States where you have seen a bear

[rickb]

States where you have seen a bear (check all that apply)-- and no a bear in a cage does not count.

[Spirit Walker]

Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire and Maine were on the AT
California - PCT and JMT
Wyoming - Yellowstone NP
Montana - CDT - grizzly
Alaska - 12 grizzlies

[rickb]

The Grizzlies in Alaska had to be "interesting".

I'd sure like to experience that some day-- I think. OK, let me put that another way. I sure would like to have experienced that.

[kentucky]

New jersy,New york,Califonia,virginia kentucky!

[Mouse]

"and no a bear in a cage does not count"

LOL! You should have included "Nowhere" as a choice. The bears gave me the cold shoulder my entire thruhike. If I believed nothing but my own eyes, I'd have to conclude that bears do not exist on the AT. Of course to do that I would have to ignore the dozens of bears everyone around me seemed to have encountered.....

[flyfisher]

I've not seen a bear yet. It's interesting that of the 20 people answering the survey that have seen a bear, so far, 10 saw a bear in Shenandoah. I will be hiking 80 miles of that park this spring - after I make my way from Mt. Rogers to Fish Hatchery road.

I was a little disappointed that I did not see a bear in the Smokies when I did that.

[kentucky]

dont be dissapointed I have heard many people say the same thing but do hope you all see some!its An eye opener kentucky

[augie]

Seeing a bear is/was a great thrill, however afterwards every noise seemed to be magnified by about 1000 decibles. Really keeps you on your toes.

[Cookerhiker]

Massachusetts, Virginia, Tennessee, California, Colorado

[Sly]

I love seeing bear, gets me all charged up!

VA (1 black)
SNP (3 black)
PA (1 black)
NJ (2 black)

WY (3 griz)
ID (black)
MT (2 black, 2 griz)

CA (3 black)

[Grampie]

I saw seven bears during my thru. All of them were in the Shenandoah Park.
Spent the night at Bearfence Mt. Hut with a group of Boy Scouts and leaders. A bear came into the shelter area and went into the privey. It's one of my best pictures. The bear comming out of the privey. The photo caption is "Who said,"does a bear S**t in the woods".

[peter_pan]

Ok Bob ...show us the picture.

[Cookerhiker]

Massachusetts, Virginia, Tennessee, California, Colorado

Add New Jersey to that list - just saw one there this year.

[Buckingham]

At Campsire 2 in NJ a huge bear walked right through our campsite. I was having some back pain that day and my friend gave me a percoset, so when I saw the bear my legs turned to jello and the rest of me froze up stiff. If not for that I could have had one hell of a picture.

[justusryans]

Kodiak, Alaska (Don't have enough fingers and toes to count that high!)
California- biggest black bear I ever saw (huge) I'm not saying how big cause you won't believe me!
Vermont
North Carolina

[danbo]

Seeing? Or being followed by? Or seeing one in someone else's tent?

[neo]

tn and nc in the smokies neo

[danbo]

Seen them on the trail and off trail.

Tenn. Mainly Cades Cove and Cades Cove campground. (One stole my ice chest while I was car camping there. left me with a coke and a tomato. Even unscrewed the mayo jar.) Also Mt LeConte. One followed me for 5 or so mins. Guess he liked me. Also on Mt LeConte found a bear with his head in someone's tent. The packers were up a tree. Ibelieve the old False Gap Shelter was on the Tenn side of the trail. There was a black bear that would wait till you went into the outhouse. Then park himself out front. (Lesson: The outhouse is not always the place to go. Leave no trace or not.)

North Carolina: Ice Water Springs shelter, Mama bear with 2 cubs. Smokemount Campground. Too many to count. Watched one run off with someone's BBQ Pit. (With BBQ.)

California. Mama brown bar with 2 cubs. On the trail. Yosemite.

[wrightsphoto]

Seen them on the trail and off trail.

Also Mt LeConte. One followed me for 5 or so mins. Guess he liked me. Also on Mt LeConte found a bear with his head in someone's tent. The packers were up a tree. Ibelieve the old False Gap Shelter was on the Tenn side of the trail.

North Carolina: Ice Water Springs shelter, Mama bear with 2 cubs. Smokemount Campground. Too many to count. Watched one run off with someone's BBQ Pit. (With BBQ.)

Which trail were you on hiking to Mt. LeConte?
Was it Alum Cave?

[Fredt4]

Years ago when they still had wire on the shelters I was at Mt. LeConte shelter area. A two or three bears came around and a Japanese hike was talking pictures with a camera that had a flash that popped. One of the bears would growl and several of us suggested that he quit taking pictures as the bear didn't like it. Nevertheless he continued and eventually the bear gave him a chase thru the tents and the bushes. It was possibly the funniest chase I've ever seen. Eventually he got to the shelter and closed the gate and hid from the bear. Eventually the wire was removed from the shelters and people behaved a bit better but I've seen three or four bears stealing food from the camp fire area over the years. Surprisingly have never seen anyone injured by the bears either there or any other place. Perhaps we're not that attractive as a food source as many suggest.