It's not so bad when just car camping, but if your food is lost while deep in the backcountry, you can be in a world of hurt. With a couple days hiking between you and the nearest trailhead, running out of food probably won't kill you, but it's a big step in that direction.
What? How can someone LOSE their food? - you might ask.

• Water - Rain and crackers don't mix well. Dropping a food bag into a lake or stream can ruin unprotected items. Fortunately, this is easy and light to prevent. Repackage everything into zip-loc bags. This reduces packaging weight and keeps everything safe from moisture. Putting multiple small bags into a larger 2.5 gallon zip-loc increases the protection.
• Dirt - When you drop your tortilla with peanut butter on it, you already know which side will hit the ground! You can blow dirt off many items, but not all. Being careful when opening packages, passing bowls, and stirring pots is the best guard against dropping and spilling food. No one's going to want that ramen after you tip the cookpot over, are they?
  There's not much concern about dirt getting into food in transit, but spilling food is a common problem.
• Stupidity - The food is forgotten in the car, along the trail, or at the previous campsite. By just not paying attention and double-checking yourself, you can forget your food. Yes, I have seen it happen!
• Animals - Critters are opportunists. Anything that smells interesting gets investigated. And, they can find the smallest bits hidden far out of sight. The most common stealers are mice, chipmunks, raccoons, other rodents and birds. Bears generally stay away from people, unless they've been habituated - learned to associate people with easy food. In those popular locations with habituated bears, special regulations are in place for visitors which often includes use of bear-proof cannisters.
  Whether it's bears or mini-bears (rodents) that are the concern, protecting food is handled in a similar manner. Storing it in a smell-resistant bag and hanging it out of reach keeps it safe.

On the Arizona Trail, there were often no trees to hang my food. But, bears weren't a concern either. There are wire mesh food bags available that mini-bears can't chew through, like OutSak.

For those times when you need to hang, I've found the PCT Method to be the best if there are large trees around. Along the Superior Hiking Trail, I could often only find smaller trees and came up with my own way of hanging so the food is high enough and away from the tree.

1. Throw rope with carabiner on end over high branch.
2. Clip food bag to carabiner.
Lift carabiner and food bag as high up the rope as possible and loop rope through carabiner so it doesn't slide.Walk the other end of the rope away from the tree to move the bag out from the tree.
3. Tie rope to another tree as high up as I can reach.

This puts the food bag well over 10 feet up since I can reach up 8 feet. Well, at least I didn't lose any food!

But, here's something new and interesting...
A couple guys at University of Wisconsin in Stout, WI have designed a new product for hanging food bags. It's supposed to be simple to use and secure from pesky food stealers.

They made this video demonstrating how to use it. Unforatunately, there aren't any close-ups of the device or explanation on how it works.
So, take a look and let us all know what you think - innovation or not?



Hike On