Teton Wilderness-?’s regarding Ursack vs canister and Inreach…

[hellroaring]

Greetings, in late July four of us are planning on exploring the Teton wilderness for 8 or 9 days. There will be plenty off trail travel, and a goal is to hopefully get on top of some of the plateaus.

I’ve got a couple questions and I’m looking for some insight and advice. I figure this site has a wealth of experience and knowledge so this is the place to ask.

Please excuse any typos or bad grammar. I’m writing this on a quick break from work.

My first question is regarding using an Ursack versus a bear canister. The no brainer of course to go with the.Ursack. I think the universal verdict is canisters are a despised but sometimes necessary evil.

My concern with the Ursack has to with how to absolutely avoid a grizzly actually getting a hold of on. My understanding is you tie them off to the trees, and if blessed with stable weather and are able to sleep up on top of the plateaus, you wedge them in between large rocks you can find since the area is treeless

The Ursacks seem to be used with a great degree a success however, I’m just wondering if it has more to do with luck rather than experience? Has anyone here on this site actually had a grizzly discover their Ur sack, and try to dislodge it from a tree or between boulders? If so, how did that go? The only thing I found on this site regarding this, the outcome was not great in the individual had to hike out.

I would hate to lose my food, especially far from the trailhead. Even more so, though I would hate to be the one responsible for the removal of a grizzly bear. When I worked for the national Park service in Yellowstone, we referred to inadequately stored food./scented items as the “slow bullet”.

So I’m curious, those of you who do use them what is your degree of confidence when utilizing them in grizzly country? We’re not talking about Yosemite black bears so I can’t imagine barging out of the tent, whooping and hollering if you heard something messing with your food. Do you all have any special tricks that increases your confidence and success?

My other question has to do with a Garmin Inreach. My wife got me one for my birthday and I have yet to use it actually yet to look at it in any detail

Other than making texting a lot easier are there any disadvantages to not carrying your phone with you to pair with it? Also what’s the battery life like on one of these? If I was only using it to check local weather and to do a morning and evening check-in with our designated homebase person, would one charge last nine days do you think? Obviously, I want to carry as little as possible, but if I need to bring it charging unit, I will.

Thanks all, for your time, answers, and advice.

Russ

 

[Bob]

Ursack and a low odor leaking locsak inside of it. Used them for many years thoughout grizzly country, none has ever gotten to it. I also tie my pot and lid to the outside, figure the clanking noise may help scare a bear or at least let me know. You can also hang it from a tree, higher up ....

Don't use a garmin so I dont know that.

 

[hellroaring]

Thanks

 

[Jackson]

Other than making texting a lot easier are there any disadvantages to not carrying your phone with you to pair with it? Also what’s the battery life like on one of these? If I was only using it to check local weather and to do a morning and evening check-in with our designated homebase person, would one charge last nine days do you think?

No disadvantage to having your phone other than a tiny amount of added weight. I use mine the camera, maps, and because typing messages on my Inreach would be painfully slow.

Battery depends on the device. I have an older discontinued InReach SE+, and it would last me weeks if I only turned it on twice a day to send and received a few messages.