Four Mistakes Backpackers Make With Food in Bear Country
Four Mistakes Backpackers Make With Food in Bear Country
Are you planning a backpacking trip in bear country? Avoid attracting bears to your campsite by learning from these common mistakes! In this video, I’ll cover four crucial errors that many backpackers make when handling food in bear territory: careless handling of food and wrappers on the trail, improper storage of food and scented items overnight, cooking and eating where you sleep, and leaving trash and food waste behind.
I’ll share practical tips to keep your gear scent-free, store food safely, and ensure your campsite remains clean. Let’s make the outdoors safer for everyone, including the bears!
If you found this video helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with fellow backpackers. Have a mistake or experience to share? Leave a comment below. Thanks for watching!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Mistake 1 – Careless Handling
01:15 Mistake 2 – Improper Storage
02:20 Mistake 3 – Cooking Where You Sleep
03:00 Mistake 4 – Leaving Trash Behind
03:31 Review
Disclosure: if you buy something through product “links” below, I may get a small share of the sale. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You don’t pay anything extra by using these “links”.
Some of the gear included in this video:
Osprey Exos 48L backpack
https://amzn.to/45nWrsH
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent
https://amzn.to/3KxAu2g
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 40°F quilt
https://enlightenedequipment.com/revelation-sleeping-quilt/
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad
https://amzn.to/3OujZFb
Snow Peak Mini Solo 2.0 cook set
https://amzn.to/450Ln4S
UDAP bear canister
https://amzn.to/440yczA
Video clips featured in this video:
Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cephas, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kameron Perensovich, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://pixabay.com/videos/black-bear-bear-canada-yukon-3343/
brigachtal
#Backpacking #BearCountry #OutdoorSafety #LeaveNoTrace #HikingTips
1:26 Tell that to anti-guns geniuses hahaha.
We tested Smellyproof and Smellyproof HD on our SAR and cadaver dogs and they failed. Marketing ploy. If a dog can find a persons sock in one of those bags I would not trust them to hide smells.
Well that was your best delivery yet!! Confident, engaging and perfect eye contact. Be like this always and you’ll be my number one speaker 😉
Specific, clear, and comprehensive. Thank you.
Great video!
Can’t count how many YT videos I have watched of AT thru hikers talking about sleeping with their food. It really isn’t always the bears, it’s the other critters and rodents that will destroy your food or gear getting to the food also.
Great tips for staying safe in bear country! 🐻 It’s so important to handle food properly when backpacking in these areas. I’ve definitely learned a few things I’ll keep in mind for my next trip. Thanks for sharing this helpful advice – it’s super useful for anyone heading out into bear territory! 🚶♂🎒
Cheers,
Simon – Tales From Abroad
Learn some expert tips on using bear canisters here 👉 https://youtu.be/zFUms1F8rQ4
Fairly new backpacker/camper. What do you recommend to do with leftovers/food scraps? (steak fat, bread, oils/butters, pan drippings etc) TIA
I can’t believe I’ve just watched such an informative video that is just 4 minutes long. 🤯
Solid advice. I live in NJ (no shortage of bears here) and see a lot of first timers at the shelters/campsites. As such, the mess they leave behind always saddens me. When I can, I politely educate them. Another tip for smellables, store them downwind from the campsite if possible – you don’t want a hungry bear going through your site to get to the yummy smells.
Some very important information was shared in this video that could save the life of hikers! You can never be too careful!! And just because you haven’t had a bear encounter yet—doesn’t mean you won’t ever. You didn’t comment on bear spray—do you carry that?
Florida is my camping area and it has a large Black Bear Population. In all my years I have never had a Bear problem but Raccoons are a different story. There is a reason they have a mask and love to make hit and run ,food runs. They are the best reason to never have food or aromatic items in your tent. Had a comedy show one evening with a bandit trying his best to get into the hard sided food container. He did everything and finally gave up after about 30 minutes.
Will alcohol-based hand sanitizer attract Bears?
What do you do with cooking gear? Do you put those in cans too?
its not "shocking" to sleep with your food.. jeez, fear monger much??? there is absolutely NO NEED to put your food away from your tent or where you are sleeping. I have hiked 2 long distance trails and over 8,000 miles and have never slept apart from my food. it is ALWAYS with me in my backpack right by my head. sure there has been a couple times bear and racoon have came up to me in the night, but a loud scream and good hard punch scared them away. stop spreading your own insecurities and your fear mongering! you are not doing anybody any good….