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When you view the launch of some multibillion dollar space vehicle being hurled into the wild blue yonder you are watching one of the crowning achievement of human ingenuity. And when a backpacker launches up into his or her wild blue yonder, packed inside are derivatives of the innovations that were blasted into space.

Although there are many critters that would love to carry your food away, the main threat is a bear, and it goes without saying that if your food is protected from a bear, a raccoon or any other bandit of the forest won't have much of a chance. And what a disaster to a trip if they did! If you are in bear country you will see the warnings to protect your food.

Years ago the only way backpackers could effectively protect their food was the age old cantilever method. It was a ritual, actually determining which camp spot was better. We'd wander around in the forest looking for a good tree wherein to hang our victuals. And then before we did anything else (so we wouldn't get stuck trying to do it in pitch black night) we'd tie a rock to rope, and swing it over the selected branch. Then the last thing we would do before crawling into our sacks for the night was to tie the sack of food to the rope and hoist it up out of reach of hungry bears.

And thanks to all those innovations of space exploration we now have lightweight plastics that are bear proof! Actually many of the U.S. parks and forests make a bear proof container mandatory. It is good to check with the National ranger where you intend to go to find out what is required.

http://www.nps.gov/ar chive/seki/snrm/wildlife/food_ storage.htm

Never mind they cost a small fortune, are cumbersome and still seem to weigh a ton. You can place it somewhere outside your camp (no, don't use it as a pillow), where visitors of the night can sniff and frustrate themselves to "your" heart's content. And in the morning your powdered milk, pancake mix and powdered eggs will intact, ready for hungry campers!

Here are a few good sites that offer information about the bear proof canister:

http://www.bearvault. com/

http://www.backpackerscach e.com/

http://wild-ideas.net/in dex2.html

If the weight of a bear proof can is just too much you can opt for a 'bear bag' made by Ursack. Since most food is dehydrated in one form or the other, the fact that it may be mauled isn't that much of a factor. Ursack bear bags are becoming more popular. If you don't think a bag can be bear proof, watch the videos, they're incredible!

http://www.ursack.c om/index.html

http://outside.aw ay.com/gear/gearguy/200007/200 00716.html

Whichever way you protect your food, it is important to know that no method is foolproof. The folks at Ursack are quick to remind us that there is no such thing as a bear proof can! It makes one wonder if there isn't a school the bears attend to learn the latest space tech innovations!

Learn more about this author, Mac a'Bhaird.
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