It’s no surprise that most hikers loathe bear canisters. No one likes adding extra weight to their pack. Then there’s the process of rearranging all your gear to accommodate this ridiculously bulky item. And the confined space inside the canister that limits how much food you can carry between resupplies.
Plus, did I mention how heavy they are?? My Bear Vault BV 500 bear canister – the most popular model seen out on the trail – weighs in at 2 pounds, 9 ounces when it’s completely empty!! That’s NOT ultralight by any stretch of the imagination.
So why in the world would anyone ever carry a bear canister? And do you REALLY need to carry one on the Tahoe Rim Trail?
MAKING THE CASE FOR A BEAR CANISTER
Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is that protecting your food from curious and hungry bears (as well as other scavengers) is a necessary step in most of the backcountry in California. In recent years, as the Tahoe Basin has grown in size and use, and it’s seen a notable increase in bear activity.
As more people use a space, we tend to fill it with more trash — some of it containing with crumbs or food remnants. This delicious human food is like crack cocaine for bears. Once get a taste for it, they realize that combing through our trash is a heck of a lot less labor-intensive than climbing a steep mountainside for semi-ripe berries or grasses.
Bears also have an insanely acute sense of smell to detect easy food sources. The analogy that resonates the most with me is that bears’ sense of smell is akin to the our sense of sight. Humans have the acuity to distinguish between hundreds of different shades of a single color. And so we use that strength to help us navigate our world. Meanwhile, bears have a sense of smell that is 2,100 times stronger than the human nose. And they trust that strength in their own habitat, whether it’s to find naturally ripening berries or a tasty Snickers bar.
Bears who become habituated to the easy reward of human food will quickly become a nuisance. They repeatedly raid trash cans and campsites in search of their next fix. Over time, they become more emboldened and aggressive in their search for food scraps. And this behavior puts hikers and campers at greater risks of physical harm from a hangry bear in the backcountry. (You can click HERE to see an example of one such bear at a shelter during my AT 2019 thru-hike).
Unfortunately, the consequences for these naughty bears isn’t a usually good one. While some are relocated to other backcountry areas, most of them are simply shot and killed by game wardens or bear management teams.
This is where bear canisters enter the picture. Whether the durable cylinder is made from thick plastic, carbon fiber, or titanium, it was designed to keep your food and odor producing items safe. Most models have lids that are near impossible for bears to remove. They are also tested to withstand bears pawing them, throwing them short distances, and using other conniving methods to get after what’s contained inside. These containers try to eliminate the bear’s easy reward when it finds human food, and lessens the likelihood that the bear will become a nuisance that has to be destroyed.
ARE BEAR CANISTERS REQUIRED ON THE TRT?
So now you understand the reasons why bear canisters are necessary in so many national parks and wilderness areas. Yet, that still leave us with the ultimate question. Are bear canisters actually required on the Tahoe Rim Trail?
The most recent guidance from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and U.S. Forest Service states,
All food is required to be stored in bear proof containers or using bear proof techniques. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association strongly encourages the use of bear canisters as the preferred method of food storage on the entire trail. Please note that many high elevation locations on the trail do not have trees that are sufficient for hanging bear bags.
So, what does this really boil down to in plain English? What are the various acceptable ways to secure your food while thru-hiking the TRT? Which ones will keep you out of trouble if a forest ranger (or bear) stumbles into your campsite to see how well you followed the rules. And which one is right for you?
ACCEPTABLE FOOD STORAGE OPTIONS
Here’s a list of reliable methods you can use to protect your food on the Tahoe Rim Trail, in no particular order:
- Bear Canister. Storing all your food in a traditional bear canister is undoubtedly the heaviest method on this list. However, a bear canister is odor-proof, weatherproof, critter-proof, and the most secure storage option overall. I used this method for 120 miles of the TRT, and while it was an uncomfortably heavy addition to my pack, it was also easy and reliable. Just remember to store the canister a safe distance (at least 25-50 yards) away from your tent at night — and preferably somewhere that it won’t end up rolling down a steep hill if a bear does find it. I tend to wedge mine between some rocks or the roots of a tree. Added weight: 2-3 pounds. Cost: $60-$350
- URSACK. Ursacks were designed as a lightweight alternative to bear canisters. These soft-sided bear resistant bags are made from UHMWPE and kevlar fabric, and have been IGBC-tested to withstand bears (go ahead, watch the bears try to destroy it HERE). After cinching the Ursak closed and tying a strong knot at the top, you simply anchor it to a tree to make it difficult for animals to carry away if they discover your food cache. Ursacks are gaining a dedicated following thanks to the fact that they are similarly priced to most plastic bear canisters, but only a fraction of the weight. However, there are some downsides too. First off, the material isn’t waterproof. Second, Ursacks are not universally accepted on every trail as means of bear proofing your food. Finally, the Ursack Major (one of the most popular sizes) isn’t automatically rodent-proof like a bear canister. Added weight: 7 oz. Cost: $60-95
