Tie a small rock to one end of the paracord. Toss it over the branch at least 10 feet out from the trunk.
4. 4.Attach the food bag to the rope. Hoist it so the bag hangs at least 12 feet off the ground and 6 feet below the branch.
5. 5.Tie off the free end to a separate tree. Check that the bag can't be reached from the trunk or pulled down from below.
6. 6.At night, hang within 30 minutes of finishing dinner. Bears pattern on camp smells.

Pro tips

• The PCT hang (counterbalance method) works with a single branch and is faster in practice than the classic two-tree method.
• Ursack sacks are a legal alternative to hard canisters in many areas — lighter and easier to hang.
• Never cook or eat in or near your tent. The smell lingers for hours.

Common mistakes

• Hanging the bag too close to the trunk — a bear can shimmy up and reach it.
• Forgetting scented non-food items. Bears investigate lip balm, bug spray, and dirty dishes.
• Using a branch that's too thin — it will bend down to the bear's reach under the bag's weight.