Bear Bags ?????

So what does everyone do about food and bears on the Eagle Rock Loop ?

Do you use a bear bag or not ? Just wondering.

J

We hiked the Loop in June. We had no problems. I was more worried about raccoons than bears but we saw or heard neither. We tied our packs to a tree and strapped them down tight. There were a couple of stray dogs at Winding Stair but they did not get very close.

My son and I will be taking a tent big enough for both of us and our gear and I am trying to decide if I should keep everything in t he tent or keep the food outside and hung

J

I personally would never recommend keeping food in your tent. Even in non-bear country there are a multitude of critters that will get in your tent. I have seen squirrels and mice chew holes in tents to get at the food stored inside. I would take a stuff sack and some light cord to hang the food bag.

I would have to second Hillbillyhkr, but would take it one step further. I would never have anything in my tent or shelter that even remotely had food in it. Nothing will wreck gear faster than a pair of chipmunks that THINKS there is something in there that is eatable. While I have never had any problems on the ERL I know that they are there I have seen the signs and I can tell you they are closer than most people would ever care to admit. For the sake of your sons education though I would do it at least for the fact of making him aware of how to do it. Most problems are incurred around the permanent or at least the high use campgrounds.

I use the PCT method of hanging bear bags. I would like to say that there are plenty of black bears
in the area you want to hike. Just because they haven't been seen doesn't mean that they arent' there!
Not to far from the area in question, Caney Creek Wilderness, I came across fresh bear scat last year.
I live just south of this area and we are now hearing of bear sitings, in daytime no less! One was
by COE personal near Dierks Lake.

Just my .02 worth, hope it helps.

Tom

I always hang the food and anything else that has a strong odor... like toothpaste or deodorant. I saw a large Cinnamon colored black bear near Richland Creek a while back... and on a different trip, a HUGE dear on one of the steep ridges right near where the Twin Falls runoff enters the creek.

I also use the PCT method. I had a black bear encounter in the national forest near Ozone and don't care to have one again.

I watched wild hogs rip a tent to pieces one year in the Big Bend to get at some food. I concur that it never a good idea to leave food in a tent. A few mils of syl nylon isn't going to stop much.

There are places along the AT between Davenport Gap and Hot Springs where the PCT method is about the only way to keep the bears out of the food. So far, it has been foolproof, however, given time, I am sure they will figure out how to thief food hung with that system as well.

Well thanks for all the info. I plan to use the PCT method from now on when ever im backpacking.

Thanks,
J

And if you take a CD and put it over the D ring, it makes a fairly effective mouse shield to keep those critters from doing a circus act down the line and into the bag.

Around the shelters in the GSMNP, they were like trapeze artists.

I had not thought of the CD.. good tip Chili

Here is one more method of bear bagging. Very interesting article. Interesting discussion
on the actual throwing methods. A good read with a video at the bottom of the page.
This wouldn't be applicable in most of our situations but esp. out west would be a good
option.

Turbo Bear Bag Hanging

here is some good bear info for Arkansas:

http://www.mountmagazinestatepark.com/camping/bear-safety/