Me and some friends will be hiking the AT nmext week and was wondering for you North GA folk do we need bear bags? or will we be okay keeping food and that stuff jsut away from tents?
Happy Hunting! -Amazingracer
If war protesters don't believe in violence what would they do if we punched them in the nose?
Posts: 765 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: December 15, 2002
(Famous last words...) I have never used bear bags in N. GA. I always hoist the food between two trees to keep raccoons and possums and mice off of my food, but it is only about 6 feet up so I can get to it. I even leave it open a bit so that if a mouse wants to get to it at least he won't chew the bag open. I've never had a problem either on the AT or in the general forest areas. By the way, raccoons steal shiny things so put up your utensils and pots.
Smoky Mountains... bear bags are a must! You have to stay in shelters on the AT up there, but the mice are very agressive in the shelters. There are tricks around them too. On side trail camp sites you must have bear bags or kiss your food goodbye. FYI... reserve shelters before you get there or someone like me will kick you out!
Funny story... Once I was on Mt. LeConte at Myrtle Point enjoying the view. I set my bag of GORP down tp snap a few pictures. It wasn't there for more than 2 minutes. I turned back around and a darn field mouse had already chewed a corner off and was dragging nuts out of the ziploc bag! Oh well, so much for my snack for the day.
Posts: 3158 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: October 31, 2002
If you haven't read it yet and have time, read "A Walk In The Woods" by Bill Bryson. VERY good advice on the AT and on bears. You'll laugh your butt off, too.
Posts: 366 | Location: Dacula, GA USA | Registered: November 12, 2002
I drive past Dicks Creek Gap on my way to work, and have had the pleasure of seeing bears on my daily commute. Not often, and usually lower elevations toward town and houses and food. It is interesting to pick up thru hikers who are taking usually their first break from the trail and going into Hiawassee GA.
Posts: 28 | Location: Clarkesville,GA | Registered: April 28, 2003
quote: If you haven't read it yet and have time, read "A Walk In The Woods" by Bill Bryson. VERY good advice on the AT and on bears. You'll laugh your butt off, too.
I got this book with plans to read it and place in a cache, but I just couldn't 'bear' to part with it. It's mine forever!
Posts: 2232 | Location: NE GA - Gateway to the Mountains | Registered: November 09, 2002
Ha, dicks creek is where we are finishing up. We are starting a little south from Winding Stair Gap in NC. So it seems you would recommend storing our food up, but we shouldnt have to worry abt bears just rodents?
Happy Hunting! -Amazingracer
If war protesters don't believe in violence what would they do if we punched them in the nose?
Posts: 765 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: December 15, 2002
We went on a family caching outing this afternoon to the Leatherwood Falls Cache (GCG08Y). This cache is near winding Stair Gap on the AT. After finding the cache we rode around the forest service roads and came upon momma black bear and her cub. It was ...WOW...Once in a lifetime?? They were both quite surprised and scurried into the woods, no way I could have gotten a picture. I certainly won't forget this trip.
Posts: 28 | Location: Clarkesville,GA | Registered: April 28, 2003
Out of curiosity do you work at the McDs in Hiawasee. I was wondering cuase when we went we met someone who got picked up from someone who works at McD's and they said they have picked up others before.
Happy Hunting! -Amazingracer
If war protesters don't believe in violence what would they do if we punched them in the nose?
Posts: 765 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: December 15, 2002
I picked up Jamie from Athens and his dog about the time you were out there. I (and the Bank)own the McD's. This explains one of my regular trade items, the McCoupons.
Posts: 28 | Location: Clarkesville,GA | Registered: April 28, 2003
That is very funny! We met jamie and his dog at the Plumorchard Shelter (right above dicks creek) and he told us how he got picked up by the manager of the McD's in Hiawassee and when you said you pick up through hikers as you pass dicks creek everyday, i was like "I wonder...." Thats very funny to know now. And now after meeting so many thru hikers on the way home me and my friends I was with tried to find some hikers to take into town when we got done but we didnt find any. Also we made a stop at the McDs to use your restrooms and to get free large cups of water !
Happy Hunting! -Amazingracer
If war protesters don't believe in violence what would they do if we punched them in the nose?
[This message was edited by Amazingracer on July 28, 2003 at 06:24 PM.]
Posts: 765 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: December 15, 2002
While in bear country it is ok to have McCoupons in the tent with you, but you need to put the BigMacs in the bear bag. Or the bear might have fatback for breakfast.
Posts: 2420 | Location: NE Corner of Georgia | Registered: November 09, 2002
Tonight,coming home late after a meeting in Atlanta, I saw , yeah you guessed it, a bear running for shelter from my headlights as I turned onto my street. No bear bags but I did close the garage door to keep it out of the garbage/bear food. Clearly I'm on a bear sighting steak! Better bears than snakes!
Posts: 28 | Location: Clarkesville,GA | Registered: April 28, 2003
I like that bear on porch photo, Allen. My folks live in Asheville, NC and are constantly bothered by bears getting in their trash, and once sitting on their front porch and blocking them getting to their car. They had to call a neighbor to come out and scare them off.
I've only seen a bear once while geocaching, and that was pretty cool. They are certainly much more elusive in the wild then deer and other critters.
See ya on the hunt!
