Eastern Tennessee Camping & Bears

[DiscoJen]

I'm finally trying to plan a camping trip to TN. We are loaning out our tent camper to a friend, but he needs it the same week we are planning vacation. So we are more than likely just gonna bring our regular tent. How worried do we need to be about black bears? I never really worried about this kind of crap until I turned 40 and my mortality started creeping up on me.

Thanks,
Jen

 

[stu454]

Not very.

People only get attacked by a black bear in the Southern Appalachians because they are stupid.

Leave food out, don't hang the trash and so on and you'll get 'coons more often than bears.

I've been camping in western NC which is no different from east TN for over 20 years. I finally saw a black bear and a cub for the first time near camp. They were over a 1/4 mile away and heading away from the camp as fast as they could.

I'd worry about bears as much as I'd worry about some meth head attacking the camp. Which is to say it's possible, but not very damned likely.

 

[DiscoJen]

Thanks Stu, now I'm gonna be worried about meth heads!!! :rofl:

Does anyone know how populated campgrounds typically tend to be towards the mid/end of October during the week? It's a little creepy being the only camper on the loop. What with the boogey man and all...

 

[stu454]

It depends on when the leaves turn. It's usually busier in early October.

Are you staying at a KOA type joint or out in the National Forest?

 

[DiscoJen]

Prolly stick with the State Parks. Thinking about Big Ridge over the weekend to go on the haunted hike tour. Then maybe Warriors Path for a few days, then down to Chattanooga area for a couple of days...maybe Cumberland Trail.

I wanted to more towards the early middle part of the month but the new bitch at work sniped the days I wanted. Damn I hate working with women. Vacation sniping bitch!!!!

 

[barefoot]

jen, are you talking about big ridge on norris lake? if so...a bear encounter is highly unlikely.

warriors path in kingsport tn? also, unlikely.

hell, i am 1 hr from kingsport and 1.5 from norris lake. let me know if you need some info on the area/s. i have spent plenty of time on/around norris lake, though mainly on a house boat. we go into the big city of kingsport for shopping often.

you know leslie bright is in kingsport as well?

 

[DiscoJen]

Thanks Barefoot, those are the places I'm talking about. Have you been...are they nice or should I be looking elsewhere?

Planning on maybe hitting Old Stone Fort in Manchester on the way back to The Lou.

 

[barefoot]

no, i have never been to either but i hear warriors path is nice. my neighbor stayed there some time ago. i seem to remember him saying there was a small lake on premisis and some hiking/mountain biking trails. i have been meaning to go for some time now.

the only reason i go to norris lake it to fish and stay on a friends houseboat. the lake in general is a haven for party goers. it can be fun in small doses but if you don't have a big fancy ski/wake board boat, you prob wont pick up any chicks. however, norris is pretty close to knoxville and they have a good restaurant called halls-on the river. they serve my fav beers (freshly brewed-mountain light & black bear ale) and appetizer (fried green maters with secret dipping sauce)...just sayin

you will be pretty close to cumberland gap ntl park and i would highly recommend backpacking the ridge trail. if you take all of the attached loops (gap cave, skylight cave, sand cave, hensley settlement etc) it is 28 miles. there is a small camping cabin you can overnight in called martins fork cabin but it is by reservation/fee. or you could stay at the wilderness road campground and do day trips to all the above. bear sightings would be much more likely here. this is where they relocate all of our local problem bears.

the nearby small town of cumberland gap tn is WET! complete, with biker bar.

then again, i don't know exactly what you are looking for activity wise.

here is a link to their site: http://www.nps.gov/cuga/

google earth is your friend for scouting out good camping areas....

here are some pictures: martins fork camping cabin and 2 pictures from hensley settlement

 

[Leslie]

Warriors is, like, 10 minutes from the house.... lemme know when you're gonna be here!


It's not off in the wilderness. It's wooded, on the lake, but it's right up against Kingsport, you're not having to trek an hour to get to it from town. You can cook at camp if you want, or drive five minutes into Colonial Heights and hit Pal's, Rafaele's, or whatever you want. I'll drag the kids down there to ride bikes around the island for a change of scenery from the neighborhood. A lot of people who even live in town or the area will take their camper there and spend a week camping out, sometimes even while still at work, kinda like a vacation w/o taking time off... not a bad way to do it, you can still run by the house to feed the cat, etc.

 

[AU_88]

jen, are you talking about big ridge on norris lake? if so...a bear encounter is highly unlikely.

warriors path in kingsport tn? also, unlikely.

hell, i am 1 hr from kingsport and 1.5 from norris lake. let me know if you need some info on the area/s. i have spent plenty of time on/around norris lake, though mainly on a house boat. we go into the big city of kingsport for shopping often.

you know leslie bright is in kingsport as well?

