I live in Massachusetts, and as I understand it, there is no need for a true bear canister here. I will of course have to double check that depending on where I end up this season, but as it stands, a (cheap) critter canister would, I hope, be plenty for me.

I'm considering whether a plastic bucket with lid (like the 5 gal ones, but smaller) or a plastic (metal?) paint can would do the trick. Either of these could also be hung to help out.

Has anyone tried this? Can raccoons open a bucket with lid? I assume they can't open a metal paint can, but what about a plastic one?

Thoughts?

I would go with metal over plastic. More chew proof.

Any racoon I ever encountered could probably get into any plastic container (except a bear vault) light enough to carry. I would try a gallon paint can. It fastenes tightly enough to be racoon-proof. The little buggers found a way to open my garage side-door and got into the kitchen. Boy did they have fun. But quietly. We didn't know they had been there until the next morning. A few years ago a woman camped near me had a racoon slice open her tent, waltz in, and take both her food bags while she slept. Devious and nasty tempered critters they are, and not to be fooled with.

Edited by redleader on 02/21/2007 16:57:59 MST.

Caution: No direct experience with raccoons!

If defense (a la strong plastic container) is too awkward and heavy, then how about trying evasion instead?

What if you were to put your food in odor-proof plastic pouches? BPL gear store and others sell them. These bags weigh next to nothing and for extra protection, you can put the plastic pouches into one large stuff sack and either hang it or weigh it down with rocks. Methinks that if the critters can't smell or see your food, then they are unlikely to steal them.

Hi Ben,

IMO and with (some) experience the odor proof bags are odor proof for our noses. Most amimals have much much better noses than we. I read of a test with a bear where the bear was offered identical sealed cans. One with tuna and one weighted to match but nothing edible. The bear chose the tuna every time. Best go for entry proof. Myself, I hardly ever carry a bear cannister unless I'm going where animals have been stealing food. Truly wild animals are afraid of humans and in all my backpacking years 1967-2007 I've only had bears in camp once, when we didn't expect it. We were able to secure our food (etc.) and left our packs completely open and lying on the ground. "Frank" wasn't going to have any bear dragging his pack around and fastened it to a tree. The bears (there were two) messed with our packs and only left a small tooth hole in the pocket of one. Franks pack had the hip belt ripped off when the bear tried to move it around. in '03, on the Lost Coast we were required to carry cannisters and left them lined up 20 feet from our tents. The bears attacked all the camps that didn't have cannisters. We'd left pots, as noise makers, sitting on top of our cannisters in hopes of getting some photos. No dice. The bears recognised the cannisters and didn't come near. No tracks no nothing.

Edited by redleader on 02/21/2007 17:43:04 MST.

I found that they make 5 quart paint cans which might do the trick, but no manufacturer lists their weight! I guess UL isn't a design objective. grrr. They are the same diameter (6.5") as a regular gallon can but 10" tall (vs 7.5.) 5 quarts is 289 cubes, probably enough for me for a few days. I think.

I am playing with packing arrangements tonight in my vapor trail (subject for another thread) and find that the 2 gallon bucket will fit just fine if I need to. I have a hard time removing the lid from those 5 gallon buckets, and this 2 gallon is the same design. So I guess it depends on whether i'll share a can or split it with a buddy. I'm all for only hanging one, so the larger one may get a go. I don't know how much it weighs either though. Wish I had a scale.

Buckets can and do work-but can be bulky and awkward to carry. Out here, on the Olympic Coast, canisters are required, but they will allow you to use buckets instead. Just make sure it has a screw on lid and your good to go. They are mostly critter proof (and raccoon proof).

Not sure where you plan on going, I live in MA as well and have never used any type of canister for food storage. As Ben mentioned you will most likely be fine just putting your food in an odor proof container and hanging from a tree branch at least 4’ out and 15-20’ off the ground. Usual rule of thumb up here is to make sure the branch your hanging your food from is not strong enough to support the weight of a bear. Have not run into to many raccoons camping in the NE except at Baxter state park in ME where one was pulling an emergency blanket off the top of my sleeping bag probably thinking I was a large sack of food, that was more comical then anything else. If staying in an AT style shelter you will see strings with cans hanging from ceilings of shelters, these are used as a mouse barricade which seem to be more of a nuisance. Bear behavior up here will differ depending where you plan on staying, popular campsites in NH have had issues in the past with AMC having different regulations depending on the time of the year and animal activity.

Glad to find someone in MA! I have no idea where I'm going yet, as I'm really just getting started after 16 years since boy scouts. I am waiting for temps to get up to where I won't die if I screw something up. Not dying is #1 on my list, but being comfortable is right up there, and avoiding issues with raccoons/mice and bears makes that task a lot easier. I am thinking this paint can idea would weigh about 12 ounces and be hangable. It's a lot cheaper than an ursack, and if I hate it I can always upgrade. But I can probably be talked out of it.

I'm thinking of starting with the Metacomet-Monadnock trail, though a section of the AT is tempting as well. I'd like to hike the White mountains, but only when I'm virtually sure I won't get snowed on. I expect to be safe (not comfortable, but alive) to around 15-20F, which I hear is a reasonable expectation in the warmer months. I don't intend to go anywhere until I expect overnight temps to be above 40F.

Also, I'm looking for hiking buddies. I have two family members interested but one is encumbered by a newborn and the other is probably limited to short outings (overnights.) My wife is not outdoorsy, so it's either solo or find a buddy/group to join.

I hike primarily in NC where we have about the same critters as you do up in MA. I usually use a large Granite Gear stuff sack and hang it from a limb using the PCT method of hanging food (described on this site somewhere). I have had good success with this method.

Before I started using this method I actually had a racoon get my food bag out of a tree. I had it tied up using the standard hanging method (where the end of the cord opposite the food bag is tied off to a tree trunk), and the racoon figured out that it just had to chew through the cord tied around the trunk to get the food bag down. Thankfully I heard it hit the ground so the little bugger (I actually have some more choice words for him that I can't repeat here) didn't get past making a couple of small holes in my stuff sack before I got to it.

Hi Jaiden,
A lot of great hiking up here, have been debating Metacomet-Monandnock trail for some time, might be a great trip in the spring when it is somewhat snow free.
Mathew has a really good point about securing line for bear bagging that I forgot to mention, usually tie line to another tree about 5’ feet off the ground, seems to do the trick. Also with bagging system usually have a gallon size freezer bag which is then put into a plastic shopping bag and tied off, this is secured to the line with a mini carabiner. Have never used the PCT system but it seems like a pretty good one from what I have read.
Yeah, if your looking for a hiking partner blast me an email at jimhbailey@yahoo.com, planning a very active season this year starting in April going out pretty much every weekend along with a couple multiple day trips thru late fall 07, be great to have some company
Jim

Edited by florigen on 02/22/2007 20:40:15 MST.

Jaiden-

You might take a looksy at these:

http://www.imlaycanyongear.com/kegs.php

Brian