[Philmont]: RE: Bear bags and Rope

I would recomend just using Philmont bags and rope. They work. If you
don't already own any alternatives, it makes no sense to go buy anything
else. My only addition would be a waterproof stuff sack to put your
personal items in the bear bag. This keeps all your items in one place so
you never forget any smellable items and it keeps them dry when it rains.

The food is packed in plastic bags (with small holes in the bottom) and
the food stays dry when hung in the plastic bear bags Philmont provides.

The rope is heavy yes. But the heavy rope is durable. You would be
surprised how much weight you put in those bearbags. Also, heavier rope is
easier to throw over the cable. I remember obsverving one of my Ranger's
crews who was using parchute cord for bear rope. They had a difficult
time throwing the rope over the cable. It was too light to get the rope
thrown high enough. The solution was to fill a bandana with dirt and tying
it on to the end of the rope for weight.

Duct tape is a smellable, but not a rewardable. This topic has been
discussed before (the difference between smellable and rewardables).
Philmont is very very anal about smellables. I convinced the powers that
be last summer that duct tape did not need to go up in the bear bag. It
only needed to stay out of the tents and in the bearmuda triangle. Now
what they decide on this year there is no telling. The bear researchers
had a roll of duct tape that a bear had chewed on, so it does attract a
bear.

Jason
><>
Retired Ranger

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Wed Jun 11 09:05:48 2003