- URSACK/OPSAK Combo. This is my preferred technique of food storage in the backcountry. I used it for the final 50 miles of my TRT thru-hike as well as on numerous other backcountry trips in Oregon, Montana, and Utah. I first read about this method after listening to a podcast interview with Andrew Skurka. It’s as simple as lining an Ursack Major with a 12″x 20″ OPSAK (a thick odor proof ziplock-style bag) to give it an added boost to help with odors and the weather. You can also stuff a small wad of steel wool into the opening where the Ursack cinches down to help keep rodents, pika, or marmots out (if is an issue on a trail). Added weight: 8 oz. Cost: $75-110
- Bear Hang. Most long distance hikers are familiar with the various methods of hanging your food bag in a tree. The only equipment you need is a 30-50 foot length or rope and a carabiner. One end of the rope tied to a heavy anchor (like a rock) and tossed over a tree branch that is at least 15-20 feet in the air and 6 feet away from the tree’s trunk. Then you simply hoist your food bag into the air to suspend it where the bear cannot reach it. Unfortunately, finding trees suitable for a proper bear hang on the Tahoe Rim Trail can be difficult on many areas, which is why the TRTA doesn’t encourage relying on this method. Added weight: Varies based on the your preferred rope and carabiner. Cost: $5 and up
- Bear Box. Anyone who’s visited the national parks along the West Coast is sure to have seen a bear box. These sturdy brown metal lockers are regularly available at car camping locations wherever bear activity is prevalent. You simply unlock the doors used a method bears paws can’t replicate (often a pinching motion) and place your food securely inside the bear box overnight. Unfortunately, bear boxes are only located at a handful of the primitive campgrounds along the TRT (e.g., Watson Lake, Marlette Peak), so they’re merely a supplemental resource rather than one you can rely on for an entire thru-hike. Added weight: None. Cost: free
MY TAHOE RIM TRAIL EXPERIENCE
So what’s the verdict? Do you absolutely need to carry a heavy bear canister on the Tahoe Rim Trail? Probably not. But you WILL need to secure your food somehow. It took me 9 days to complete the trail on my 2020 TRT thru-hike. During that time, I used a bear canister for the first six days (although bear boxes were also available on two of those nights), and a Ursack/OPSAK combo on the remaining three days.
In the end, I walked away feeling that both options were equally good alternatives, but I definitely preferred the Ursack for it’s weight and price. Here’s a summary of the pros on cons I experienced with each method on the TRT.
BV500 Bear Canister
Pros:
- Durable and reliable
- Rodent-, marmot-, pika-, and raccoon-proof
- Fairly inexpensive compared to other bear canisters
- Weatherproof
- Able to use it as a stool to sit on at camp
- Slightly bigger volume over the Ursack (700 cubic inches vs. 650 cubic inches)
- Worth the investment if you plan on thru-hiking other trails with sections where bear canister are still absolutely required (e.g., John Muir Trail, Pacific Crest Trail)
- Semi-clear plastic so you can see what’s inside without having to empty everything out
- Didn’t require any additional tools to open (like a coin or flat edge needed for some other types of canisters)
- Can be used as a storage container to organize seasonal backpacking items at home after the trail
Cons:
- Almost 3 extra pounds of weight to carry
- Not great with a frameless pack (especially during the longer water carries on the eastern side of the TRT)
- Must be to be stored upright inside smaller/narrower packs, which eats up a lot of precious room
- The unyielding plastic sides can press into your back or shoulders
- It doesn’t get any smaller as you eat down your food supply
Ursack/OPSAK Combo
Pros:
- Lightweight and durable
- Collapsible – so it takes up less room in your pack as your food supply decreases
- Similar in price as most plastic bear canisters
- More comfortable to pack/adjust inside your backpack
- Weather- and odor-proof once you add the OPSAK as a liner
- Able to use a pillow/back rest during lunch breaks
- Could be suspended for added protection, if desired
- Stores away easily after the trail
Cons:
- Slightly smaller capacity than the BV500 (4-5 days food maximum, in my opinion)
- Soft-sided material could lead to crushed food if you cram it into your pack
- Less easy to see/find your food due to its opaqueness and narrow opening
- Not as critter-proof or worry-free as a hard-sided bear canister
- The OPSAK’s ziplock-style closure loses its durability after 4-6 weeks, which means you may need to replace it between thru-hikes (an extra enduring expense)
FINAL THOUGHTS
Food storage is a personal choice, but one that could affect your safety and peace of mind. In the end, we are all stewards of the trail. Making responsible choices to protect curious bears from your impact on their environment is always smart one. Want to know more about this topic? Here’s a few additional resources I found helpful when I was planning my TRT thru-hike.
- Official food storage guidance for the TRT (Tahoe Rim Trail Association)
- Buyer’s Guide for Hard and Soft Sided Bear Canisters (Andrew Skurka)
- Long-Term Review of OPSAK Bags (Outside Magazine)
- Pros & Cons of Different Bear Canister Designs (Calipidder.com)
- California Black Bear Depredation Policy (Ca. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife)
