Did a 24 mile day Sat SOBO from Iron Mtn shelter to Dennis Cove. I saw 4 bears about 15 minutes south of the shelter and another 3 a few miles before I got to Watauga Lake. Some NOBO's saw bears as they came into the shelter on Friday.
First 1550 miles on the trail I saw 6 bears total and then 7 in one day!