Simple Outdoor Tips

Animal Proof Food Storage – Protect Your Food From Animals With These Simple Food Storage Tips
Trail Courtesy – Are You Nice on Trail? Simple Tips from Cactus Huggers
Outdoor Tips Videos – Simple Videos Showing Some SimpleOutdoorStore Tips
Which Outsak® Bag – A Specifications Comparison of the Different Outsak® Bags

– Protect Your Food From Animals With These Simple Food Storage Tips

The following guidelines are meant to supplement local rules and regulations, rather than replace them. Always follow local protocols for food storage. When in doubt, always contact the ranger station designated for your specific travel area.

Keep the animals OUT of your food

It may seem obvious, but preventing animals from getting to your food and other scented items is the only way to keep your stuff safe.

Animals are opportunistic. They are rewarded for their efforts every time they successfully raid a backpack, food sack, stuff sack, etc. Animals are also rewarded for their close proximity to humans when they are fed or otherwise encouraged.

Animals that become habitual raiders often develop nuisance or dangerous behaviors that may lead to their displacement or destruction.

What Can You Do?

Never feed wild animals, no matter how "tame" or cute they may appear

Know which animals are in the areas you are traveling through

Be prepared to store your food and scented items in such a way that it is safe from all the local wildlife

Always educate yourself on the proper use of food storage devices or techniques prior to using them

Try to be aware of ANY impact you are having on your environment, and try to minimize that impact

For more information, see the Grand Canyon National Park Backcountry Food Storage pages

Which Food Storage Device Do You Need?

	Outsak® Animal Resistant Storage Bag	Stuff Sacks, Bear Resistant Bags, and Bear Hangs	Bear Canisters, and Wide–Mouth Bear Resistant Bottles
Weight	Best	Better	Good
Capacity	Best	Better	Good
Resistance To Rodents and Other Small Animals	Best	Good	Better
Resistance to Bears and Other Large Animals	Must Be Hung Properly	Must Be Hung Properly	Best
Compresses When Emptied	Best	Good	Does Not Compress

Which Outsak® Bag to Choose Shows a Comparison of the Different Outsak® Bags

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Trail Courtesy – Are You Nice on Trail? Simple Tips from Cactus Huggers

Rules And Regulations
Most trailheads, entrances, and/or websites will have specific guidelines to follow.
Stay On Trail
Traveling on established trails in high impact areas protects the surrounding nature.
Minimal Impact
Please do your best to minimize your environmental impact. This includes packing out trash, leaving no crumbs or peels behind, staying on trail, eliminating far from water sources, animal proof food storage, etc.
No Rock Throwing
Assume there are hikers, bikers, trail runners, horses, or wildlife below every edge. Never throw a rock below an edge. Innocently thrown rocks can kill.
Stop For Horses
When encountering horses, mules, or other pack animals, step off the trail and stop. Make no contact with the animals. Listen and be open to instructions from the riders, as they sometimes have specific directions about their animals.
Yield To Uphill Traffic
Allow uphill traffic to continue with their pace by stepping to the side. The uphill traffic will sometimes want the break and might wave you through.
Leash Dogs
While on trail, it is respectful to keep your dogs leashed. This protects wildlife from stress and prevents your dog from approaching other people, dogs, bikes, horses, etc. Do not assume other people and animals want to greet your dog. Your dog should be under your control whether they are leashed or not. Know your dog, and do not allow your dog off leash if you are unsure if they will listen and comply with your requests.
Stay Off Cross Country Ski Tracks
Winter time travelers should avoid disturbing cross country ski tracks by walking to the side of them.
Be Quiet
Allow others a quiet environment.