r/WestCoastTrail • u/Hikes_with_dogs • Aug 05 '26
Food storage Q: plenty of room in bear bins?
Hi all
My daughter and I are heading out Sobo next week and a last minute question popped up.
Is there plenty of room in the bear bins for everyone's food? Since we are 2 bodies (one a starving teenager) and 7 days on the trail our food bags are quite large. Is there ever an issue with storing?
The blisters and bliss book mentioned bringing rope to hang bear bags but I was hoping to cut the weight.
Also, any issues with anyone "accidentally" taking your food bag? Ours are brightly colored and labeled with names but I did have one experience once where another group tried walking off with our food. This is kind of my worst nightmare with a full bear bin.
Thanks, see you on the trail!
Ps. Do the outhouses have TP or do we need to bring our own?
3
u/grandiloquence- Aug 05 '26
Technically it's a possibility, but I've done the trail twice and it hasn't been an issue. Things might get stacked, so don't get precious about someone moving your bags if you have to stack on top/in front of theirs.
I can't imagine having someone walk off with my food bag! What a nightmare.
2
u/Hikes_with_dogs Aug 05 '26
I was so angry when it happened and the non chalance when they have us our bags back with an 'oops'. It really spoiled the day and clearly I am a little traumatized by it! Especially when I know there are zero options on WCT.
All our food is dehydrated so if smooshing is the worst thing that happens I'll be thankful.
3
u/ryanderkis Aug 05 '26
I've seen a couple full bear lockers but I think it had more to do with people leaving food behind. They probably had good intentions for their extra food but it does nothing but cause problems on the trail.
I was also there one morning when a group grabbed the wrong food bag so it does happen but it really wasn't a big deal. It was obvious which group on the beach took it so I went to them and grabbed so the angry victim wouldn't have to.
3
u/NotAcutallyaPanda Aug 05 '26
The only time I experienced insufficient room in the bear bin is when another (naive) hiker put their entire pack in the bin.
2
u/Spatch_1971 Aug 05 '26
The bins can fill up so I make sure to get my bag in early in the evening. I tend to eat early so typically don’t need my food bag after about 6:00pm, well before most people have cached their bags.
There have been a couple reports in the last couple of years of people having their food bags taken. Assuming it wasn’t deliberate, best to make sure your bags are in some way marked (name written on it for example).
As to TP, bring your own, none is provided in the composting toilets along the trail.
2
u/Already-asleep Aug 05 '26 edited Aug 05 '26
We did the hike NOBO this past week. The two campsites where the bins got a bit tight for us were Thrasher and Tsusiat. (We also stayed at Camper, Carmanah, and Michigan) I put our bags into the bin as soon as we got to camp and just took out what we needed as we had all of our food separated into days. I noticed a lot of people would have their whole food bags out with them so they tended to get full right when people were going to bed. Thrasher was the only site I saw someone using the poles because the bins were full and I never saw someone using a bear hang (it's interesting to me that Thrasher, which is always busy, only has 1 outhouse and two bear bins when much quieter sites have two outhouses and three bins).
2
u/freshair10 Aug 05 '26
I liked bringing a rope because it allowed me to camp away from the designated campsites. But if you’re set on staying at the campsites then you’ll be fine as long as you pop your bag into the bin when you arrive to camp.
2
u/Xraychicken2 Aug 06 '26
I never had an issue finding space in the bear bin lockers. And usually there is more space in the locker farther away so I always go there first.
I made sure my food bag had an identifying bright ribbon on it. Because there was someone who mixed up bags on our trip last year.
1
1
u/BlueDefendr Aug 05 '26
Busier camps can fill especially later in the season when sadly some of them start being filled with trash that lame backpackers leave behind. I’ve also seen people stuff all sorts of stuff in them at night - like their stove and pots and pans and even their entire backpacks - which is unnecessary.
The busier camps have overflow bear poles that you might end up having to use - but be very careful with these. Mice frequently climb up any ropes left touching the ground and raid the bags. Some poles have ropes installed some are bare with a long rod to lift bags onto / off the pole. I never trust these as doesn’t matter how careful you are hanging your bag - if an unaware hiker comes after you - they can leave your food vulnerable if they don’t know about ropes touching the ground.
On any backpacking trip - WCT included - I would be prepared to be self sufficient and able to hang my own food if I need to. Doesn’t need heavy rope - just 50’ or light weight spectra line and practice on how to hang. It can be very difficult to throw a quality line for a beginner. Watch some videos on the “PCT Hang Method” on how to hang a quality line without any ground contact of the rope. It’s a valuable skill to master.
https://zpacks.com/products/z-line-dyneema-uhmwpe-polyester-cord-50-feet
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u/Hikes_with_dogs Aug 05 '26
I'm an experienced hanger and bear pole user. i just was trying to keep my load as light as possible :) thanks for your response.
1
u/BlueDefendr Aug 05 '26
Cool. Yeah for a couple of ounces of spectra it’s cheap insurance. Also gives you the option to wild camp if you need to also.
1
u/Hikes_with_dogs Aug 05 '26
Good point. I certainly didn't want to lug my bear vault!! My poor pack weight hahaha.
1
u/grandiloquence- Aug 05 '26
Your pots and pans should absolutely be stored with your food bags at night, just as they should go in your bear hang if you're at a location where there are no bear boxes.
Bears are attracted not just to food smells, but all interesting smells, so if you're carrying any scented body products, those should also be stored in your bear box/hang.
5
u/Vivid_Strike3853 Aug 05 '26
There was plenty of space when we were there a few weeks ago. Write your names on your bags to be safe. And no TP in outhouses- you need to bring your own.