June 7, 201511 yr We rented a chalet, high in the hills, actually close and higher than Ober Gatlinburg. It's a haul, the grade is 50+ degrees up the mountain, unreal view up here. Last night we fired up the grill and while eating for the coals to heat a female with five cubs invaded, luckily we were on the deck. It was beautiful but scary realizing they are so close. I'll never forget watching those cubs wrestling while the mother scouted us. She actually stood up on her hind feet with her front claws on my Rav4 windows. Must have smelled the open bag of buttered popcorn and Slim Jim wrapper inside. Today I was heading out the door to my car and I heard the same type of sound, branches snapping, so I turned back to the door and headed up to the deck for a lookout. Here comes a skinny male headwind from my car, proceeds to assault my grill before leaving. They say there are less than 2,000 bears in the area but I've been up close with six in a 24 hour span. Needless to say I didn't take any scenic walks this weekend.
June 7, 201511 yr I see them pretty often there. We've had a couple of really close encounters. Actually almost ran over one a few years back
June 7, 201511 yr Was there this past May. Saw quite a few, more than I've seen in the 40 years I've been going down there. Asked a park ranger why so many? He said one big reason is they have noticed a certain plant growing in abundance this year (sorry cannot remember what he called it) that the bears just love. Kind of like catnip to a cat.
June 7, 201511 yr Only bear I've seen in Gatlinburg was that stuffed one I bought for an ex when we were there.
June 10, 201511 yr Teen attacked by bear this week Smoky Mountains bear attack: Ohio teen pulled from hammock in Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Story
June 10, 201511 yr We rented a chalet, high in the hills, actually close and higher than Ober Gatlinburg. It's a haul, the grade is 50+ degrees up the mountain, unreal view up here. Last night we fired up the grill and while eating for the coals to heat a female with five cubs invaded, luckily we were on the deck. It was beautiful but scary realizing they are so close. I'll never forget watching those cubs wrestling while the mother scouted us. She actually stood up on her hind feet with her front claws on my Rav4 windows. Must have smelled the open bag of buttered popcorn and Slim Jim wrapper inside. Today I was heading out the door to my car and I heard the same type of sound, branches snapping, so I turned back to the door and headed up to the deck for a lookout. Here comes a skinny male headwind from my car, proceeds to assault my grill before leaving. They say there are less than 2,000 bears in the area but I've been up close with six in a 24 hour span. Needless to say I didn't take any scenic walks this weekend. Up there is where we always stay also that view is great (people can't appreciate how steep that grade is OMG)...anyway my daughter and I were out on the deck several weeks ago in the hot tub and saw a sow and 4 cubs walking within 25 yards of us. They circled the chalet next door and went back up the mountain.
June 10, 201511 yr Author Up there is where we always stay also that view is great (people can't appreciate how steep that grade is OMG)...anyway my daughter and I were out on the deck several weeks ago in the hot tub and saw a sow and 4 cubs walking within 25 yards of us. They circled the chalet next door and went back up the mountain. [ATTACH=CONFIG]50881[/ATTACH] Did you stay in Chalet Village?
June 10, 201511 yr We stay at Endless View or the one next to it on St Moritz Drive. This is our view from the deck of Gatlinburg below... Edited June 10, 201511 yr by Jumper_Dad
June 11, 201511 yr Author We stay at Endless View or the one next to it on St Moritz Drive. This is our view from the deck of Gatlinburg below... Is Endless view the Colonial style? We stayed at the last chalet on St. Morris, Cuddle Shack.
June 11, 201511 yr Is Endless view the Colonial style? We stayed at the last chalet on St. Morris, Cuddle Shack. It's this one...
June 11, 201511 yr We were at Cumberland Falls a few weekends ago and signs had been posted all over the park warning of increased bear sightings.
June 11, 201511 yr We were at Cumberland Falls a few weekends ago and signs had been posted all over the park warning of increased bear sightings.They are becoming more prevalent in southern KY each year...this was taken not far from Somerset last year.
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