Bears and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

Borrow a Bear Canister for FREE

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has found that in recent years bears have returned to habitats along the AT corridor where humans had formerly eradicated them. The ATC, local land managers and trail-maintaining clubs are receiving an increasing number of reports of negative encounters between hikers and black bears.

Most of these are related to bears attempting to access hikers’ food. In many cases, bears have been able to gain access to hikers’ food secured using a food hang. Bears are highly intelligent and adaptable creatures, and some have figured out how to defeat even fully compliant food hangs. These occurrences have resulted in negative consequences for both bears and human hikers. 

To minimize all of these negative outcomes in the ATC adopted a policy that advocates strongly for backpackers carrying food on the trail to use an approved food storage container along the entire length of the Appalachian Trail. The policy strongly discourages the use of the food hang to secure food. 

The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club has partnered with Berks County Parks and Recreation to make Bear Canisters available at No Charge.  Use of the club-owned canisters isn’t restricted just to the AT or to club members. Use the canisters anywhere they are required or recommended.

The Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club canister-lending program is the only trailside lending program between North Carolina and Vermont and a unique private/public partnership making canisters available to users at no charge.