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A ranger's comment about bear hangs changed how I pack
I was at the Glacier National Park backcountry office last month, just picking up my permit, and this ranger, older guy, looked at my food bag and said, 'You know, every rescue we do in September is because someone skipped the hang.' He said they pulled two hikers off the trail the night before who tried to sleep with their food in a dry bag. That hit different because I'd been sloppy about it for years, thinking a bear canister was enough if I left it 50 feet away. He explained that bears in that area have learned to roll canisters into the river, and the only thing that truly works is a proper PCT hang or a rented bear box. So now I'm rethinking my whole camping setup, even practicing the hang technique in my yard with a 50 foot rope. Has anyone else had a ranger or local trash talk their route planning like that, and did you actually change your habits or just nod along?
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linda6262mo ago
Ugh, that ranger line about September rescues is the kind of thing that sticks. But here's my question: did you actually time yourself doing that PCT hang in the yard, because that first try always takes forever and most folks just give up. Is the extra 15 minutes worth it to you after hearing that story, or are you mostly doing it for peace of mind?
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