Rocky Mountain National Park Requires Bear Canisters

After one too many muggings over a crumpled package of Twinkies, Rocky Mountain National Park is requiring all backpackers to carry bear-proof canisters for their food–a new policy implemented for this summer backcountry season. “They can smell food something like five miles away,” said a RMNP spokesman. She didn’t add that for Twinkies, it’s 10.

The cheapest solution is to rent canisters near Rocky, but if you’re planning on spending the summer shuttling between Rocky, Glacier, Yosemite, and Sequoia, you might want to buy a National Park Service approved canister from Backpacker’s Cache, Wild Ideas, Bear Vault, or Bear Boxer.

You also might check out Opsak, the odor-proof uber-baggies from the folks that make Loksak.

Here are the Park Service’s tips on using one:

The most important part of using a bear canister is what goes inside it. Make sure all food, all trash, all toiletries, and all other scented items are inside the bear canister. This includes but is not limited to all sealed or packaged food, sunscreen, soap, mosquito repellent, lip balm, deodorant, medications, and feminine products. As a general rule, if you put it in your mouth on on your skin, it should probably be stored in a bear canister.

The bear canister only works if it’s closed and locked! Be sure to keep it closed and locked, even while you’re around your campsite. Place the canister on the ground in a flat, level area 100 feet or more from your campsite. Take care not to place it near a cliff or any water source, as a bear may knock the canister around or roll it down a hill. Do not hang or attach anything to the canister (ropes attached to the canister enable a bear to carry the it away). You can place pots and pans on top of the canister as a bear alarm if you like. (Read about what to do if you see a bear.)

The best way to carry a bear canister is inside your pack. Think of it as a big stuff sack, though it will always occupy the same amount of space. Later in your trip, when you have eaten some of your food, you can place other items inside the canister to conserve space.

Haven’t gotten enough on bear canisters for one day? Here’s how to pack one.