A word on carrying food in Bear country.  Bears are opportunistic animals, yet wild bears almost always show a fear of humans.  Many of us have traveled for years without ever having an encounter with a bruin. Almost all instances with bears coming into camp happen in areas where there's ongoing human activity, such as established campsites and campgrounds.  These bears have come to recognize campsites as another "blueberry patch" and continually come back as they know they'll grab up an easy meal.  This is almost never the case in many wilderness areas.  Keep your camp clean and don't advertise your food and you should almost never have a problem!  That in mind, here's a few options for carrying your food.

     There are many views on the best way to carry food while in the backcountry.  It's of popular opinion that this decision be based on the local wildlife of the area you plan to be in.  Many of us travel in bear country, be it Black bear or Grizzly.  Both will react the same way to the smell of food.  Curious by nature, bears will and do enter camps if they smell food.  Your goal should be to carry your food in a way that helps to eliminate odors and or makes it difficult for a bear or any animal to get into. 

   Bear Barrels:  In the minds of most, barrels will afford you the greatest protection against both bears and other critters alike.  When properly sealed, barrels give off almost no odor and are watertight.  A metal clasp firmly attaches the lid to the neck of the barrel forming an airtight seal.  You can further "proof" your barrel by threading a piece of chicken wire or metal hanger through the clasp locking it in place.  This is about as animal proof as you can get.  Even better, you'll be able to throw all your food, pots, stove, basically anything you want into it without worrying about your food crushing or breaking.  In the event that you end up in the water, the barrel will float.  Barrels come in a couple sizes with 30L and 60L being the most popular. 

Dry Bag:  This may surprise many and by no means would I recommend doing this in bear country but I know many trippers that use a simple dry bag to carry their food.  It's simple, lightweight and allows for easy access.  Better yet, unlike a food pack, it's 100% waterproof so if you dunk, your food won't be spoiled.  It would be wise to hang it using the "bear bagging" method to ensure you'll still have food in the morning. 

Bear Bagging:   This method can be extremely frustrating and put a strain on time.   Nevertheless, it does offer a proven system for keeping bears and critters out of your food pack.  It will also eliminate the need for carrying a barrel, thus eliminating weight.  The basic principle is to suspend your "food pack" 10'-15' off the ground from a branch and at least 4-5 away from the trunk of the tree.  There's various techniques to accomplishing this, and it will take some time to learn.  Still the system works!