How do you store food while overlanding in bear country?

silverfstop

New member
Howdy All-

I've backpacked quite a bit in the Eastern Sierras and we've always made it a policy to empty our parked vehicle of anything that smells (food, deodorant, hygiene products, etc). Most of the time it gets transferred to a bear can and stored a short distance away. What comes with on the trail while backpacking is treated in a similar fashion - we don't leave food in our tents to prevent getting "Beared" or more likely on the trail: "Marmoted".

Anyhow, we're preparing for our first Overland-Style voyage next month. The plan is to drive up to Laurel Lake where we'll car/truck camp, however we plan to do a few longer day hikes while we're there. Given the luxury of having the Touareg right there, we're planning to bring a cooler and enjoy proper meals - meaning a bear can isn't really practical (all fresh food, zero freeze dried).

So, what does everyone do to prevent their rig / camp from getting Beared in their absence from camp?
 

swduncan

Observer
I got a zarges box to put our food in, which is rated as bear resistant. Not a cheap option, but it satisfied some long standing gear lust for me :cool:

I haven't been in bear country yet, but when I am i figure I'll lock it to a tree a ways from us.

The other food will be in the fridge, in the truck, or possibly on the ground. Haven't figured out a solution for that yet, but I figure the temp will help with smell.

I haven't yet had to deal with bears, just raccoons. I don't have any plans to camp in the areas that are really notorious for bear activity.

What I'm curious about is how folks with roof top tents and the kitchen built into the back of the truck deal with it. In the entire Expedition Overland Alaska series they didn't discuss bear/food issues.


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silverfstop

New member
Iroof top tents and the kitchen built into the back of the truck deal with it

Bingo. Longer term, that's my concern.

In the next 6-12 months I'm planning on starting to build a new rig - my first venture into the overland world - and this is a big concern. I'd love a roof tent, DC powered fridge, etc. My primary interest is the Sierras and one day Alaska - and I'd love to know how others are dealing with this.
 

swduncan

Observer
Is part of the solution is where and when you are camping. Just like with local punks stealing out of your car, do routine and predictability come into play?

If you just show up somewhere are the local animals going to respond immediately, or will it take a few nights for them to figure it out.

My guess is that most overlander types aren't in one spot long enough for the local bruins to catch on.

Or maybe video cameras are a deterrent :cool:.


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Koabean

New member
Two years ago, we were camping near Aspen, CO and a bear opened up the soft top of my Jeep to see what snacks it could find inside. Convertible fabric was no match for a hungry bear. It didn't ultimately get anything, but made quick work wrecking the top.

A trip to town later, we had a Yeti and two padlocks -- they are designed to take a lock on each side to secure the cooler against bears. So we moved all the food and our toiletries -- ALL of them -- into the Yeti, locked it up, and stashed it outside well away from the tent.

The same bear came back the next night and pawed at/gnawed on the cooler but could not get in. We then covered it with a tarp to see if that would help, and it seemed to; I suspect the bear made another pass but left things alone after that.

If your ride has a hard top, I would still suggest the Yeti, locks, and a tarp to hide the shape of the cooler if a bear decides to look inside the car. Youtube has video of bears doing amazing damage to get inside cars to get to food if they think there is some inside.
 

silverfstop

New member
If your ride has a hard top, I would still suggest the Yeti, locks, and a tarp to hide the shape of the cooler if a bear decides to look inside the car. Youtube has video of bears doing amazing damage to get inside cars to get to food if they think there is some inside.

Sounds like it might be better / easier to just pull the Yeti out of the truck and lock it up when away. No point in inviting the bear into the truck for a look, right?
 

Stryder106

Explorer
If you leave a Yeti outside of your vehicle while away - there is a better than fair chance it won't be there when you return.
 

Stryder106

Explorer
I'm adding a RTT and a fridge at the moment and this thread (and another similar one) have me wondering the best way to deal with this. I think I'll be OK as I have a Chevy Avalanche - with the hard locking bed caps. Fridge and all food will be kept inside of the covered and locked bed (like a big trunk). My only concern is the RTT will be right over top of that - so if a bear does decide to go after food - it's right underneath me.
 

silverfstop

New member
If you leave a Yeti outside of your vehicle while away - there is a better than fair chance it won't be there when you return.

I assume you're talking about theft? I don't know how much of a concern that is in the middle of friggin' no-where - which is where the bear issue is most likely to come up.
 

Corey

OverCamping Specialist
OMFG!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! That is straight out of the movie Aliens - the directors cut.
The movie is what me think of the above.

Duncan mentioned the Zarges, I just got three Alu-boxes which are the same thing, so I should be good.
Up where I go, Mt. Rainier National Park, and the Greenwater area which is all old growth logging roads and trails, there are black bears.

But for going up there for more than thirty years, I have never seen one.
I guess that is a good thing.
 

Stryder106

Explorer
I assume you're talking about theft? I don't know how much of a concern that is in the middle of friggin' no-where - which is where the bear issue is most likely to come up.

You're from Los Angeles - I'm in Riverside - all of the mountains around us are loaded with black bears. You don't have to go far to meet up with them and you are well within reach of the lowlifes who will take the opportunity to upgrade their cooler by snatching yours. We have never had a problem when we used our PUP trailer and left coolers out while we were out adventuring for the day - but those were also old, beat-up $25 Igloo coolers - not a $400 Yeti. I've heard a lot of people mention losing Yetis when they've left them unattended. I like to think better of people, but no reason to tempt it.
 

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