Ideas for food drop near Junction Creek

[melinda]

Hi all,
Wondering about the best method for leaving a food drop near Junction Creek.
What do you put your food in?
Do you hang it from trees?
If so, how do you secure it?
Had a few encounters with some friendly (cough, splutter %$$$^# ...) little possums down there in the past.
Prefer not to feed the natives this time around!
Is there anything else I need to know????
Cheers, Melinda

[DaveNoble]

I've left food drops at Junction Ck (many years ago - when there was shelter there - the food was in a bag hanging up in the shelter) and at Pass Ck and near Huon Camp. At Huon Camp - one time, we just had a few tins of food - for when we finished a trip and had to catch the bus out the next day - so they were OK. They were in a plastic bag hidden in a thicket of scrub a short way off the track - and a fair way from the camp ground. Another 2 times we left a lot of food there - enough for W and E Arthurs - again in strong plastic bags hidden in the scrub - with rocks pilled on top. We then headed off to Mt Anne. When we came back - all the food was OK, on each occasion. At Pass Ck, there was a rope tied between trees in the campground. We used this - tying up our bag of food - and again it was OK when we returned a few days later.

Dave

[myrtlegirl]

If you can get some large coffee or milo tins, the 30cm high ones that caterers use, they hold 2 days food for 1 person. They are light, possum proof, water proof, insect proof, and can be stashed under a bush or tussock easily. Keep a note of where the tussock is, maybe take a photo of the spot. There are stories of food caches being pilfered, so hide them well. Write a date on them too.

[melinda]

Thanks myrtlegirl and Dave,
Wouldn't like the possums to get the chocolate!
Melinda

[wander]

Do not pack the fuel in the same tin wih food.

[melinda]

Hi wander,
Excuse my ignorance. What happens when you pack food and gas together????

[Nuts]

Canister gas is fine Shellite, and its fumes can get through everything and taint food, i'd also avoid packing things such as insect repelants in the same container.
With such a popular campsite, rodents around, the metal container could be good advice.

[dtasker]

I have used a metal tin like the Coffee or Milo tins that were suggested - A tin or container pre supposes that you will be walking out the same way - I have photos from the 1970s of Rubbish dumps in the Western Arthurs from the days when Air Drops were allowed. As well as putting a date on the tin include something like "If you find this unused after (date) help yourself". Put the date say 2 or 4 weeks after you plan to retrieve the drop - Sometimes plans change

[melinda]

Not walking out the same way.
Have to say I'd prefer not to be carrying empty tins across Eastern Arthurs!
So tins are probably out.
Melinda

[Liamy77]

a few hungry jacks straws rubbed with dencorub threaded on brickies line between trees for tiny "friends", with a camo drybag for subtlety? maybe you could set it hidden near-by-ish just off the track say within 10-30mins before camp? - haven't been there though... the drybag can be used as a rubbish bag after etc too.. keep track of gps co-ords etc.... like the rock idea but not best practice in minimising impact to collect rocks sometimes..again might be ok here??

let us know what u do ?

[wander]

My experience is bags are destryed by crittters.

I'd use a set of 2 or 3 2litre nalgene containers. Re-usable, not too heavy and replace the need in my pack for the drybag I would carry the food in anyhow. As one gets empty it becomes the rubbish bin. And i drop out one of the wate balddres knowing I'd have a spare 2litre nalgene to use for this purpose later.

[RodLawlor]

I think the paint tin is probably lighter than Nalgenes. I just weighed an empty ten litre tin with handle attached, and it was about 660g. I can fit 12-16 days of food in a 15L tin, so probably 8-10 in a 10L. Coffee and Milo tins should be lighter, but not as tough, and maybe a little harder to come by. Any big paint shop, not hardware though, should be able to sell you one for under $10. Make sure you get the one for water-based paint, as they are less likely to rust than the ones for oil-based.

As well as food storage, you can use the lid as a stove base, and the drum as a seat or table.

[melinda]

As well as food storage, you can use the lid as a stove base, and the drum as a seat or table.

In line with light weight philosophy, ever item has to have a duel purpose!
Loving every ones suggestions.

[Liamy77]

what about stitching a pocket up out of the security mesh they use in windows? not the flimsy fly screen stuff the stronger stuff - it might be "tooth-proof"? hmmmm i can see some possum feedin tests in my future maybe....