[pct-l] Real Bear Trouble in '04 -- Attacks and Raids

[blisterfree at isp01.net (Brett)]

Evolution Valley is and has been a classic park bear haunt 
for some time now.

As for Glen Aulin, back in 2000 I heard campers yelling 
"bear" in the middle of the night, while I was stealthed 
about a mile north along the trail. Again, Glen Aulin is a 
classic honeypot, where bears and campers have been 
colliding for some time.

I don't mean to downplay Nocona's concerns. Bears can 
definitely cause problems, and thru-hikers are not immune. 
But the risks have long been there. No doubt they are 
getting worse in places where people continue to congregate 
and camp en masse within the bear-protected natoinal parks. 
Are they getting worse outside of these areas? Should 
thru-hikers change their camping gear (beyond the bear can 
issue) for the sake of bears? I'd change mine for the 
mosquitoes, perhaps. And as serendipidity would have it, the 
problem bug and bear habitats largely coincide.

Would be interested to hear of problem bear encounters while 
hikers were genuinely stealth camping, having avoided 
cooking at such sites before retiring for the night. I'm not 
condoning stealth camping where illegal or imprudent. I'm 
simply curious, and have perhaps this childlike naivity that 
stealth camping is like the garlic to bruin's bloodthirst.

- blisterfree