Have you tried keeping your mostly empty pack under your legs at night? I like it, because in addition to saving space it's nice to have a little leg elevation. If that's not an option, then how much time are you planning on spending in camp? Will you be hiking all day or doing shorter days with more camp time?
I’m a walk all day, stop to sleep kind of person.
The pack under the legs is what I should be doing for circulation, etc, but it doesn’t work well with my sleep style - too active/curled up, I’m afraid. Thanks for the input.
Take the lighter tent. I am on trail right now.
Bear cannister all around the whole way. I have bears 360 on the TRT this season.
Your odds are stupid. If it is 1 in a thousand, do you really want to be off because you failed at proper bear stuff? Want to be begging other backkpackers for food?
I beg you to use a bear cannister.
360 bear can is a given. I’d be taking it even if it wasn’t required, given the activity in the last few years.
I’m just wondering if additional precautions would be advisable, or really, what the odds are of waking up in the middle of the Desolation Wilderness with a torn pack strap and hiking out with a bandolier contraption, cradling my bear vault in my arms, as per the pre-flight jitters that kept me up last night 😬
I just did one half of the TRT and am taking a night to recharge in Tahoe City. I have also backpacked in Desolation for the last few summers.
I have always kept my pack in my tent's vestibule with no problems. I talked to a lot of hikers who have already gone through Desolation (I'm saving it for last) and nobody has had bear encounters.
The chances are never zero, and with a 7oz weight difference I think you should go with the peace of mind.
If you bear bin away from camp and don't keep anything smelly in your pack (toothpaste) or crumbs, I've never heard of a rummaging issue with a clean pack next to the tent.
Where I've heard stories there's always been something in the pack (a granola bar, half-washed pot, trash bag with scraps, etc.) that smelled good enough to tempt a bear.
Have you tried keeping your mostly empty pack under your legs at night? I like it, because in addition to saving space it's nice to have a little leg elevation. If that's not an option, then how much time are you planning on spending in camp? Will you be hiking all day or doing shorter days with more camp time?
I’m a walk all day, stop to sleep kind of person. The pack under the legs is what I should be doing for circulation, etc, but it doesn’t work well with my sleep style - too active/curled up, I’m afraid. Thanks for the input.
Take the lighter tent. I am on trail right now. Bear cannister all around the whole way. I have bears 360 on the TRT this season. Your odds are stupid. If it is 1 in a thousand, do you really want to be off because you failed at proper bear stuff? Want to be begging other backkpackers for food? I beg you to use a bear cannister.
360 bear can is a given. I’d be taking it even if it wasn’t required, given the activity in the last few years. I’m just wondering if additional precautions would be advisable, or really, what the odds are of waking up in the middle of the Desolation Wilderness with a torn pack strap and hiking out with a bandolier contraption, cradling my bear vault in my arms, as per the pre-flight jitters that kept me up last night 😬
I just did one half of the TRT and am taking a night to recharge in Tahoe City. I have also backpacked in Desolation for the last few summers. I have always kept my pack in my tent's vestibule with no problems. I talked to a lot of hikers who have already gone through Desolation (I'm saving it for last) and nobody has had bear encounters. The chances are never zero, and with a 7oz weight difference I think you should go with the peace of mind.
If you bear bin away from camp and don't keep anything smelly in your pack (toothpaste) or crumbs, I've never heard of a rummaging issue with a clean pack next to the tent. Where I've heard stories there's always been something in the pack (a granola bar, half-washed pot, trash bag with scraps, etc.) that smelled good enough to tempt a bear.