All food, trash, toiletries, and other scented items must be stored inside an IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee) approved 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 or on your skin, it should probably be stored in a bear canister.

• Prepare food, eat, and store your bear-resistant food canister at least 100 yards downwind from your tent.  
• Store your canister on the ground hidden in brush or behind rocks.
• Take care not to place canister near a cliff or any water source, as a bear may knock the canister around or roll it down a hill.
• Keep your eyes out for approaching bears. Be prepared to put your food away in a hurry.
• Keep your bear canister closed and locked, even while you're around your campsite. The bear canister only works if it's closed and locked!
• Do not hang or attach anything to the canister (ropes attached to the canister may enable a bear to carry it away).

Techniques to reduce trash and overall weight on trip:

• Buy in bulk
• Buy dehydrated and other low volume/high calorie foods – they take up less space
• Remove all commercial packaging
• Repack food
• Add spices to repacked meals ahead of time
• Label bags with contents and cooking instructions
• Less packaging means less weight and less trash to carry
• Consider pot size and fuel needs when repackaging food
• Keep notes; what works what doesn’t

Pack out what you pack in! Burning trash in the backcountry of GTNP is illegal.

 

Bears and Backcountry Information>>

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Never approach a bear.
Never feed a bear.
Stay 300 feet (1 football field) from bears at all times.