Hiker Warning: Blood Mountain

[paradoxb3]

Apparently there has been alot of bear activity on and north of Blood Mountain. I just got back today from a hike from hightower gap to neels, and not only did I hear stories and read journal entries of a problem bear raiding food at the shelter, last night I and 3 others were unlucky enough to experience it first-hand!

A large black bear came to the shelter around dusk. One hiker tried to scare it away by banging pots and pans but it didn't give us a second thought. It proceeded to climb up into the trees, breaking branches and grasping at ropes until it got our food bags. It left with the bounty, but later returned to the buffet around 11pm, climbed another tree and got the remainder of the food while we lay helpless in the shelter, laughing.... pissed off quite a bit... but laughing.

Notices at Mountain Crossings state that the area from Neels to Whitley Gap shelter are CLOSED to camping due to bear activity. You'll have to keep going to Low Gap shelter.

(side note -- I found my shredded food bags this morning, and recovered my cookpot and alky stove)

[Lone Wolf]

shoulda slept with your food

[paradoxb3]

my food and I are just friends

[EverydayJourneyman]

shoulda slept with your food

Are you saying that because he would have been eaten or the best way to protect your food is to keep it with you because animals are afraid of humans?

[CrumbSnatcher]

my food and I are just friends

funny s***

[paradoxb3]

Are you saying that because he would have been eaten or the best way to protect your food is to keep it with you because animals are afraid of humans?

i think its actually just an involuntary response at this point...

j/k LW, i know your feelings on shelters, food, the kennebec debate, etc... just passing the word along.

[Bulldawg]

The Blood Mountain bears have been a problem for quite a while now. A good reason to make the short hike on down to the hostel and get a shower and two warm meals!

[Slimer]

Kill the bears and eliminate the problem.
Kill 'em all....

[vamelungeon]

Let's organize a bear hunt so there will be plenty of bear meat for Trail Days. Bear BBQ, anyone?

[Dances with Mice]

shoulda slept with your food

If you sleep with your food at the Blood Mtn Shelter then the skunks will get it.

[EverydayJourneyman]

I can't let my mum read this thread.

I was planning on keeping my food in my tent (sealed up of course) or I would use a bear container if available. I've slept with my food in Washington State without issue.

I guess I'm going to get eaten on the AT.

[Slo-go'en]

Let's organize a bear hunt so there will be plenty of bear meat for Trail Days. Bear BBQ, anyone?

That would be ironic, hikers eating a bear which got fat from eating hiker food

[vamelungeon]

That would be ironic, hikers eating a bear which got fat from eating hiker food

Yes, it would. Life's a circle and all that stuff...

[Kanati]

That would be ironic, hikers eating a bear which got fat from eating hiker food

Hikers are....smarter than the average bear.....

Another good reason to carry a slingshot. Blister his "bare" butt when he starts up the tree.

[Johnny Thunder]

Every time I see Tricks he says something about selling a bear's galbladder down in Chinatown. Thousands of yen.

[vamelungeon]

Hikers are....smarter than the average bear.....

Another good reason to carry a slingshot. Blister his "bare" butt when he starts up the tree.

yep, make bears hate human contact! It's doing the bear a favor, really and truly.

[wrongway_08]

Bears are like sharks... punch them in the nose and they run away.

[Dances with Mice]

I guess I'm going to get eaten on the AT.

No you won't.

Bears always drag hikers off the Trail before eating them.

[Lone Wolf]

Every time I see Tricks he says something about selling a bear's galbladder down in Chinatown. Thousands of yen.

yen is japanese money

[ed bell]

No you won't.

Bears always drag hikers off the Trail before eating them.

I don't know which response was better, that one, or "and his hair was perfect."