Tour Divide - Camping, food and bears - To hang or not?

[Cosmo K]

I'll be racing in June and I haven't seen much info on food handling when camping.  I know that the preferred method of camping with food is to hang it but I have never seen anyone post about doing this during the TD.  Does anyone do this?  Is it worthwhile since you probably stink like food anyway?  I'd love some input on this.

Thx

[BigPoppa]

Well, most people don't camp much in bear territory. If they do, they usually are just outside of a city and feel safe camping.

For lots of people, there is no way to get all the food smell of of themselves. So, they just plop down for the night and hope for the best...

[THE LONG RANGER]

There's been a lot of good discussion about this:

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=2013.0

ML's map is useful:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=200334849650645495946.00047e45e4239031f00c3&start=0&num=200&sll=46.7248,-112.807617&sspn=1.269004,2.221985&z=7

From my own experience, here's some things to note about the RED sections - basically avoid sleeping in the red areas:

* Banff to Elkford probably won't be too problematic, as most can get to Elkford. You'll undoubtedly see some bears on route.
* The Flathead has some opportunities for inside sleeping, including the Butts Cabin. I wouldn't count on it, as it's first-come, first serve. Lots, and lots of bears in the area.
* Hopefully, it's easy to time it, so you're in the area after Eureka and the Swan Lake area in the daytime, rather than the night time.
* There's campsites a few miles after you turn L off of 83, they'll have beer boxes for food. The area after it, and before Richmond peak is pretty bear-heavy. Lots of folks took photos of that huge bear trap. The part right before it is also a part of the trail that turns into sorta-singletrack. It's spooky. Seeley lake is another good place to crash for the night - motels are available. The track afterward is super fast (and fun!) and you'll get to the next towns in no time. There's a work center in the middle of that, as well, if you need some, "company"
* There's no reason to sleep on top of Huck Pass - either do it, and get to Lincoln, or don't. It's a fun climb and funner descent. Haven't done it at night, though!

Montana also has a plethora of ready-made beer shelters called, "outhouses".

BigPoppa is right though, you're going to smell like food and stink like human, no matter what you do. Don't pour butter and bacon on yourself, or your sleep kit and go to sleep, though. 

I don't think taking minor precautions are hanging up your food with a bit of parachord is a bad idea. Lots of people take bear spray. My second time around, I opted to go without it. It's another choice you should make for yourself.

[Cosmo K]

Thanks for the good info.  I live on the east coast and backpack here and I've always hung my food.  I think bears here see more humans so I always thought it prudent.  I wasn't going to when doing the TD with the thought that I'm going to stink of food anyway.  It sounds like most people don't.

Also, my plan is to ride until I'm done...then stop.  If it's at a town, good.  If not, I'll camp.  I'd rather not be confined by towns, in terms of sleeping.  Plus, I'm cheap.  Plus, I think I'd get started earlier.  Not to say I won't want a bed some times (maybe always) but I'd rather not plan on it.

The first day my goal is to try to go beyond Elkford but I most likely won't make Sparwood.  I may need to rethink that looking at the bear map.  Plus, with all the people starting, hotels will most likely(??) be sold out in Elkford. I'd like to plan the first few days...after that, play it by ear.

I'm really not trying to plan this out too much in terms of logistics.  Know where food and water are and play it by ear.

[riverfever]

Justin, I had all but ruled out anything major on a bike this year but...these beer shelters sound intriguing. Tell me more.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Also, my plan is to ride until I'm done...then stop.  If it's at a town, good.  If not, I'll camp.  I'd rather not be confined by towns, in terms of sleeping.  Plus, I'm cheap.  Plus, I think I'd get started earlier.  Not to say I won't want a bed some times (maybe always) but I'd rather not plan on it.

Yeah, I don't think that's a bad idea at all, def. close to my way of doing things. Depending on how far you've gone for the day, staying in town can be a hard thing to decline taking advantage of, but I do think it works out for the better, if you've got the legs for it. For example, outside of Elkford, is good-enough places to crash for the night, as long as the hill out of town doesn't scare you away, it's def. a psychological barrier to overcome!

I'd recommend getting as close to Sparwood as you can (or out of it) - basically as far into the Flathead as you can. The fastest people will make it almost to Butts in the first night. Just make sure to have enough food to push outta there, to the border - or Eureka.

Just try to gauge how fast you're going when night falls, it's harder to see the road/perhaps harder to navigate, and you're tired anyways and make that go-no go decision. There were def. days where I pushed 60 miles farther, after 9:00pm, because conditions were perfect to do so.

Ah, all this talk makes me wistful for another go

[JDP]

Bear spray maybe, but bring a rock the size of your hand, it's a proven deterrent.  Apparently that works well with bears in B.C.

Bear Attacks - Man Kills Bear With Rock - TMTV Kootenays