I saw 2 Bears Today - Trip Report

“Hiked the Jeremy's Run loop 12.1 miles. There was bear scat all over Knob mountain. There must have been scat every 20 yards along the ridge. About 200 yards North of the summit I heard a sudden crash, I looked over and about ten yards off the trail a large bear (biggest I've ever seen in Shenandoah) came sliding down a tree fire pole style. He hit the ground and flew off down the ridge, he didn't even stop to look back. Later I lounged on some rocks where the trail crosses Jeremy's Run. I looked up to see a smaller bear coming down the trail. I called out "hey bear!" he looked up then nonchalantly turned and went back up the trail where he came from. Later when I crossed the creek I saw a campsite just off the trail. They had their food hanging on the tree not more than six feet up and right against the trunk. Those people owe me. Of course he probably came back after I left and got their food, but I hope not. A fed bear is A DEAD BEAR. Please follow the rules everyone (not that anyone on TT needs a lecture, just a reminder.) A group of trail runners came down to the crossing, I told them about the two bears I'd been fortunate enough to see, they said that they had also seen a large bear come sliding down a tree 200 yards from the summit of Knob Mountain. Poor guy probably went back to the same place he had been napping after I passed by, only to be disturbed a short time later.”

“Wowsers! Cool deal.”

“a large bear (biggest I've ever seen in Shenandoah) came sliding down a tree fire pole style.

Mental picture of a bear dressed up as a fireman!

No pics?”

“Sorry Scorch no pics of the bears, they we're gone before I could pull the camera out. If I had thought about it I could have gotten a picture of the second bear as I saw him before he saw me.”

“Gotta have those cameras hanging on your neck all the time. I know....they'll so heavy after half a mile....”

“This was actually my first hike with my camera bag on a chest harness. But the Bears were still too quick for me, especially the first one, he flew away like he was shot out of a cannon.”

“Shot out of a cannon........shot by a Canon........close, but not close enough. Forgive me, sometimes I just can't resist a pun.”

“you are the wildlife spotting king”

“I still haven't seen a bear yet.”

“How have you not seen a bear yet, Scorch???? Have you not been in Shenandoah or the 'dacks?”

“Every time I've seen a bear I am amazed by how graceful an animal of there size and build can move through the woods. Too bad you weren’t able to get any pictures.”

“you should have just stolen theur bear bag, that'll teach them not to do it again, and stops the bears from coming back later and getting it.”

“Or maybe stolen their bear bags and smeared the food on their tent? That's a lesson!”

“This morning, while driving Nowslimmer to our morning river trip, a small black bear crossed the road in front of us. On the return trip a doe and 2 fawns stood in the middle of the road. Last week I spotted a black bear on another road and about an hour ago, as Nowslimmer was getting ready to continue his journey, a doe and 2 fawns strolled into my front yard.”

“i saw my first bear a few days ago in shenandoah”

“did you get his number?”

“Hiked to Piney River Falls. On Pine Branch Trail between the AT and Pole Bridge Link Trail I came across a pile of bear scat that was literally steaming. I started to call out hey bear and kept hiking. About one hundred yards on I noticed the bear out of the corner of my eye, to the left, about 10 yards off the trail. He watched me pass by, and then we were both on our own ways. Rest of the hike was uneventful, nice waterfall not much water flowing though. Pleasant hike.”

“Scared the poo out of him, huh?”

“too bad you didn't catch him in the act! woulda made a cool pic”

“"too bad you didn't catch him in the act! woulda made a cool pic"

Roam Around
06:12:14 PM
09/04/04

Ha ha! It was close he couldn't have plopped down more than 20 minutes or so in front of me.”

“gross!”

“Just wanted to inflame ENS's bear sighting jealousy by bumping my weekend bear sighting back to the top.”

“"hey bear!"”

“fuego!!!!!!!!”

“I can't believe you guys haven't seen many bears there. The place is riddled with them.”

“I've seen plenty (as I've posted), ENS is the problem. The only time I don't see a bear in Shenandoah is when I'm hiking with him. We should change his name to "Bearrepellent"”

“ahhhh, perhaps we need to bait him”

“Next time we'll slip some bacon into his pack :)”

“LOL... you guys are so wrong.

bring on the bacon”

“Had to go into work at 5 am (ouch) but only for a couple of hours. Then headed for the park. Hiked to South River Cemetery then over to South River Falls then completed the loop on the AT (10 miles). Bear 1 was a cub on the South River Fire Road, I watched it for a moment about 100 yards in front of me, then it looked up at me and moved off into the woods. Bear 2 was on the South River Falls Trail just a few yards down from the Fire Road. I was going to go the overlook before I continued down to the base of the falls, but the bear was along the trail and there wasn't much room for him to move off, so I backed up and continued down to the base of the falls. With all the rain from Charlie and Frances the falls were roaring and shooting up mist, it was fantastic. Great Hike.”

“I'm bearbane. They stay away from me, no matter where I am.

It must be a conspiracy.”

“I have yet to ever have a really cool bear encounter :( maybe someday :)”

“dangit bison”

“I always see a bear when you're not hiking with me ENS. Like Phaedrus you're bearbane.”

“I must be. I'm going to get tips for my poles.”

“Hey Bison,
can you tell me where you got your "chest harness" for your camera? Is it something you rigged up? or something you found pre-made? I tried hooking my camera case to my chest straps of my backpack, but it is still a bit unwieldy to unpack quickly.....
Got any tips?
(I think I carried about 15 lbs of camera equipment into the backwoods-- will have to find an easier way next time!)”

“pinkbubelz -

My chest harness came with my camera case, It's a Lowepro. I believe you can buy a chest harness separately, you might wanna try an internet search.”