Reply to Food / animals night storage while sleeping

I intend to spend a ton of time camping along the C&O this spring,summer,fall..was curious about anyone's experience with wild life and food supply.. racoons, bears , cats, chipmunk's,,etc..
should I hang it in a the tree..realize its not a heavy bear population ..Maybe a few in Greenridge. or Washington county..I was just curious if anyone has had issues or what is the recommended storage practice while sleeping.. I'm retired an mostly traveling alone with freeze-dried and dried fruit.. any input would be greatly appreciated... Definitely self sufficient no restaurant's..

I’ve had very few and no significant issues with animals during my multiple trips across the GAP & C&O Trail either to myself or my food while traveling solo. I’ve never seen an entire bear… but may have seen the rear end of one scurrying across the trail a few years back. You’re likely subject to more risk from a deer, groundhog, squirrel, or Canadian goose sprinting across the trail in front of you or losing control by hitting and riding over a walnut!

That said, and aside from Washington and Greene Counties, bears do exist in Fayette and perhaps even more so in Somerset counties through which the GAP passes. But, as I said, I’ve never seen one. I have seen foxes along the C&O as they sought out young goslings but never near my campsites.

Food storage can be an issue, primarily from raccoons and, less so, from mice and ground squirrels. For that reason I do not leave fresh or packaged food exposed, e.g. left on a table. I typically put it in a sealed bag or sack and store in a pannier. That may not be as safe as hanging it from a tree, but I have not had a breach thus far although I usually keep my panniers under the porch area of my tent.

These have been my observances over the last 11 years. Others may have somewhat different experiences to share. Enjoy your trip.

Thanks Rivnuts...I've got some beefy panniers..Ortliebs..was really wondering about can I bring the food inside. I'm primarily hammock camping.. But if I can keep the food directly under me on a ground cloth in a pannier that would be fantastic.. 11 years Holy smoke..that's truly astonishing.. You must have a passion not matched by many..C&O has been on my bucket list for decades.. since I spent the night in a grave yard of people who died building it. At least thats what I was told by the Scout Leaders back in the early 70s..we stayed at a Boy Scout camp that was in GreenRidge state forest Maryland Thanks again

Doug:

Let me know when the time approaches and perhaps we can cross paths along the trail. Happy trails.

absolutely....I'd enjoy that.. I'm retired so when the weather brakes
probably mid to late March...I'm heading out.. most likely C&O
I will keep ya posted..Thanks..

How can I send ya my e-mail or some other contact.. I'm also on Reddit

Doug:

I too am retired and thus fiexible though limited somewhat by various family commitments and sporadic medical appointments. Living in Homestead,PA I’m closest to the GAP. You can email me at:

Rivnuts@yahoo.com

Best Wishes

I sent ya an e-mail
thelowry4@msn.com

Like rvrnuts, wife and I have biked trail dozens of times but never had any problems with bears. Have had problems with raccoons primarily at Swains lock, especially one particularly persistent one a few years back that was determined to get into our panniers that were on bikes. After finally chasing him completely out of campsite area he came back later and ended up spreading neighbors’s belongings over entire area. Other than Swains we’ve had no real issues other than one mouse who made a nest inside rear pannier.

I have hiked and backpacked all over the general area, and hike and backpack /a lot/ out in the PNW. I hike regularly into the Olympic Mountains specifically to see the emerging spring bear cubs. Lots of experience around wildlife, including active bear territory. Along the C&O, it's the small critters that can be a bit of an annoyance. Curious chipmunks, squirrels, racoons, and so on. If I were in a tent, not in a known active bear area, I would just keep any food or scented items in the tent with me. Not outside the tent, not in the vestibule. Unless you are using an Ursack - but even then you'll just spend the night being woken up by the sound of critters trying to chew the bag. Otherwise, a good hang. I find most people struggle with a good hang technique and place it too near their camp. Look up PCT Method of doing a bear hang and practice it.

Wow ...guess eating YOUR food is a heck of a lot easier than scrounging around for scraps...I'm primarily hammock camping.. wasn't sure about putting the panniers directly under me or hanging on a tiny string about 10 feet in the air..That's wonderful your wife did it with ya.. I've gotten my wife's bike all rigged up to do the same..we really ride well together, just haven't stayed out yet .. this year will be our first. Both in our 60's.. have camped together while canoe camping. up in Green Ridge 20 years ago.. children and grandchildren kinda change priorities a bit..I'm retired waiting for her..any site to avoid ??? not going to ask favorites.. LOL

Personally, I would not recommend the Evitts Creek campsite due both to its general condition and its proximity to Cumberland. Ignoring the raccoon, Swains Lock can be less than wonderful on summer weekends when it can be quite busy and noisy since it’s the closest free H/B site before DC. And while noise from trains is omnipresent along the trail, the Bald Eagle and Calico Rocks campsites south of Brunswick are virtually adjacent to the train tracks going to and from the switchyard in Brunswick. You feel certain they are going to pass though your tent when trying to sleep at those sites.

Thank you Rivnuts, G,S,&Z,Brian for the in put.., you all have definitely help me and I hope others who read these comments. What a great forum for a noob like me to ask questions and get unbiased answers...tip of the hat to ya all...if ya ever see an old fart ridding an old red Jamis mtb with red panniers.. and a smile..say hello..may the soil beneath your wheels be firm this season.,enjoy...keep up the good work

Hey Brian... I've got a arborist bean bag and throw line. for reaching up to do a good hang.. Thanks. I'll probably bring a dry bag and use that.. drag a different line up for the final hang.. small enough so a squirrel cant climb.. hopefully 1.18 mm 3/64" dia line with 100 pound capacity.. about 10 ft in the air....ok?? sound good??

Hey Doug, if you do a PCT Method* hang, you don't need a separate throw line and hang line. In fact, you don't want that because it probably means that you are tying off your hang line to a tree ... which you don't want to do ... clever racoons and for sure bears will make easy work of any line tied off to a tree trunk and send your bag falling to the ground.

As for line ... your line sounds fine and if you already have it, great, use it. A few specific ones I like though: Lawson Ultraglide. Great US line maker. A little thicker, but does not snag as easily on branches. Reflective Tracer. A really good, high quality line. Hilltop Packs sells a nice ultralight one that I use often. It's 1.75mm, Dyneema so no stretch (good), super strong, and also has a reflective tracer, which is great for finding your hang in the dark. I mostly prefer this one because it is lighter and packs smaller. It is slick and fiddly though so you need to be competent with your knots ... but if you are doing PCT Method*, the only knot you do in the field is a very simple clove hitch.

*https://theultimatehang.com/2013/03/19/hanging-a-bear-bag-the-pct-method/

Thanks Brian.. Dyneema is incredible line.. I've got a couple Whoopie slings and Dyneema continuous loops... Ohhh and by the way I've got the book The Ultimate Hang.. Love it..
my email is thelowry4@msn.com feel free. don't wanna bog this forum down.. I've spent some time out in the north west as well..back in the early 80's also Wyoming , South Dakota..Different worlds all together. Off topic C & O ,,, Can't wait...Thanks a ton Brian.. My middle name and my sons name Buttt..... Bryan