ALERT for A.T. hikers heading to the Mount Rogers/Grayson Highlands area of Southwest Virginia. Due to heightened bear activity, ATC recommends you avoid camping overnight between Elk Garden/VA-600 and Fox Creek/VA-603. This includes the three A.T. shelters in those 17 miles. Even visitors who stored their food properly have had close encounters with habituated bears. Land managers are evaluating options to mitigate the human-bear conflicts while also ensuring the public's safety. Please monitor ATC's Trail Updates page at www.appalachiantrail.org/updates for more information coming soon.
Laurie Potteiger
Appalachian Trail Conservancy