Bears and hybrids

[DK-in-SC]

Looking for some feedback specifically from hybrid owners who camp in bear country.

We are taking our 23IKSS out to the Smokies this weekend and will be camping at the Elkmont campground in the park. Bear sightings are not uncommon in the Smokies, and the park rangers have strict rules about food storage. They have lockers for folks in tents, or you can keep it locked in your TV. Any coolers left unattended outside will be taken by the park rangers.

If we were in a pop up I'd definitely keep the food in the TV, but since we are mostly a hard-sided trailer, I'm thinking we should be fine keeping food in the fridge and pantry. There will only be four of us this trip, so we could turtle and just sleep on the couch and dinette bed, but I'd rather deploy the beds. Anyone ever had issues with bears sniffing around the bunk ends?

[bikendan]

Haven't camped in the Smokies but have camped with our hybrid in Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier.
Never had any issues nor problems.
Used bear box for grill and opened food containers.

Fishing Bridge CG was the only campground, at any of the 3, that banned soft-sided campers but Ranger told us that we could stay there if we "Turtled".
Also told us that food could stay in fridge.

[Archicamper]

We camped in Smokies last summer with are hybrid. We did not turtle. We keep food in our fridge only. The rest of the food went into plastic containers stored in our TV. We did most of our food prep and dining outside.

We saw a couple of bears around the campground but had no issued in the campground. We were at Cades Cove.

[DK-in-SC]

Great! Thank you both for your input.


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[Archicamper]

DK-in-SC

Our trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park was a really fun trip and I am glad we stayed in the park. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[DK-in-SC]

Originally Posted by Archicamper

DK-in-SC

Our trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park was a really fun trip and I am glad we stayed in the park. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Will do. I think we are in pretty good shape for the trip. I was just trying to get a handle on how curious the bears can be. That's my wife's biggest concern. Me? I'm more worried about finding some trout that want to play. 😀


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[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by DK-in-SC

Will do. I think we are in pretty good shape for the trip. I was just trying to get a handle on how curious the bears can be. That's my wife's biggest concern. Me? I'm more worried about finding some trout that want to play. ��


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They have a GREAT Fly Fishing shop in Townsend (Little River Outfitters) that are very knowledgeable and will put you on to the flies that are turning trout heads and the best places to fish as well!

Tight lines and best of luck!


____
Flyfish responsibly - use barbless hooks

[DK-in-SC]

Yes sir! I enjoy their daily fishing reports and get their newsletters too. Seems like a first class shop and it is on my planned stops. Thanks!


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[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by DK-in-SC

Yes sir! I enjoy their daily fishing reports and get their newsletters too. Seems like a first class shop and it is on my planned stops. Thanks!


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Just remember to post photos or it never happened

[DK-in-SC]

Haha. Deal! And I think I've figured out the solution to the bears - I'm posting a sign telling them that the food is better up the road at the Mayberry FROG rally.


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[CNYCamper]

One of the spots we camp at for the past 3 years has an active bear population and each site has lockable bear boxes.
We camp with the bunk ends open and have never had a problem.
A ranger once told me the whole idea is to keep the bears from entering your campsite in the first place. Bears are on a mission and won't waste time if pickings look slim. Bears learn coolers are a potential source of food and will check out even if the cooler is empty or just contains water. So hide the cooler in the bear box or at least cover it with a tarp.
If you like to feed the birds, leave the seed at home. Birdseed is candy to a bear.
My wife loves bears and her idea of a dream vacation is the North American Bear Center in middle-of-nowhere Minnesota. We saw one 2 years ago on the road near the park and it made her day. I'd just as soon see one on tv.

[DK-in-SC]

Thanks. Good tips. I figure that if we keep it cleaner and take more precautions than half the other people, we will have nothing to worry about.


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[Brimare57]

I'm probably way too late to comment on your post but the wife and I have camped in Elkmont numerous times in our Jayco Kiwi hybrid. All of our food was kept in the fridge and pantry. One time a bear entered our campsite. He didn't care about the Kiwi. He was only interested in the drippings he smelled at the fire pit.
BTW- site F8 is the best in the park- IMHO

[Skyliner]

Soft shell campers or soft shell bunks are like ziplock bags...they keep the food fresh for the bears to eat.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by DK-in-SC

Thanks. Good tips. I figure that if we keep it cleaner and take more precautions than half the other people, we will have nothing to worry about.


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Yeah, you just need to be better than the other people. Kind of like running from a bear - you don't need to be faster than the bear, only faster than the slowest person!

[DK-in-SC]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Yeah, you just need to be better than the other people. Kind of like running from a bear - you don't need to be faster than the bear, only faster than the slowest person!

Exactly! We had a great trip and didn't see any bears in camp, but elsewhere in the park we did. I found that I was looking over my shoulders a lot while fly fishing.

Great place and we are already planning on going back next year. Thanks for the tip on the site Brimare57

[DK-in-SC]

Originally Posted by Brimare57

BTW- site F8 is the best in the park- IMHO

I just zoomed into your picture and realized that I caught my first trout of the trip right in front of that site. I remember it now, and it is a great spot.

Thanks!