Best practices for upcoming trip

tschertz

Newst Noob!
Joined
Mar 26, 2017
Messages
15
Happy Tuesday everyone,

Fairly new to the whole backpack camping scene and want to make sure I am prepared for my upcoming 5 night trip to RMNP. Everyday we’ll be hiking between 6 and 10 miles to a different backcountry site.
In the past, all my trips have been short durations where the vehicle is within a few miles and an easy in/out.

1. Bear canister. This is required at rmnp and I understand all food and wrappers will get housed in this for the entire trip. Where should this be at camp, or should this still be left outside of camp hung?


2. Don’t sleep in the clothes you cook in. I’ll have clothing designated just for sleeping but the ones I cooked with and hiked with during the day, what’s the best way to store and keep those at camp?

3. Scented items such as toothpaste, deodorant, and a E-cig and juice for it since a guy that’s coming loves his nicotine. Where is his stuff supposed to be stored around camp?

Really, just looking for best practices all around. Rather be safe than sorry! How do you professionals handle the above?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hi T....my experience:

1) I usually store my bear canister approx. 150-200 feet from my tent...father if I'm in serious Grizz country
2) Clothes are not really an issue for me because I eat pretty much all dehydrated food, just boil water...not much smell
3) All my toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, and trash...go in the bear canister as well.
4) Lastly, just be bear aware....the usual stuff, carry spray, make noise, also cook/wash yourself/brush teeth/dishes 150-200 feet from camp, and don't make camp in obvious bear friendly areas like berry patches, well worn camp sites, etc......

I've backpacked in bear country (Canada/USA) for well over 20 years and never had an issue....

--Love RMNP by the way.....have fun!

Hope that helps.....
 
Hi T....my experience:

1) I usually store my bear canister approx. 150-200 feet from my tent...father if I'm in serious Grizz country
2) Clothes are not really an issue for me because I eat pretty much all dehydrated food, just boil water...not much smell
3) All my toothpaste, deodorant, sunscreen, and trash...go in the bear canister as well.
4) Lastly, just be bear aware....the usual stuff, carry spray, make noise, also cook/wash yourself/brush teeth/dishes 150-200 feet from camp, and don't make camp in obvious bear friendly areas like berry patches, well worn camp sites, etc......

I've backpacked in bear country (Canada/USA) for well over 20 years and never had an issue....

--Love RMNP by the way.....have fun!

Hope that helps.....

Thanks for the info! I won’t know the size of bear canister until we get there since we’re renting. However, I guess it’s not the end of the world if I have to rent 2 (1 for food and 1 for odds and ends) and deal with the extra weight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've been hiking/backpacking in bear country (both black & grizzly) 60+ years and have never had a problem. We don't do any cooking or food storage closer to camp than 300' and usually double that. And we are another that just boils water for freeze dried and do not take an extra change of clothing for cooking-just be careful not to spill any food on your clothing. If you do spill, wash the clothes as best you can.

Absolutely have a can of bear spray for each person and KNOW how to use it. You can get practice containers and I strongly suggest doing that. Make sure you also know where it is in the tent at night so you don't have to rummage for it if you actually need it.

I doubt there is any significant threat to life or injury from black bears in RMNP but they can really ruin a trip if one is careless.
 
ROMO is really good about informing people about regulations and good practices in regards to bears, both online and when you get your permit. I talked with the backcountry folks there about it and because they have "so few" bears they want to keep them as healthy and natural as possible. They didn't stress the cook clothing but were all about everything else scented going in the bear keg and that the keg be put a healthy distance from the primary camp area. I stuck it in a convenient boulder hole by the camp I had. According to their Camping Planner the regulation is 200'/~70 adult strides.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Devin Ashby Best Cedar Mesa/Bears Ears Guide Books? Trip Planning 8
ghsmith76 Looking for best multi-day Backpacking Trips near Livingston, MT Trip Planning 6
Parma The Best Arch in Utah is... General Discussion 20
forest dweller The best / ideal conditions/ criteria to backpack with a stranger / allow a stranger to backpack with you... General Discussion 6
forest dweller What do you think is the best way to meet other SERIOUS backpackers when you only backpack once or twice a year and... General Discussion 52
Nick Best of 2019 General Discussion 48
Perry Exploring above Cataract Basin - One of the Best Seats in the House Hiking & Camping 1
Nick Best of 2018 General Discussion 43
Outdoors24 Best computer for picture/video editing? General Discussion 26
Vegan.Hiker A Personal Best (ascent) - Pemi Loop, WMNF Backpacking 23
JDWalters Best time to photograph Zebra Slot? Trip Planning 3
Upgrayedd Best place to live? General Discussion 46
IntrepidXJ Meet the woman who knows Bears Ears best General Discussion 106
B Best Time of Year for Backpacking the Uintas in Utah Trip Planning 15
Perry Leona Spring Trail to UHT - A New Personal Best Day Hike Hiking & Camping 2
B Best Alternatives to the Sierras Backpacking 12
kimbur96 Best lens for backpacking? Photography 14
Kelin Best Route to Alpine Lakes? Trip Planning 4
Jimmy Best Backpacking Near Phoenix/Scottsdale? Trip Planning 1
JoshuaDyal Best San Juans hike Trip Planning 0
LarryBoy Best ranges for off-trail travel General Discussion 11
Langdon Greene 2016 might be your best chance to do Wonderland (Rainier) Trip Planning 2
muir_mountain Best Backpacking in early June Trip Planning 12
Mike Jones Best UL Mountain Hardwear Rain Jacket Gear 2
SwimsWithTrout Best time of year for San Rafael Swell/Cedar Mesa ? Trip Planning 4
Nick Best Packrafting Paddle Gear 8
Mike K Best Backpacking Pillow Gear 16
T Best place to backpack the Bob Marshall? Trip Planning 17
WasatchWill Best Cell Phone Camera: iPhone, G4, S6, or Other? General Discussion 6
Chuck the Mauler Best dual use camera? Photography 6
uintahiker What is the Best 3 day trip in the Uintas? Trip Planning 17
balzaccom Your best shot General Discussion 2
natylka Advice on the best lightweight sleeping bag for backpacking. Gear 27
natylka Advice on the best light backpacking tent Gear 39
Scott Chandler Help with the Best of the CPW Photography 9
jmerkley9 Best Car Camping - Uintas Trip Planning 2
Laura My tent shot is the featured photo for Best of May 2014 Photography 8
Antlerking Gear Review Best Hiking Briefs Gear Reviews 15
DrNed Best Hikes in Canyonlands Trip Planning 8
D Cedar Mesa to Hanksville, best day hike options? Trip Planning 3
Tater Head It was the best of times, It was the worst of times... General Discussion 6
Nick Best easy day hikes around Salt Lake General Discussion 25
Aldaron Best hike in the Uintas General Discussion 2
Aldaron The best part of BCP General Discussion 6
slc_dan Best Book for Hiking in the Uintas? Trip Planning 11
Nick BCP wins 'Best Adventure Blog'! General Discussion 16
uintahiker Aravaipa Canyon- what end is best? Trip Planning 2
Nick Album Best of 2012 Photography 45
intuitive cat what was your best/most satisfactory new gear this last season? Gear 18
Dan Best Camp Shoe - What's the lightest and most versatile? Gear 51

Similar threads

Back
Top