Long Distance Walking Trails In The Usa.

[sandyRoe]

Watching utube recordings posted by hikers on the trails I was surprised by the number who mentioned their fear of encountering bears.
Are statistics available showing how many walkers are attacked each year ?

[barry1010]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

Not all were walkers but the details are given

[rowanwitch]

Just make sure you go with a group of very slow people, so long as you can out run at least one of them you will be fine

[sandyRoe]

Good advice, Rowanwitch. I'll bear it in mind.

[wolf63]

Bring me back a little baby bear. Just a cute little critter!

[anneasquith]

Good morning Sandy. How are you ?

[Buenchico]

From the US National Parks service. (The information only relates directly to Yellowstone National Park but it gives a good indication of just how rare bare attacks actually are):
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/injuries.htm

That dosn't meam that they don't happen though:
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/national-parks/2021/05/30/yellowstone-national-park-bear-attack-hiker-attacked-injured/5272050001/

[Tilly2]

From experience, bears stink to high heaven. You would probably smell one before you saw it.

[sandyRoe]

Some of the trails are a couple of thousand miles long and take 4 months to complete.
By that stage the bears could smell you from some distance.

[sandyRoe]

Annieasquith,
I'm down to two tins of beer in the evening and can manage on them.
Otherwise, I'm feeling ok.

[piggynose]

After watching a few of those videos, most people recommend that you carry a shotgun and bearspray! You wouldn´t catch me anywhere near those trails!!

[webbo3]

I've read A walk in the woods" by Bill Bryson and walking the Appalachian trail sounded quite nice as long as you do it with someone and in bits.

[anneasquith]

I have to say. Well done Sandy. So proud. Remember to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty fluids . Xxxxx

[Buenchico]

I've just spotted a typo in my post above. I suspect that 'bare' attacks are rare because they're aren't actually that many streakers in US National Parks ;-)