[redsox322]

I've been through the Berkshires many times, but just passed through, so I was looking forward for our first hike in these mountains. If you haven't been to Greylock, all the trailheads are deep in the woods. In order to summit her, you pretty much need to climb at least one other mountain, head back down, then back up again.
We followed the Roaring Brook trail to Stone Ledge Lookout. Along the way we found some freshly clawed trees, so our senses tripled when listening for bears. A few times we heard some low growling in the distance. The trail got very tedious and tiring, with no parellels to give us a break. About 2 hours later we reached the lookout and were pleasantly surprised. The views were incredible and we had the entire place to ourselves. You could even hear the roar of a waterfall across the valley-a good 3/4 mile away.
With rain clouds moving in, we snapped a few pictures and headed back. We kept hearing prowling noises around us, so we yelled "Yo, Bear" (A little Bear Grylls tip from Man vs. Wild). The rivers were really roaring now, with all the snow melting from the summit. We plan on hiking the Berkshire ridge of the AT next time we're in the area.
Click the link for pics of the hike.
Greylock Pics

[dudley]

:headbang:

[Chris42]

rockin trip dood, however i highly doubt there was a bear "growling" near by. Number 1 if there was any bear in the area they heard you long before you even saw the scratches, and more than likly took off. 2. Bears dont growl. 3.The only way a bear would have any interest in you is if it was injured or "rouge" or if you startled it somehow. Also in our area, we only have Black bears, no browns or grizzlys or shit like that. Black bears even though they are much smaller than the others, they can be more aggresive. They have lost alot of their habitat to us therefore the have more run ins with humans and have some what lost the fear of people. Some actually associate people with food not because they want to eat us but they like our garbage. then thats when they get dangerous.

[redsox322]

Yea I realize the "growling" part, just a mental thing...I wasnt 100% serious

[dudley]

not bear scratches on that tree either
just sayin'

[redsox322]

Yea I didnt think so either. A park ranger that we ran into at that point mentioned it could be, but unlikely. I guess its the idea that you almost want it to be

[Chris42]

Ya i wasnt trying to obnoxious or anyhthing, bear stories are kinda like fish stories they are always alittle different each time you tell it and each time it becomes more exciting. By 30 yrs from you will be telling your grand kids about the day you ran into a bear hiking and had to wrestle it with your bare hands and skin it with your teeth however i have seen some in the wild the one in AK make you shit yourself and you see them from far away for the most part. I did find a few tracks in the mud up there some measured 13" toe to heel!

[Andrew]

damn....

You wrestled a ten foot bear with your hands? wow!!!


This is how rumors get started...

[redsox322]

damn, 13"! That would scare the crap out of me.

[Andrew]

Is it true that this is the foot? I mean come on, 15 foot ninja-bear?

How did you make it out???

[Chris42]

Actually that bear in the pic you posted is stuffed at the anchorage air port. IT IS HUGE! I have a pic of the print i came across somewhere i will see if i can find it. You really have no clue how big they really are untill you get close to one. Grizzlys & Browns that is and Kodiak bears are the biggest of them all. A few months ago there was a new spieces found in Barrow. they are calling it a Prizzly some sort of cross between a Grizzly and a Polar bear