
So as I am beginning this new journey of backpacking I am trying to make smart decisions on what type of gear to buy.
Having to outfit both my wife and I, we don't want to rush out and buy a bunch of expensive gear for both of us that may not work for us.
Our first question is whether to keep using our tent, or go with hammocks. Knowing I can not keep backpacking with our heavy car camping self inflating mats I purchased a $50 air mattress, and a $50 bug netted hammock, and blue tarp.
I will do a review on both at a later time, therefore I don't want to list any info about them at this time due to more testing needs to be done.
So we headed out camping in Allegheny National Forest (horrible weather as usual for us).
I have spent a lot of time in this area, and have had my fair share of experience with black bears, but this stubborn s.o.b. was a bully. With everything being wet and raining our first knowledge of this bear was when he was 13 yards behind my wife. When I told her to turn and look she disappeared into the truck faster then a fat kid at a buffet.
Now my wife has had her fair share of bear encounters also, but to have the bear walk up on you with no notice that close would startle anyone. I firmly talked to the bear. He paid me no mind, as he got behind the tent he was checking my tent out very well, smelling, walking around it. (I can not think of anytime I had food in the tent).
So trying to save my tent I raised my voice, yelled at the bear some more smacking the tail gate of my truck. This only started a short staring match which he won, due to me now moving closer to the front of the truck.
He spent another minute or so sniffing around our site. Ignoring us completely. About a half hour later we had heard screams, and horns beeping at the next campsite.
How often is this bear scaring off people to get there picnic baskets. For him to feel that comfortable with humans.
We ended up sleeping fine. There was no evidence the next morning that he came back, but as quiet as he was we would have never heard him if he did walk back through.

