Bear Cannister Questions???

[Todd Heyn]

My wife and I will be in the Eastern High Peaks area this weekend, 8/3 - 8/6, and will be staying at the Panther Gorge campsite, Lake Colden and Wright campsite. We do have a Bear Vault BV400 for our food but are curious on the best way to use it.

We know that ALL smellables must be in the cannister overnight and that will not be a problem. Our question is how best to place the cannister. We know to move the cannister a good distance away from the campsite and to place in a depression if available. Are there any other thoughts on placement? What is the current history of bears batting the cannisters well away from where they were and not being able to find it in the a.m.? Is there any way to prevent this from occurring?

Finally, does anyone have any current information on bear activity in the areas where we will be staying?

Thanks in advance.

Todd & Stacia

[jessdrone]

the bears will just knock it around for a few minutes and realize that they cant get in it. I wouldnt worry about it being found in the morning it will be within a few feet of where you left it. I was in the high peaks a few weeks ago and there were bears around, didnt see any but i heard that there was.

[redhawk]

It's great to wake up in the middle of the night and see two groups of bears playing soccer with the canister.

[DuctTape]

It's great to wake up in the middle of the night and see two groups of bears playing soccer with the canister.

Yeah but they get really upset when you call an offsides penalty.

[Hobbitling]

I know you shouldnt tie anything to it or give the bears anything to grip.

[ken999]

Here's an interesting twist on the can...

http://www.wilderness-solutions.com/palisade_est.htm

[Buckethead]

nothing smells worse than burnt hair.....

Let em play soccer all night!

[KeanGrad]

Warnings come with the cannister but the highlights are:
1. Do not stash near water, they will sink.
2. Stash approx 100' from camp site.
3. It has been suggested to store them under or within a "root ball" but I've just simply stuck it under a tree and covered it with some brush and have had no issues.
4. Be sure to have a plastic bag as a liner. Last year @ Feldspar we had one walk right by it and never knew it was there.
5. Absolutely do not hang.

A suggestion that I was offered, and use, is to either put colorful stickers on it &/or flourescent paint blotches to aid in locating if it does become a make- shift soccer ball.

Good luck
keangrad

[AlSara]

What's the lightest and most reasonably priced? We have a Bear Keg, and it weighs 1 ton 6 ounces when empty. It works though, we stayed at the Feldspar Lean-to last summer and heard a bear practicing his footwork. Then it left a warm pungent present full of seeds next to it. How thoughtful!

[KeanGrad]

"weighs 1 ton 6 ounces" ?????????????

I'm not sure what the cannister weighs empty but I would guess no more than 2 lbs max. I bought mine @ Campmor 2 seasons ago, currently in my 3rd season using it, and it was $65.00. Can't say for certain what they go for now. Go on line @ http://www.campmor.com

[Maplez]

This all seems like a bit much we just talk a sleeping bag stuff sack fill it with the food and hand it off a tree with a pulley system. And its fun seeing the bear trying to get it down but I guess if you don’t want anything to do with bears the Cannister is best.

[1ADAM12]

This all seems like a bit much we just talk a sleeping bag stuff sack fill it with the food and hand it off a tree with a pulley system. And its fun seeing the bear trying to get it down but I guess if you don’t want anything to do with bears the Cannister is best.

In the Eastern Highpeaks its mandatory to all overnight campers to have a bear canister. You are not allowed to hang from a tree

BTW welcome to the forums!

[AlSara]

"weighs 1 ton 6 ounces" ?????????????

I'm not sure what the cannister weighs empty but I would guess no more than 2 lbs max. I bought mine @ Campmor 2 seasons ago, currently in my 3rd season using it, and it was $65.00. Can't say for certain what they go for now. Go on line @ http://www.campmor.com

OK maybe I exagerate a little...but it is noticeably heavy...I am thinking about joining a gym to bulk up and leave the cannister so I can rastle the bears and ticketing rangers. Both of course are just doing their jobs

[redhawk]

OK maybe I exagerate a little...but it is noticeably heavy...I am thinking about joining a gym to bulk up and leave the cannister so I can rastle the bears and ticketing rangers. Both of course are just doing their jobs

Why join a Gym? Buy another canister, fill both of them, wrap straps arond them, leaving enough clack for your hand to get in and use them like dumbells.

You can smack the ticketing rangers offside the head with them and if you encounter a bear, roll one in his direction and shout "FETCH" as you beat feet away.

[AlSara]

Clarification:

I am very happy to see as many rangers and stewards as I do. As a licensed fly fishing guide and avid outdoorsman, I wish DEC had more officers on patrol. I have only met a DEC officer once in three years and I often guide and fish very popular areas.

I am also glad to have positive bear encounters. When hiking in the late 80 and through the 90's I never saw one.

But no one answered a question I posted earlier:

Is there a light affordable bear canister on the market (affordable is less than $100 in my book) Ken999's post:

"Here's an interesting twist on the can...

http://www.wilderness-solutions.com/palisade_est.htm" Is a little out of my price range...Though the companies philosophy and video are interesting...