Date: 2008-04-18
From: Roaring Fork Shelter, NC/TN

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

BEAR ENCOUNTER.Hopefully my first and last bear encounter.The bear strolled into the shelter/camping area last night around 7:30PM while it was still light outside. It got within 20ft. of the back shelter wall when Flamethrower got up and walked behind the shelter and yelled 'Holy shit! Bear!' We all made noise and the bear ran off. Fortunately, we already had our food hanging in bear bags in the trees and had eaten away from the shelter, but we went ahead and put our packs on the shelter roof just to be safe. We also had a fire going right in front of the shelter entrance. The four people who were tenting decided to come stay in the shelter instead. Strength in numbers, right? Well the bear came back about 20 mins. later on a different side of the shelter. It was stalking our food bags hanging in the trees. It ran off again when we made noise, continued to return on different sides of the shelter. It seemed more curious of us than scared and the temptation of the food bags was winning out. Clearly it was not the first time this bear had come to this shelter in search of food. At one point I was about 20 to 30 feet away from it on the side of the shelter as it was looking at one of the food bags closest to the shelter. I have nothing to compare it to, but in my opinion it looked like a medium, 250-300lbs, bear.I also saw it climb the tree where I had my food bag hanging with 5 other bags. It had no problem climbing the small width of the tree trunk and swiping at the bags hanging a few feet out from the trunk. Fortunately for us (and unfortunately for Flamethrower) the bear was only able to tear one bag loose. Later we heard branches snapping and tearing noises as the bear got the bag of Ravon which was closest to the shelter. Only two bags lost overall but in the morning we couldn't find any remains of either bag. Suffice it to say, it was a rather sleepless night. The scariest part came at 1:45AM when Ravon saw the bear actually come around the side of the shelter and stick its head inside because our fire had died down to embers. We all starting yelling and shouting and the bear ran off.In the morning everyone chipped in to give Flamethrower and Ravon a little food each to get them to Hot Springs, which just about all of us decided we were going to today. Aaron was also trailnamed 'Bearbait' since it was his second bear encounter in less than a month (he was with Bearpack when his pack was taken). 5 miles down the trail at the next shelter I discovered this shelter had had bear encounters 3 nights running. I had a long hike up and over Bluff Mt. with an even longer descent of over 4 miles. That and the descent into Hot Springs had my feet and knees aching. The descent into Hot Springs made the town look like a miniature village a la Roadside America. Down in town this place is even smaller than Hiawasse, definitely not a lot going on here other than hikers and whitewater rafting. I'm splitting a room with Flamethrower and Bearbait tonight and tomorrow will do town chores and pick up my mail drop and try to update my journal online at the outfitter (since the library is closed on weekends). Earlier today I came across trail magic on the bottom of the downside of Bluff Mt. in the form of water bottles, crackers, candy, and granola bars left by the 'Blessing Princess.' I have no idea who she really is, but her trail magic came just when I needed it as water, food and morale were running low. It helped get me the last 6.6 miles to Hot Springs. Funny how things are starting to work out out here just when I need them.