How I Pack My Pack (With A Bear Canister)

Рет қаралды 4,935

6 ай бұрын

I've done most of my backpacking without a bear canister and it was an adjustment when I first tried packing a bear canister. I've done three separate trips now with a couple different types of bear canisters, and this is what I've found to work the best. The canister in this video is a BV475, but I think a BV500 would work just the same, just slightly taller. I've also used a Bearikade Weekender. I think this method would work with any pack that can fit a bear canister vertically.
I’ve previously done a gear breakdown video:
• John Muir Trail 2022 G...
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Пікірлер: 39

@michaelkennedy4346 4 ай бұрын

I liked how you pack, with one notable exception. I live in Washington and my rain jacket always goes in an outside pocket ready to be deployed with minimal effort.

@give.me.wilderness 4 ай бұрын

That makes sense! In CA the rain is so rare in the summer, I typically don't need my rain jacket, but on the Appalachian Trail it is a frequent need so like you I often have it somewhere easily accessible. I hope to get up to WA sometime to hike - it looks beautiful up there!

@texmexia49 2 ай бұрын

Try using your pad inflation bag as your clothing bag to save weight. You can also use wrap it in one of your shirts/baselayer, etc and use it as a pillow at night.

@avancalledrupert5130 Ай бұрын

Im English. It's always amazing to see campers and hikers from dry places. The idea of going outside and not battling to keep you and your gear dry is kind of unimaginable to me. People with single skin or inner pitch 1st tents. Both completely useless in Britain.

@pennycarlson1943 12 күн бұрын

@@avancalledrupert5130 He's got the trash bag liner to keep things dry.

@rogerfratini6361 27 күн бұрын

I have the same pack and bear canister. I put my canister in upright and flip it onto its side. Very easy, more room. I also pack in the order that you do. Try it.

@RhodySeth 6 ай бұрын

Interesting the stuffing of the sleeping bag. I generally favor compression for the space savings. I too favor the construction trash bag.

@give.me.wilderness 6 ай бұрын

Yeah trying to fit a bunch of cylinder shaped objects actually made it more difficult for me to get the bear can to fit very well and made for more dead space. Stuffing everything in the bottom gave me more space for the cannister, plus it makes the mornings a little bit easier just stuffing the sleeping bag straight into the pack. 😋

@shirleyhoehne458 Ай бұрын

Bio Break kit was missing, but other than that, great demo!

@Traveler1965 6 ай бұрын

Great video. I noticed you don’t carry a stove to cook with. What do you eat? Also, what time of year did you climb Mt Whitney? How long did it take? Love your videos

@give.me.wilderness 6 ай бұрын

Thanks!! I actually do carry a small stove (BRS-3000T) for cooking. I usually keep it inside the bear cannister so didn’t specifically mention it here. I climbed Mt. Whitney at the very end of August 2022 as I finished the John Muir Trail. One of my favorite days of hiking ever!

@rkatrails 5 ай бұрын

I enjoyed watching how you stuff your backpack with your bear canister. I mostly hike in the California Sierra where bear canisters are required, and like you, I much prefer to put my canister inside my pack. I can fit most of my big items inside my pack, but I put my tent poles in the side pocket. Trying to lash a bear can to the outside of the pack is awkward and uncomfortable. I prefer to use a nylofume liner instead of a trash bag because they're sturdier, but I stuff my quilt in the bottom like you do with the canister on top. I don't like to use compression sacks for my quilt.

@give.me.wilderness 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! I’ve been meaning to try the nylofume liners. I think I’ll give them a try for my next backpacking trip. Aside from being stronger, I like that they are clear and it may even save me an ounce or two 🤓

@joeyjoeoutdoors5734 3 ай бұрын

I’m in a group going to hike John Muir this summer.

@give.me.wilderness 3 ай бұрын

Thats awesome! I’m hiking it this year as well! I hope you have a great time, it’s an incredible trail!

@user-xf8em5kk5l 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. Hoping to do JMT in September. Waiting to hear on lottery. Did you enter lottery when you hiked or did you walk up and get a pass the day you started, I heard you can do that?

@give.me.wilderness 4 ай бұрын

I had a Lyell Canyon permit through the lottery and later was able to score a Happy Isles permit through the website. As far as walk up permits on the day of - I believe if someone doesn't pick up their permit by a set time (10am?) they release them for walk ups. Good luck in the lottery! I think September hike dates have slightly higher chances.

@rolfdenver 5 ай бұрын

Like you, I’d much prefer to carry my canister inside my pack but I find it creates a convex shape next to my back. (I have a BV500.) I may need to keep my food in a bag in my pack during the day and strap the empty can to the top. PS: do you use a nylon pack and if so do you use an outside rain cover (in addition to the inside waterproof bag)? PPS: I’m a fellow a Durston fan!

@tomd1914 5 ай бұрын

I have a BV500 also. I keep my food bag in my pack and strap the empty bear canister to the top of my pack. I find that the empty canister sits nicely in place and doesn’t cause any imbalance in the pack.

@give.me.wilderness 5 ай бұрын

Yes - I love the tent! The material on my pack is nylon that they say is water resistant. I've found that to be mostly true. It never really seems to soaks through, maybe some dampness, but it also dries relatively quickly. My gear would certainly wet out if I didn't have the inside liner though. I haven't had much luck with the outside rain covers, water always seems to leak through to the pack and can also create issues for me where the water starts to run down my back, so I skip bringing it.

@rozbrooks8791 4 ай бұрын

Where do you keep your poop kit? Also the trash you have to pack out? Going for the first time this July. 😊

@give.me.wilderness 4 ай бұрын

For a poop kit I carry one designated water bottle in a side pocket and have a CuloClean bidet that I stuff in the very top pocket of my pack. My Vargo shovel can also be used as a stake so I keep it in my stake bag. Hand sanitizer in a ziplock in the bear canister. For trash, during the day I usually keep it in the food bag that I have for the day. If I stop, or at night I add it to my main ziplock trash bag that I keep in my bear canister. Have a great hike in July!!!

@avancalledrupert5130 Ай бұрын

There shouldn't be any rubbish. Repack everything into things that can be burnt.

@reddottx 29 күн бұрын

Do you secure your canister to anything or just set on the ground? I’m always worried the bear soccer team is going to come over and play.

@give.me.wilderness 29 күн бұрын

I just set it on the ground. I try to avoid placing it near a hill where it could roll away and get lost if a bear were to mess with it. If it's an area with high bear activity I'll place rocks on top so it will make noise if disturbed.

@hyperboogie 28 күн бұрын

Did you climb Whitney without your backpacks? Did you leave them behind and picked them up later?

@give.me.wilderness 28 күн бұрын

A bunch of people left their packs at the trail junction but I carried mine up.

@colbypark1311 6 ай бұрын

Any reasons you don't just put all your extra clothes inside the footbox of your sleeping bag? I know one dyneema stuff sack isn't a lot of weight savings, but something I've been doing.

@give.me.wilderness 6 ай бұрын

Interesting idea! I think my biggest reason would be because I use my clothes bag as my pillow. Something to consider though!

@colbypark1311 6 ай бұрын

@@give.me.wilderness That's fair. I was just thinking in terms of packing. I typically throw all my extra clothes in the bottom of the footbox. It does help with some of the bulk of packing. Similar to how you don't use a stuff sack for your sleeping bag. Happy Trails!