This page offers tips on packing food into bear canisters and packing kayaks.  

How to Pack a Bear Resistant Canister

The Bear Resistant Canister (BRC) is a hard plastic container with a flush fitting lid, the bears can smell what is inside but cannot access the contents.

If you have not packed a ‘BRC’ before, having an understanding of how to pack the can will enable you to pack your food efficiently allowing you to take more.

First, line the inside of the can with a garbage bag, bring a good supply of garbage bags and zip locks with you. The canister is not water proof and will fill up with water if it is laying on its side in water or left standing upright in the rain (even if the lid is on).

Put all of your food items into their own zip locks, (everything should be water tight even if it is in a package) squeeze out the air and place it in the can.

You will find that you will need to repack most of your foods from their original package into smaller packages to fit through the opening of the can.

The lid and opening of the BRC is circular and about 4” in diameter, large items will not fit though the opening and square large items will definitely not fit through the small round hole.

Dehydrated foods pack really well. See also our webpage on Bear Canisters.

Kayak Packing

We have three different fiberglass kayaks (see the webpage describing our equipment for details). Your strategy for loading the kayaks will be the same for all sizes.

Bear Resistant Containers (BRC) come in two sizes: tall and short. The double kayaks can fit two short BRC‘s standing upright behind the bow seat, the tall BRC’s should lay down in the center and the back of the kayak. Avoid heavily weighted items in the front of the kayak, you do not want your kayak to be taking a nose dive.

In the single kayaks you must lay both the tall and short BRC’s on their sides in the back hatch, then balance out your kayak with something heavy in the front for example; your tent and a water bladder.

Numerous smaller bags are easier to pack than a few large bags, however carrying lots of small bags up and down the beach is not practical therefore I would suggest bringing some large duffels that pack down small to tote your gear up and down the beach.

Dry bags the length of an average arm and the diameter of a small dinner plate should be the largest size you use. Duffel bags lined with garbage bags work just fine, if you don’t have any dry bags.

We do not rent dry bags for overnight trips.

A double kayak can fit:

• 1 X 2-3 person
• 4 season tent
• 2 x tightly stuffed (individually stuffed) sleeping bags
• 2 X bed rolls
• 1 x two burner stove or 2 x single burner stove plus fuel
• 1 x cook kit
• 2 x large BRC
• 1 x small BRC
• 4 x dry bags
• 2 X small stuff sacks or deck bags

A single kayak can fit:

• 1 X 1-2 person
• 4 season tent
• 1 x tightly packed sleeping bag
• 1 x bed roll
• 2 x single burner stoves plus fuel
• 1 x cook kit
• 2 x large BRC or 1 large and one small BRC
• 2 x dry bags
• 1 x stuff sac or deck bag

Note: All of your gear must fit inside the kayak. It is dangerous to have weight on the top deck of your kayak, this could cause the kayak to capsize.

Food Drops

In the past food drops have been possible by the day boat. However this is always a subject of debate and comes down to the whim of the day boat crew. If at all possible food drops should be avoided.

Having said that, if the crew will accommodate your food drop, then you will need to have your BRC clearly marked with your name, date of drop and location of drop site (which can only be at one of the designated drop sites).

You must be present at the drop site to collect your food, they will not leave BRC unattended due to bear incident risk. Bear Resistant Containers must not be left unattended at anytime for a pick up for the same reason.

Please note. Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks will not take responsibility for organizing your food drop or reminding the day boat crew when to drop it and we will not take responsibility if your food goes missing while you are out camping.