New Bear Canister for MBSW & Backpacking

[brittanyhikes]

Hey there! Long-time reader of the forums - first time actually setting up my account and posting.

I've been trying to figure out gear for backpacking into some 14ers this summer in the elks and san juans (If the snow in the San Juans ever melts) and wanted to pass along what I learned. Having a light pack that is reasonably small is important to me. However, when I need to carry a helmet on the chossier routes as well as more layers and what not it gets really hard to pack light for backpacking in overnight. I spent quite a bit of time this winter reevaluating my backpacking gear and trying to figure out how to lighten the load. Inevitably, one of the heaviest items is a bear canister. Now, I'm a believer that canisters are the only method that actually works without being a massive hassle or leaving you food to being totally crushed or eaten. I found on the BearVault website, about half way down this page they have this wild video of a bear pulling down a bird feeder that is hung better than 99% of food hangs I've ever tried. My ability to properly hang food sucks + I see myself a guest in the wild when backpacking and bagging 14ers and want to save the bears! Off my soapbox...

Anyway... all that goes to say that I found that BearVault just released a little mini canister, it's like 1/2 the size of my old one and smaller than any other bear canister at REI or online. It seems perfect for 1-2 night last minute trips when the thunderstorm forecast does not look so bad. I snagged some of the new Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness Permits, and I'm excited to use this mini can at Snowmass lake before climbing Snowmass in July. It looks like it will take almost a pound off my pack weight! What?!

[14ercooper]

I'll also just add the note that the Maroon-Snowmass wilderness still requires hard sided bear canisters anyways, so most of the other methods aren't even allowed there.
That mini-canister looks like a huge improvement over some of the... bulkier canisters.

[dwoodward13]

I'll also just add the note that the Maroon-Snowmass wilderness still requires hard sided bear canisters anyways, so most of the other methods aren't even allowed there.
That mini-canister looks like a huge improvement over some of the... bulkier canisters.

This is no longer true. A few years ago they removed the "hard sided" requirement and now any IGBC qualified containers are approved, including ursacks and the like. Other places like RMNP still required "hard sided" containers (ie ursacks wouldn't qualify).

Most current order from 2021. Look a Definition 2a on the last page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 876962.pdf

Order from 2015. Look at Definition 2a on page 5
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 845631.pdf

[14ercooper]

This is no longer true. Back in 2019 (or possibly earlier, but can't view orders that have expired) they removed the "hard sided" requirement and now any IGBC qualified containers are approved, including ursacks and the like. Other places like RMNP still required "hard sided" containers (ie ursacks wouldn't qualify).

Interesting. When I called and talked to a ranger last year, they told me that they still require hard-sided canisters within the Maroon-Snowmass wilderness area. Wonder what's up with that discrepency, maybe the ranger was working with outdated information? That does seem like a small enough change that it could have gotten missed.

[dwoodward13]

This is no longer true. Back in 2019 (or possibly earlier, but can't view orders that have expired) they removed the "hard sided" requirement and now any IGBC qualified containers are approved, including ursacks and the like. Other places like RMNP still required "hard sided" containers (ie ursacks wouldn't qualify).

Interesting. When I called and talked to a ranger last year, they told me that they still require hard-sided canisters within the Maroon-Snowmass wilderness area. Wonder what's up with that discrepency, maybe the ranger was working with outdated information? That does seem like a small enough change that it could have gotten missed.

Ya not surprised that everyone might not be on the same page, but its pretty clear now in their most up to date order from 2021 (edited the link above to show the specific order for MBSW, not just White River NF). Some rangers many not really notice or care about that nuance as well. I've also heard differing enforcement, so it may just depend on who you interact with on the trail.

[madmattd]

I've been using the Bear Boxer for a number of years - pretty comparable to the new Bear Vault BV425 in terms of volume/weight. Doing the 4-Pass loop ~5 years ago there were a couple of folks we came across that saw my "tiny" canister and were pretty jealous as they were each schlepping one of the (stupidly heavy) Garcia cans around.

[rdp32]

I'll also just add the note that the Maroon-Snowmass wilderness still requires hard sided bear canisters anyways, so most of the other methods aren't even allowed there.
That mini-canister looks like a huge improvement over some of the... bulkier canisters.

This is no longer true. A few years ago they removed the "hard sided" requirement and now any IGBC qualified containers are approved, including ursacks and the like. Other places like RMNP still required "hard sided" containers (ie ursacks wouldn't qualify).

Most current order from 2021. Look a Definition 2a on the last page
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 876962.pdf

Order from 2015. Look at Definition 2a on page 5
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 845631.pdf

RMNP allows Ursacks if you have the aluminum liner. Also, can confirm MBSW allows Ursacks

[two lunches]

RMNP allows Ursacks if you have the aluminum liner. Also, can confirm MBSW allows Ursacks

just ordered the aluminum liner for my Major XL. 40% at REI right now if anyone else needs one.. looks like they're being discontinued.