Hello folks – this may be a subject discussed endlessly, but allow me to perhaps ask it in a different way: thru how much, in miles, does the CTD go thru grizz country such that as “reasonable person” might actually be worried about encounters. I ask becuase a long time ago I had some uncomfortable moments in Wind River, Tetons, and elsewhere. Your thoughts, please. And thanks.
McIntyre
The CDT goes through grizzly country in several areas: Glacier, the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat, the Centennials, Yellowstone, Teton Wilderness area and the Wind River Range. The farther north you are, the greater chance you have of seeing bears. The bear population is growing, especially in the Yellowstone area. Many CDT hikers have had close encounters, but none have been injured by a bear that I have heard about. Read up on how to camp in bear country - i.e. don’t cook where you camp, make noise as you walk, travel in a group, etc.
Spirit Walker
Spirit Walker gives very good advice. He forgot to mention just how important it is that: you must be able to run faster than at least one other person in your group!
looking out for you
They used the Union Pass area between the Winds and the Gros Ventre as a Grizzly dumping ground last summer, watch your backside around there. Bears are pretty thick from Green River Lakes northward.
I’m seeing a half dozen grizz a year recently. Don’t sleep in the clothes you cook in, wash after dinner, have a knife to cut a hole in the other end of the tent if you have too, bivy sacks are like deli wrappers, etc. READ UP! Happy trails.
John Betts