Im from Bristol, was there over labor day, and my family's lake house is on Norris. Leslie, next time Im up there we will have to meet up.

 

[DiscoJen]

Had some time to sit down with the sig other last night and nail down the plans a bit.

It looks like we won't be up as far NE in TN as originally planned. At least not for a camping spot, but we may do a road trip to check the area out. I think we'll end up at Big Ridge in Knoxville for the first few days and then to Cleveland area (maybe Chilhowee) for a few days. Then we'll take 24 back up and swing by TNLR. If we have time we may camp 1 night at Old Stone Fort in Manchester before heading back to The Lou. Leslie, I'll give you a shout as we closer and if we cross paths then I'll throw a beer or two your way. :yeah: I need to give Rob a little pinch while I'm over there, too.

The pick up top for my Series has been living at my brothers house and I hope to be able to strap it down to the top of the camper and take back home with me.

 

[varova87]

Im from Bristol, was there over labor day, and my family's lake house is on Norris. Leslie, next time Im up there we will have to meet up.

I'm from Bristol, as well. Where'd you go to high school?

Jen, I grew up camping in the southern appalachian mountains. As long as you say "app-uh-latch-un" and not "app-uh-lay-shon", the bears will leave you alone.

Are you set on TN? There are some incredible camping places just over the border a ways in VA. Grayson Highlands is a sweet place to camp. Shoot, there are campgrounds all over the place in that area of the Mt Rogers park.. Grindstone campground, Beartree, campground, Hurricane campground (very nice creek-side spots), Grayson Highlands, etc etc...

 

[varova87]

jwe go into the big city of kingsport for shopping often.

:rofl: yeah, HUGE!

My mom works in the Regions there. Also have a great friend in Kingsport that runs an exhaust shop. Top quality work.


Bristol/Johnson City are my old stomping grounds. Bristol born and raised, but moved out the first chance I got. Heading home for a 5 day visit (and engagement party) on Wednesday

 

[AU_88]

I'm from Bristol, as well. Where'd you go to high school?

Jen, I grew up camping in the southern appalachian mountains. As long as you say "app-uh-latch-un" and not "app-uh-lay-shon", the bears will leave you alone.

Are you set on TN? There are some incredible camping places just over the border a ways in VA. Grayson Highlands is a sweet place to camp. Shoot, there are campgrounds all over the place in that area of the Mt Rogers park.. Grindstone campground, Beartree, campground, Hurricane campground (very nice creek-side spots), Grayson Highlands, etc etc...

I actually went to high school in Atlanta, my family is still up there, my grandma is the head librarian at the Thomas Memorial Library in Bluff City and live off of Masengill Rd in Blountville. I will be up there for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[LR Max]

Most "car camping" sites have bear proof trash cans. Just dump your trash in there at the end of the night and it shouldn't be a problem. That in conjunction with locking food in your car should be fine. Heck, I've never even seen a bear in the wild on the east coast and I used to camp all the time (Boy scouts FTW).

Also bears don't come around well traveled areas. I've camped on the Tennessee side of Tellico, was there with a bunch of other vehicles. My jackass friend that night threw cheetos at my tent. No problems other than waking up to a WTF moment.

Bigger problem would be the chipmunks chewing through shit to get to get to food. I've seen holes chewed in backpacks from those little bastards getting to food.

BTW, Tennessee is an awesome place. Didn't know if you were aware of this.

 

[DiscoJen]

Jen, I grew up camping in the southern appalachian mountains. As long as you say "app-uh-latch-un" and not "app-uh-lay-shon", the bears will leave you alone.

Are you set on TN? There are some incredible camping places just over the border a ways in VA. Grayson Highlands is a sweet place to camp. Shoot, there are campgrounds all over the place in that area of the Mt Rogers park.. Grindstone campground, Beartree, campground, Hurricane campground (very nice creek-side spots), Grayson Highlands, etc etc...

Phew! I should be ok then, I'm totally "latch-un".

Pretty set on TN. I thought about VA but remembered that Dan has a video camera and no scruples. Plus my brother is in TN and I owe him a visit. Thanks for the recommendations though, maybe a future vacation to VA is in order.

We just bought a 97 Pathfinder to tow the camper with and are leaving early saturday morning. Should be at Big Ridge by 2pm so we can set up camp and make the night time haunted hike. If anyone is in the area feel free to stop by for a chill!