Food Storage

WILDERNESS LIVING CIRRICULUM: 

TOPIC: BACKCOUNTRY FOOD STORAGE

OPTIMAL TEACHING SITUATION: Perfect tree with model hand pre-rigged

OPTIMAL TIME ON COURSE TO TEACH: Pre-Course, During Outfitting, Or First Day on Course.

PREVIOUS SKILLS REQUIRED: Basic Knots and Hitches; no knot, clove hitch, bowline, clove hitch on bite; campsite selection and bear triangle, small white board.

MATERIALS: 60’ 4mm Bear Cord, Stuff Sacks (2), Weight for stuff sacks, 5-pound stick, bear cannister

HOOK/STORY EMPHASIZING CONSEQUENCES/RELEVANCEY: We think of bear proofing, both for actual bears and micro to medium bears.  Depending on your location, mice, racoons, squirrels, insects, birds, want to steal and contaminate your food.  Infamously on the first ever Wilderness Orientation trip in 2004, on the very first night, the largest racoon in Canada spent 5 minutes bounding around on top of four screaming Calvin students.  Although the group had been instructed and warned, one student brought personal food into the tent.  Under multiple headlamps, the racoon departed the shelter with a full bag of Captain Crunch.  As a keep sack, we have hung onto that shelter that the raccoon chewed right through!  An unforgettable night for all involved.  Sometime burnt hand teaches best!

LEARNING OBJECTIVES (3): The Learner will:

1.  Understand that all outdoor contexts require pre-trip research on threats and appropriate food storage techniques.

2.  Be able to list six food storage options: bear hang, bear cannister, metal bear box, kayak hatch, electric fence, trunk

3.  Learn about 3 bear hangs for different forest situations; single, pct (counterbalance), double limb

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES (3)

1. Student will be able to articulate bear camping triangle; understanding food “down wind”

2. Student will work in a group to complete a PCT hang and single limb/single bag hang

3. Student will independently hang/store food appropriately on the course

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

1)      What variety of critters want our food in a wilderness setting? Any great stories?

2)      What are methods that you know about regarding safe food storage when camping or doing wilderness travel?

ESSENTIAL FACTS:

1.  12’ Up, 5’ down, and 5’ out

2. Grizzley Bear Country – 200’ from camp “down wind”

3. Micro trash will bring critters to camp (spilled oats, rice, trash, wrappers, etc.)

4. No scented items in tents.  In Grizzley context, clothing cooked in should be “stored”. Hygiene, trash, wrappers, etc.

DEMONSTRATION 1:  Single Limb Hang

1.       Discuss trees and distance from camp.

2.       Risks: “widow makers” – dead trees/branches, weighted stick hitting self or others

3.       No knot finished with clove hitch; 4mm cord flaked on ground

4.       Grenade side-armed throw

5.       Clove hitch on stuff sack (or bowline through cord)

6.       Student lifts and pushes stuff sack (up to 20 pounds) while instructor uses tree as a friction belay to tend gain

7.       Instructor ties off bag with no knot/clove hitch

DEMONSTRATION 2: Counterbalance Hang

1.       Demo 1 plus:

2.       Pull bag up to the branch.

3.       Using student to hold line, use clove hitch or bowline on a bite to secure 2nd bag (similar weight)

4.       Use stick to push up 2nd bag until 1st and second bag are even; Coil “retrieval line”

GUIDED PRACTICE (Coached): Students will work in teams of 2 to hang both a single limb, then convert to counterbalance.  Instructors will check and evaluate the first night hang.

INDEPENDENT/SOCIAL PRACTICE (Supervised): Students will hang/store food on their own for the remainder of trip.

EXTEND AND ENRICH: (if time), teach double limb hang.

FEEDBACK/ASSESSMENT (Method): Instructors will offer feedback at guided practice stage and evaluate first independent hang to check for understanding and proficiency.CLOSING OR NEXT STEPS: In addition to overnight storage, alert students that they should always keep packs and scented items within site.  If animals (not bears) approach packs or kitchen site, they should be hazed with loud voices and small rocks.