<p>Packing the cooler for camping tomorrow. Here’s a tip. Put a sacrificial load of ice in the cooler the day before to get the cooler down to temp and to cool all the insulation in the cooler. Then, before leaving, dump the sacrificial ice and load it for real. That way you aren’t spending your real ice and food coldness to cool a room temp or hot cooler from the start.</p>
<p>I’ve got the cooler ready to fill with frozen water bottles, which I’ll use up for drinking water.</p>
<p>^^ great idea. I use frozen “artificial ice bricks” for that purpose and just re-freeze them.</p>
<p>Depending where you go, be sure that you are allowed to leave coolers out. We camp in Yosemite a lot, and you will be fined for leaving a cooler in your campsite or in your car. Each campsite includes a locked bear-safe box big enough for some coolers to fit. We always purchase coolers that will fit in those boxes. If you are caught leaving a cooler in your site or in your car, you well be fined heavily. It is an absolute no-no to leave food in your car at any time-even gum. I have seen cars that were damaged by bears, and it is usually severe damage. Last time we were at Yosemite, a car was being towed off and the ranger told us that not only will the people have no car to travel in, but they would also have to pay a huge fine. Yosemite does not make exceptions for the “bear-resistant” coolers either. I also camped farther north above Yosemite once where someone left their ice chest out at night and all night long we could hear the roars and banging as a bear tried to access it. In the morning, the ice chest was hanging from the ranger station with a sign saying how much the fine would be if you did this…</p>
<p>Fortunately, the bears are not as big a problem in NH as in Yosemite. Nevertheless, I have a bear cannister and two certified bear resistant coolers one I use as a cooler and a small one I use for dry food storage. I’ll leave them out when car camping. I’ll be, by far, the least inviting target for an opportunistic bear!</p>
<p>And more power to any squirrel or rodent that can get into my coolers or bear cannister.</p>
<p>Also, keep a large ziplock bag labeled “ice for drinks” that stays separate from the other ice in the cooler. That way, you know you are getting clean ice when you need it.
Another tip: If you don’t already have one, buy a plastic egg container at camping goods store. Cardboard egg cartons get soggy and this leaves the eggs unprotected.</p>
<p>Maiden voyage with my bear resistant coolers and wouldn’t you know… bears attacked my cooler the first night. Muddy paw prints all over them the next morning. Well at least thet might have been bears. The paw prints were more the size of raccoon paw prints. Small bears, maybe. Whatever it was, I’m sure it was ferocious and the cooler survived what must have been a vicious attack!</p>
<p>I can’t post pics, so a video will have to do. </p>
<p>[url=<a href=“White Mountain Camping - YouTube”>White Mountain Camping - YouTube]YouTube[/url</a>]</p>
<p>My half n’ half for my coffee was partially frozen the first morning. The only ice in the cooler is the frozen water bottles in the photo that I put in the cooler Sunday afternoon.</p>