Food for Bearcans, Tips learned from Summer 2002

Stephanie Wilson, February 2003

Trip: "Lake Basin High Route" Rated S, Extensive XC
Route: South Lake, Bishop Pass, Knapsack Pass, Potluck Pass, Glacier Pass, Mather Pass, Frozen Lake Pass, Lake Basin, Dumbbell Lake Pass, Cataract Creek Pass, John Muir Trail, Bishop Pass
Duration: 9 days 8 nights
Who: 1 leader (me), 7 participants, 5 men, 3 women, age range 20's to 60's
Bear cans required for camping in Dusy Basin and Barrett Lakes.
All food from B2 through L9 packed into Bear Cans.
One can per person, 3 "Bearikades" (Weekender model) and 5 Garcia cans.

Tips and Observations, in no particular order:

• Repackaged everything, even the Milkman, crackers, etc.
• Triscuits work well. Other types easy to crush while packing
• Use honey instead of jam - half the bulk
• Used a variety of energy bars
• No cookies for dinner dessert - used chocolate biscuits, chocolate bars, and puddings.
• Emphasized carbohydrates and relatively bland seasonings the first two days to help with altitude adjustment
• Don't need Day 1 food in cans, so some bulk OK
• Milkman mix is denser than non fat milk mix
• Recommended amounts = how much we took, factor in field notes, round off
• KEEP CANS IN SHADE! ALWAYS!
• Use thicker soups as trip progresses
• Used Zip Loc bags, no knotted bags! Snack, sandwich, quart sizes. No thick "freezer" grade used.
• Religiously purged air from bags using variety of methods. Absolutely no air in bags! Repack if necessary.
• See attached for meal/can distribution. Tried to space each meal over two cans. Much more even weight reduction during trip versus one meal in one can, plus allows some flexibility to adjust for bulk.

Meal Distribution:

Can #	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1
	B2	B2	L2	L2	D2	D2	B3	B3
	L3	L3	D3	D3	B4	B4	D4	D4
	B5	B5	L5	L5	D5	D5	B6	B6
	L6	L6	D6	D6	B7	B7	L7	L7
	B8	B8	L8	L8	D8	D8	B9	B9
	L9	L9	coffee	cocoa	tea	coffee	tea	cocoa

Happy Hour goodies put in cans with room and recorded. Need to adjust in field and keep good records.