[at-l] Dancing with Bears

[Raphael Bustin]

At 09:20 AM 8/29/2006 -0700, toe wrote:

> > So here's my question:  is it safer to stay at or
> > near the shelters (where bears may be habituated) or
>to seek stealth sites where bears are less likely to
>be habituated?
>### Dunno. The usual response of stealth sites may
>ignore the already existing amount of human/ursine
>interaction -- the bears may not care *where* you
>camp, cuz they come across people frequently. But,
>"dunno."


Umm, I think I understand you.  Maybe.  Let me
rephrase the question.  As experienced, rational
hikers, where would you choose to encamp, under
these conditions?  Shelter or stealth?

I generally prefer to camp near other humans, if
there's a choice.  Small groups are best.


> > Any other comments & suggestions about this section?
>### I can tell you that the largest wild black bear I
>ever saw, I saw on the little piece of swampy trail
>that marks (in the guide books -- anybody read those
>anymore?) the closest the AT gets to NYC. And the
>trail was secluded, and there were no campsites
>around, and the bear didn't know I was there, and the
>bear flew through a SOLID wall of vegetation the
>nanosecond it saw me. (We wuz both a bit startled.)


Turkey here.  As in: scariest wildlife encounters.
Or maybe dogs (less scary but a lot more dangerous.)


rafe b
aka terrapin


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