View Full Version : Bears...
gnpwdrtreason
07-05-2012, 11:00
Ok might seem like a stupid question, I know there are a lot of bears on the trail, my only question is: are there any special precautions I would have to take for a thru hike? Special containers, etc. Or am I just being overly paranoid?
hikerboy57
07-05-2012, 11:05
yes and yes.click on the aricles on the home page under wildlife, its a topic thats been discussed many times here, so you you'll get some lengthy debates. in general, black bears are not dangerous, although they can be unpredictable. some advocate hanging their food, others like myself sleep with their food. you really dont have much to worry about. google bear attacks on the appalachian trail and you wont see too many results.
wear a hat.
I've never seen a bear or a snake while hiking on the AT...just sayin'! Maddog:)
yes and yes.click on the aricles on the home page under wildlife, its a topic thats been discussed many times here, so you you'll get some lengthy debates. in general, black bears are not dangerous, although they can be unpredictable. some advocate hanging their food, others like myself sleep with their food. you really dont have much to worry about. google bear attacks on the appalachian trail and you wont see too many results.
wear a hat.
Are bears scared or amused by hats? I think amused. Maybe scared if you have a moose antler hat?
hikerboy57
07-05-2012, 11:51
That's the 1 the moose antler hat! Work with snakes too!
You are being paranoid, but not overly paranoid.
In about 3000 miles of AT hiking I've seen the butts of 2 bears as they ran as fast as they could the other way. Of course others have seen more and had more intimate encounters but you'll have to look really, really hard to find incidence of bear attacks on the AT.
If you want something to worry about - think deer ticks.
(now waiting on WM.... :) )
Odd Man Out
07-05-2012, 12:28
Ok might seem like a stupid question, I know there are a lot of bears on the trail, my only question is: are there any special precautions I would have to take for a thru hike? Special containers, etc. Or am I just being overly paranoid?
+1 On Hikerboy's reply. While there have been many discussions of bears, there are few actual cases of problems. Nearly all of the "problems" are not with bears, per se, but with the humans, such as camping around lots of food waste or not hanging food adequately. If you choose to hang your food, be sure to read up on the best techniques (see PCT method). If you choose to sleep with food, keep your campsite as odor-free as possible (one of the two definitions of stealth camping).
So the answer to your questions "are there any special precautions I would have to take..." is yes - you should learn as much as possible since there are a lot more "problem humans" than there are "problem bears".
Here are some links on Bear/Human interaction based on many years of field research:
http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/why-we-fear-bears.html
http://www.bear.org/website/bear-pages/black-bear/bears-a-humans.html (scroll down to view all 4 pages of articles in this section).
Finally, if you want real threats to be paranoid about, check out the threads on Lyme Disease and ticks.
brian039
07-05-2012, 12:31
Other than Georgia and Watauga Lake they aren't a problem. Occasionally there will be a problem bear in the Smokies. Just don't camp at Watauga Lake and use the bear cables at the shelters in Georgia and the Smokies. Bear containers are overkill. You can hang your food or sleep with it, just make sure if you hang your food you are doing it right, if you aren't sure then it is better to sleep with your food.
The high peaks area of the Adirondack is a different story. I've backpacked there twice and had bear encounters both times. Neither time were the bears threatening in any way. The bear and I saw each other a we both went about our business. Google "Yellow+yellow+bear" and find a good NY Times article about this bear.
WingedMonkey
07-05-2012, 13:15
Of course others have seen more and had more intimate encounters
(now waiting on WM.... :) )
If you would slow down and smell the bear scat...........
:p
Trail_Name
07-05-2012, 13:23
If I may add to gnpwdrtreason's question, do people typically hang bear bags in the northern portion of the Appalachian Trail (Maine, New Hampshire, etc.)? I'm going SOBO soon and I haven't found a lot of information on that specifically, except that bears are less common north of PA.... The 2011 Thruhiker's Companion seems to recommend hanging bear bags for the whole AT... I know of the should I/shouldn't I bear bag debate, so I guess this question is mostly for people who would hang a bear bag in the Southern portion of the AT, although I'd appreciate feedback from anyone. I'm from Georgia so I don't know what goes on up there :)
hikerboy57
07-05-2012, 13:36
If I may add to gnpwdrtreason's question, do people typically hang bear bags in the northern portion of the Appalachian Trail (Maine, New Hampshire, etc.)? I'm going SOBO soon and I haven't found a lot of information on that specifically, except that bears are less common north of PA.... The 2011 Thruhiker's Companion seems to recommend hanging bear bags for the whole AT... I know of the should I/shouldn't I bear bag debate, so I guess this question is mostly for people who would hang a bear bag in the Southern portion of the AT, although I'd appreciate feedback from anyone. I'm from Georgia so I don't know what goes on up there :)
im starting SOBO from katahdin August 1.
Ill be sleeping with my food.
rocketsocks
07-05-2012, 13:48
Are bears scared or amused by hats? I think amused. Maybe scared if you have a moose antler hat?or a rabbits foot being used as a flash light fab.
But no the op is not being overly, many here asked that same question at one time, if only to themselves, for fear of reprisal.
hikerboy57
07-05-2012, 17:43
just for fun, a short film on how to handle yourself:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u2guUGVPvQ
now just remember, black bears generally dont act like this.:)
ATMountainTime
07-05-2012, 19:54
Seen 2, only in Georgia on the trail near neels gap. been hiking and camping my whole life, it was the only ones ive seen on the east coast. they were way more scared of me than I was of them. But id rather not find one with an attitude.
Odd Man Out
07-05-2012, 20:14
just for fun, a short film on how to handle yourself:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u2guUGVPvQ
now just remember, black bears generally dont act like this.:)
Yes those were grizzly bears. A completely different animal. ;)
Lone Wolf
07-05-2012, 20:26
Ok might seem like a stupid question, I know there are a lot of bears on the trail, my only question is: are there any special precautions I would have to take for a thru hike? Special containers, etc. Or am I just being overly paranoid?
don't sleep in shelters, a tent is preferable, and sleep WITH your food
Bears are really active in the Upper Valley area of NH this year. I'm just a few miles from the trail and seen a big sow and two cubs walking around my house. Oh yeah I jumped the river from VT. So guess I'm NH-Mike now! Haven't heard of bears bothering any shelters or campsite though.
rmitchell
07-05-2012, 21:25
It could be a matter of timing. Much of the Nobo thru hikers are moving through the southern mountains before bears and snakes are active. I have worked on Sweat Crews in four different years and have encountered a bear, rattlesnake or pigs on almost every trip. I am usually more concerned about yellow jackets or hornets.
Cookerhiker
07-05-2012, 21:34
.... I haven't found a lot of information on that specifically, except that bears are less common north of PA...... :)
Bears are very common in NJ
... bear in the Smokies.... use the bear cables ... and the Smokies...
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?86045-Effectiveness-of-Bear-Cables
wornoutboots
07-05-2012, 23:21
Yeah if you use the cables tie your bag to it, the bears have learned to "bounce" the cables & the bags will pop off