tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post7068518411260102228..comments2023-08-10T23:28:30.929-04:00Comments on Til the Last Hemlock Dies: The Last of 2005James Robert Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-15619651282904703542008-10-29T23:00:00.000-04:002008-10-29T23:00:00.000-04:00It's really not a risk. If you keep your food lock...It's really not a risk. If you keep your food locked away, it's not a problem, usually. This was a problem bear. The next morning we spoke with the campground host and he told us that the bear terrorized the campground from one end to the other during the night (188 campsites!). But he never attacked anyone or made a move that looked like he would bite or claw anyone. They brought in dogs the following day and chased him off.<BR/><BR/>The bears in the Smokies are no longer acclimated to identifying humans with food. I rarely see bears in the Smokies around the campgrounds (I go there a lot). I do see them in the park, but rarely around the campgrounds.<BR/><BR/>I still go backpacking into the backcountry. I do that alone. I've never been bothered by a bear or even had one approach my campsite when I'm way back in the wilderness.<BR/><BR/>My wife sometimes misses the tent camping and suggest that we do that from time to time. An hour after the bear ran off that night, she was fast asleep. I was the one jumping up at ever crackle of a dry leaf or snapping of a twig.James Robert Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17281049641681225389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28944274.post-90875907527529900292008-10-29T20:18:00.000-04:002008-10-29T20:18:00.000-04:00Well, that bear-at-the-campground story sounds lik...Well, that bear-at-the-campground story sounds like it was fun. What are your thoughts about other people using tents at campgrounds? Do you feel that they're taking a pretty big risk? I'm already fairly hesitant about taking my toddler to the Smokies for this very reason. I love the outdoors, and want to expose him to it, but let's face it, there are some inherent dangers.Ian Saylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13906766011347944735noreply@blogger.com