Hanging your food bag from a tree or other elevated object when you’re out on a backpacking trip can help keep it away from the reach of wildlife. Doing this the wrong way can be dangerous and have disastrous consequences. To ensure that you’re hanging your food bag in a way that is safe and effective, here are some tips to follow:
Choose the Right Tree
The first step is to choose the right tree. Look for one that is sturdy and stable, preferably one that is larger than 10 inches in diameter.
This will ensure that your food bag stays off the ground and won’t get bumped around by animals or wind. If possible, try to find a tree with branches that are at least 6 feet off the ground, so it’s harder for animals to access it.
Gather Your Supplies
Before you start hanging your food bag, make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. You will need a rope or cord that is at least 30 feet long and strong enough to hold your food bag.
You will also need something to tie the rope off with, such as carabiners, quick links, or webbing straps. If possible, use something that won’t slip or break easily if it gets wet or cold.
Set Up the Food Bag
Once you have all of your supplies gathered together, set up your food bag by tying one end of the rope around it securely. Make sure it is tight enough so that it won’t slip off if there is any weight put on it later on in the night. Once you have done this, pull out about 10 feet of rope and tie a loop around a nearby branch or tree trunk at an appropriate height (higher than 6 feet).
Hang The Food Bag
Now take the remaining 20 feet of rope and tie another loop around another nearby branch or tree trunk at an appropriate height (higher than 6 feet). Then attach this loop to the first loop with either carabiners or webbing straps making sure both loops are secure and won’t come undone easily even when there is weight put on them later on in the night. Once both loops are secure, hang your food bag from them by attaching it to each loop with either carabiners or webbing straps making sure they are secured tightly so they don’t come undone during the night due to bumps from animals or wind.
Conclusion
Hanging a food bag while out on a backpacking trip can be tricky but following these steps can help ensure you do it safely and effectively so your food stays away from wildlife throughout your trip! Remember to choose sturdy trees with branches higher than 6 feet off the ground, gather all necessary supplies beforehand such as ropes/cords and carabiners/webbing straps, set up your food bags securely using one end of the rope around them tightly before tying two loops around branches/tree trunks at an appropriate height; then hang your food bags by attaching them securely onto each loop before heading off for bed!