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)