Originally Posted by
Hatchee
Daughter and I just returned from 2 night on the AT section thru Grayson Highlands. After the trip, I drove by the ranger station and learned:
- The rangers do NOT want to discuss anything regarding the attack. I finally got one of the 3 rangers that I approached to acknowledge that a woman and her dog had an "incident" near the backpackers parking lot. When I asked what would be done about the bear, one ranger said "we have no idea which one it is". Barring no future "incidents", the AT will remain open.
- Most if not all trails within the park were closed for a portion of Saturday
- All trails except Cabin Creek are now open (3pm 6-17). There were at least 40 cars parked near Cox Visitor Center and numerous people walking around the meadow across from it.
- Reported bear activity Thursday 6-14 at/near the Wise Shelter.
- Backpackers were leaving to take the AT spur from the backpackers parking lot
- I also spoke with 2 different couples who were camped at the horse camp just down from where the AT crosses VA 603 just north of Old Orchard Shelter. They both saw 2 bears in the horse trailer parking area.
- Three different thru-hiking couples said they have seen 7, 9, 12 bears. A few had cubs. None were aggressive and acted as if they could care in the least if you were there.
The bottom line is this: there is a very large bear population along numerous sections of the AT, some have become very bold in their efforts to get your food sacks. It is rumored that the one at Thomas Knob has now taken 60+ sacks. The entire region around Grayson Highlands is heavily populated with black bear. I live 7 miles from the entrance to the park. My trail-cam took a pic last week of a sow with 2 cubs 1/4 mile from my house. My neighbor had juvenile visit his house last night.
Use your common sense, give them a healthy leeway and carry bear spray as a last resort.