yet another bear question

[KYhiker40]

Like many of you, in colder weather I hate getting up in the middle of the night to relieve myself.  I've always carried a designated bottle for this purpose, so I don't have to get out of my hammock/tent.  Any thoughts on this in bear country?  I'll be on the AT in the Roan Mountain area later this month.  Any risk of attracting bears into camp?

[toejam]

If you are afraid a bear might try to steal the pee bottle out of your hammock/tent, put your mind at ease. I'm not a biologist, but I'm willing to go out on a limb and say no bear would be attracted to that.

[ppine]

Bears are around.  There is always some risk.  They are largely nocturnal, so don't plan on much fumbling around in the dark.  Use a headlamp if you get up and make some noise. 

In the early 1970s I was new to the West and made dinner in the dark one night at Crater Lake.   I turned on a flashlight to check the bean soup cooking on a picnic table.  On the other side of the picnic table was a large boar black bear on his hind legs.  I backed up and he jumped on top of the table to eat the food cooking on the stove.  After that I have never cooked in the dark. 

[Grey Mouse]

I listen to the bears often when camping in the wilderness. They generally stay out of camp because I don't cook or eat at camp. Also it is wise to leave your cook pot by the cooking area if you've cooked in it. Since I only boil water with alcohol so I take it with me. Usually the bears go to the cooking area first, bang the pots around waking us up, followed by the trash/eating area, and finally to the campsite if you were foolish enough to lead them there with a forgotten snack in you pack. When hanging my bear bag I will often place a bell on it for an alarm although many times I carry a vault instead. As ppine stated above it's a bad idea to cook after dark.

When nature calls at night I simply turn on my headlamp, grab my bear spray (also wearing a sidearm), exit my hammock as loudly as reasonable (other campers are sleeping), talk as I put on my boots, look around with the headlamp and my 1000 lumen pocket light, and walk to the designated spot that has a glow stick at the tree. Upon return I simply reverse the pattern. I'm there to enjoy nature and not interact, feed, or molest it. I would rather not see a bear but they are a curious lot. If I see one I simply let him have that half of the world and safely retreat 

Now big cats...that is a different matter. A panther will leave you alone most times and a mountain lion will not. I have had a panther walk right up on me within ten feet in the dark just to stare at me. I knew that she was in the area because I heard what sounded like a baby crying the woods earlier. She occupied that side of the earth and I backed up. She never budged an inch as I left. A mountain lion will follow you. I don't mind bears as I see them as big kids that like to taste things but a cat likes to "play games" such as stalk and sit. You can hear a bear if you listen. A cat ? Good luck lol.

Edited June 7, 2018 by Grey Mouse

[ppine]

Big cats are the same.  Turn on a light and make some noise.