Duct Tape

Before you get all duct tape happy, remember that you will need to be following bear procedures while at Philmont. Duct tape is what is called a non-rewarding smellable. These are items that bears are attracted to because they have never smelled it before. It’s kind of like you or me going to the restaurant and seeing something interesting on the menu and then ordering it. Except when you take your first bite you realize that it’s a tough piece of nasty tape. Then you realize that you never want to order that again!

Well, that’s what duct tape is to bears. Duct tape is only considered a smellable in large quantities. If you use a small square to patch a hole in your tent, don’t worry. If you wrap it around your trekking poles or on a water bottle, those will be items that need to go up in the bear bags. We recommend wrapping 2 to 3 feet around your smellable Nalgene since you’re already going to be hanging that one in the bear bag.