Backpacking fear: Sleeping with Black Bears

**Teotwawki** · 06-04-2008, 06:35 AM

OK - don't laugh too loud.

My son and I do some backpacking in the mountains: Appalachian Trail and on our own property and neighboring property that was WMA, went private, and is a failed / non-starter high end development (1000s of acres).

Anyway we are planning a three day / two night hike to a mountain ridge that the USGS maps show having caves.

We are well geared up and instead of a ground tent we use self-contained hammock tents.

To the point: There were a lot of bear attacks in the news around here last year - reportedly unprovoked.

I'm cool with bears while we are hiking - that does not worry me. But swaying back and forth in that hammock between two trees in the dark I start thinking about a black bear coming and snuffling around under me or my kid.

We take all the right precautions - hang the food high and away from camp, don't wear anything sweet smelling, etc. Keep a can of bear spray handy.

Don't want to carry a firearm because we travel light.

So - any thoughts on setting my mind at ease regarding "sleeping with the bears?"

**DOGMAN** · 06-04-2008, 10:13 AM

It sounds like your planning on doing everything right, as far as bear precautionary measures. If you want to worry about dangers you may encounter on your trip. You should be much more afraid of the drive to the trailhead. Your chances of dying in a car crash are way, way higher than being attacked by a bear. Here in the Yellowstone area the odds are higher you'll be struck by lightning than killed by a bear! So, just be smart, do every thing right (like your planning) and the odds are extremly low you'll have a run-in. But, watch out for those Appalachian drivers!

**Teotwawki** · 06-04-2008, 10:15 AM

Last time we were out I had a hard time getting to sleep worrying that a bear might show up during my slumber.

Silly of me I know.

**DOGMAN** · 06-04-2008, 10:30 AM

I wouldn't say its silly. You are in the food chain, sleep like a pray animal. But, try to sleep and instead of lying there worrying- just run through your checklist. Bearspray easily reached, food hung high and not near-by, no smelly stuff in sleeping area. Then run through the scenario in your head of what you'll do when a bear comes around. Then remember your doing everything right and fall asleep.

I have actually been awakened at night having Grizzly's in my camp at least 4 times I can remember, and never has it developed into an altercation.

**RBB** · 06-04-2008, 10:42 AM

Black bear that are used to people (as yours probably are) are a lot more of a pain in the neck than those who are aware of people, but are not used to them. Black bear that have seldom seen a human can also be a real pain in the neck, but you have to go to Canada to find any of those anymore.

Be aware and careful of cooking or food odors near your campsite. Some folks say to remove your sleeping area from your cooking area. Latest thing I've heard on food packs is to stash them in the woods - in a non trail area, Bears use trails - just like everyone else - when approaching a campsite. I've seen all kinds of ways to stash a pack in a tree with a rope. Never seen one a bear couldn't get at in the end.

We have our own method of dealing with bears after food packs, but it is a family thing.

**wildWoman** · 06-04-2008, 11:00 AM

Jason and RBB pretty much said it all. It's more a mental thing, when you're doing everything right with cooking and storing food away from your tent, and have bear spray with you. What I used to do when I was still scared of sleeping alone in a tent in bear country is put ear plugs in. Cuts out all the small noises in the night and, I figured, I'd still wake up from any real noise.
You can't do more than play by the rules. Keep in mind that in comparing bear attack statistics, bear spray has been found effective in deterring bears in 92% of the cases, versus 67% were guns were used (posted that here some weeks ago with a link to the study).
But mostly keep in mind that bears just want to be left in peace and do their thing, and you're more likely to have problems with traffic and people on your way to the trail/on it than with bears.

**DOGMAN** · 06-04-2008, 03:14 PM

From my earlier post
I have actually been awakened at night having Grizzly's in my camp at least 4 times I can remember, and never has it developed into an altercation

And thats well over a thousand nights of camping in prime Grizzly country! So, statistically speaking having a bear in your camp is a rare experience.

**Jeffersonpaine** · 06-04-2008, 04:26 PM

carry a gun. I know that you pack lite, but your life is worth a couple of pounds.

**Rick** · 06-04-2008, 04:30 PM

Teot - Why don't you put up a perimeter guard? You carry para cord don't you? Just loop some around where you sleep and then tie a couple of bells to it. If you hear the bells during the night grab the bear spray. You know you'll never need it but if it gives you some piece of mind what's the harm? Toss a couple three small bells in the pack and your para cord and you'll be all set.

You'll be alerted to the two legged varmints, too.

**Ken** · 06-04-2008, 04:32 PM

Trip wire. Whistle (screamer) alerts.

**Rick** · 06-04-2008, 04:35 PM

It's been that way all my life. I come up with a really good idea and Ken steps the plate yelling the same thing. Sheeeeeeeesh.

**crashdive123** · 06-04-2008, 04:39 PM

....just make sure you point "This Side Toward Enemy" away from your camp. Oh wait, you said bells, not claymores.

**Ken** · 06-04-2008, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

It's been that way all my life. I come up with a really good idea and Ken steps the plate yelling the same thing. Sheeeeeeeesh.

Let's just say that I polish industrial grade diamonds until they reach gemstone quality.

**Ken** · 06-04-2008, 04:44 PM

Hmmmmmmm. How do we set up trip wire around Rick's posts?

**Ken** · 06-04-2008, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

It's been that way all my life. I come up with a really good idea and Ken steps the plate yelling the same thing. Sheeeeeeeesh.

Besides, little tinkerbells (like the ones YOU wear on YOUR toes) won't wake anyone up until after they've become an appetizer.

**Rick** · 06-04-2008, 04:50 PM

Good heavens, you're posting to yourself now. Take the medicine.

**Teotwawki** · 06-04-2008, 05:23 PM

Hey Ken - great idea!

I had kinda thought along those lines of setting up some kind of perimeter "guard."

Its the sleeping and the bear is there without me knowing that bothers me...

If I can be awakened with the bear a good 10ft away - no problem.

**Ken** · 06-04-2008, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rick

Good heavens, you're posting to yourself now. Take the medicine.

Giving your prescription medication to others is illegal, Rick. Now, keep it for yourself, just like the doctor told you to.

**buttercup** · 06-04-2008, 05:26 PM

Maybe it is a paternal thing partly.............TEOTWAWKI.
THink you would be as worried if you were alone and didn't feel you needed to safeguard your son and take care of his safety??