Hi
I've been reading about the bear activity in Georgia so far this year. It made me realise I hadn't really considered bears to be the threat they are. Further research helped to muddy the waters considerably and now I'm really not sure what to do.
I've read its best to hang and that hanging is the worst thing you can do. I've read you should sleep with your food (in an odor proof bag i presume) and that sleeping with your food is asking bears to come for dinner.
I don't know if leaving a little later, my planned start date is April 29th, will have any effect. Do Bears have a "busy" season or a time when they are more active?
My thoughts are to get a Ursack, avoid camping near shelters but stop at them to prepare food and eat. Then hike a little further on to avoid having my cook site near my tent site. Beyond that I intend to talk to my fellow hikers, in places where bear activity seems exceptionally high hang the food otherwise sleep with it
I did read about not wearing the clothes you cook in to bed, but i cant see how that will work as i am not taking that many clothes to start with.
So what are strategies that people are planning to use (or actually doing so for those on the trail) regarding bears?