Guidebook
Section |
When |
Description |
| 1 |
April 2001 |
On April 30, 2001 a hiker reported an aggressive bear at Abingdon Gap
Shelter. A young black bear (approx. 250 lbs) wandered into the
shelter area at dusk. He showed no signs of alarm in the
presence of 15-20 hikers. He left the area just before dark and
returned later, and spent the entire night roaming among the tents.
He went into the shelter among the hikers and tore up a water
bottle. He reached into a vestibule area of a hiker's tent and took
his platypus bottle for a chew toy. Hikers tried to scare the bear
away without success. The bear showed no fear. |
| 1 |
February 2002 |
Reportedly a two year old bear at Abingdon Gap Shelter on Feb 18, and
again about three miles north of the shelter on Feb 19. |
| 3 |
Summer 1997 |
Iron Mountain Shelter |
| 3 |
August 1999 |
A black bear showed up at the Iron Mountain Shelter at about 5pm and hung around until
11pm. The bear was young (probably a couple of years old) and definitely
connected the shelter with food. The bear false charged several times. The
hiker left a note in the shelter to let hikers know they should hang food from the trees
and not from the nails in the shelter. |
| 3 |
Sept 1999 |
A note was found in the Iron Mountain Shelter warning of a persistent bear
hanging around the shelter. |
| 3 |
Sept 2000 |
Mother bear and 3 cubs are staying in the area at Grindstaff monument.
They aren't causing any problems. |
| 4 |
Summer 1996 |
Trail north of Dennis Cove parking lot |
| 5 |
Summer 1998 |
Between Bitter End and White Rocks Mountain Fire Tower |
| 6 |
July 1999 |
Ten people were in the saddle of Grassy Ridge and a bear came up there. They
tried to scare him away by making noise. He didn't seem very timid, although he
didn't harass them either. Another hiker at the Stan Murray Shelter was scared off
by a bear. The bear followed him down the trail and made some false charges.
The bear came within 4-5 feet of the hiker at one point. |
| 7 |
July 1999 |
Two backpackers saw a bear on the trail near Roan
High Knob Shelter. They said the bear wouldn't move so they had to take a wide
detour around him. |
| 7 |
June 1998 |
Balsam Road on Roan Mountain |
| 9 |
Late Spring 1997 |
Nolichucky Expeditions - stole hikers food |
| 9 |
Fall 1997 |
Two cubs climbing a tree south of Beauty Spot |
| 9 |
August 1998 |
Near Indian Grave Gap on Rock Creek Road |
| 10 |
Spring 1998 |
Near Temple Hill Gap at the cabin on the trail maintenance access road |
| 10 |
August 1998 |
Between Spivey Gap and No Business Knob Shelter - mother and cub |
Bear sightings on our section of the Appalachian Trail