I don't want to sleep with my food. But with no trees to hang from in So Cal I am worried about critters chewing through my food back. Any suggestions appreciated?

Ben

Ratsack:

http://www.armoredoutdoorgear.com/index.html

For small amounts of food, I've put it in my cooking pot and then covered the pot with rocks. I've had minimal luck doing the same thing but with a stuff sack instead of the pot. It left me with little nibble holes in the stuff sack, but my food wasn't destroyed.

Empty paint can.

Hello,

A good bet is an Ursack with the odorproof liner.

Randy

The people I hike with in the desert like to place their food bag in the middle of a cactus group, like prickly pair.

Here is a link to the Outsak manufacturers' website:

www.simpleoutdoorstore.com

What deserts in So Cal, and what locations?

Most parts of the lower Colorado and Mojave are sparse, which means not a lot of critters. Normally I leave my food next to me in a stuff sack or a freezer bag. Never have any problems. If I am sleeping in areas of thick vegetation or lots of Joshua trees, I might bring a Ursak.

i'd just sleep with your food next to you in a silnylon stuff sack. that's the beauty of SoCal... not much to worry about. you'll have to have a bear canister in parts of the Sierra. and the mice in Washington are ruthless. but SoCal... no worries.

Grand Canyon critters are ruthless. I often hear them referred to as "grad school" ravens, squirrels, etc. due to their enormous success in raiding people's backpacks and other items.

Anyone experiences with critters in Zion and Southern Utah locales such as escalante? I've got an Ursack but it's heavy.

Southern Utah usually has rodents, ringtails, and skunks. Bears are sometimes in higher elevations

Keep it simple, keep it with you. Ali

Only problem I've ever had was 35 years ago on the upper Rio Grande, and it was a ringtail cat. Watched my Dad run around the shelter in his longjohns 3 times, and come back with a big bag of raisens. Something did eat a couple of holes in my son's hydration pack to get food in Zion last year.

Well, once you've stored your dessert, what do you do with the rest of your food?

:)

Edited by acrosome on 03/29/2009 06:08:06 MDT.

Just bought a lifetime's worth of pretzels at Costco. They come in the perfect sized lightweight plastic jugs. They hold 40 and 55 oz of pretzels, and weigh in just under 7oz. I'm hoping they keep the rodents at bay.

Anybody want a pretzel?

Edited by mmendell on 03/29/2009 07:28:49 MDT.