In late September I hiked the Cranberry Lake 50, a 50-mile loop around Cranberry Lake, about an hour west of Lake Placid. I knew there had been bear activity reported in the area, and prepared accordingly. (Check out my previous post on ADK bears.) Sure enough, I had my first bear encounter (outside of being in a car). Here’s what happened and my lessons learned.

Starting the trail on a Thursday, I was solo backpacking on a 4-day, 3-night trip around the lake. I wanted to go solo for the mental and physical challenge…. Both of which I got!

Right before my husband dropped me off at the trailhead we saw a bull moose crossing the road. That was a treat to see that big guy, although a fresh reminder that there are big wildlife in the ADK. Wildlife experts estimate there are about 400 moose in the Adirondack Park, and about 4,000 black bear.

Once on trail, I saw moose tracks on the muddy trail that first morning, as well as bear scat. What I didn’t see were people. There was one guy fishing at a pond near the beginning of the trail, but after that I was completely alone on trail. I saw a brown bunny up close and later a porcupine cruising down the trail ahead of me. A very curious beaver kept me company while I ate lunch. Needless to say, when you’re on a trail solo, and there aren’t other hikers in the vicinity, you’re more likely to see wildlife. Taking this into account, I frequently clicked my poles together for noise and talked to myself out loud … trying to make sure I didn’t startle a bear or moose.

Despite my noise making efforts, on the second day I had my first ever in-person bear encounter. As I approached a stream with moving water, and thick brush on both sides of the trail, I suddenly heard a bear huffing. I had not seen him in the brush, but you can’t mistake the sound of a bear huff. Scared me to death. I screamed bloody murder like I’ve never screamed before…. and then froze. The bear then went on by me, about 20-25 feet from me. Way too close for my liking. It took me several minutes to gather myself before I moved on.

Black bears are not typically aggressive, and they’re generally afraid of people. Like my experience, black bears will typically leave the area once they see you. However, it’s not an ideal situation to inadvertently sneak up on a bear and get that close. His huff definitely meant I’d gotten too close. The fact that the brush was so dense in that section and the water noise from the stream was likely covering my modest amount of sound, were a recipe for a close encounter. Believe me when I say that I made a LOT more noise on trail after that point. And as a result, I didn’t see much more wildlife of any kind after that either.

I’m definitely no bear expert, but here’s what I’ve learned.

• You’re more likely to see wildlife in remote areas, with minimal human traffic, and when you’re quiet. If you’re really concerned about a bear encounter, hike with a buddy on well-traveled trails and make noise. In retrospect, I wish I’d started my Cranberry Lake hike on a weekend when there would have been a few more people on trail.

• Do some research before you go. Facebook groups are one way to check if there’s been bear activity in the area where you’re planning to hike. There are various FB groups related to the ADK, like the one I found specific to the Cranberry Lake 50. You can also call the DEC Ranger for the area, which I’ve also done in the past, and they’ll tell you about conditions and any recent bear activity.

• Follow all guidelines about handling food properly when camping. I used a bear can when camping in the ADK whether it’s required or not. Because of that, I splurged on one of the most expensive bear cans you can buy because it’s both lightweight in my backpack and highly effective at preventing bears from getting food. There are less expensive options if you don’t mind carrying a heavier bear can. To read the advice I got from a NY DEC expert, click here.

• Learn the signs to identify wildlife tracks and scat on trail. I was able to recognize moose tracks in the mud and bear scat, which told me to maintain active awareness as I hiked. You can Google to find your own sources, but here are a few quick links: black bear scat, bear tracks, other signs of bear activity, moose tracks and scat, and more about Adirondack wildlife.

• Learn what to do if you encounter a black bear or moose. In my case, I knew that you should not run if you see a bear, and in fact stand your ground if it charges since they will sometimes bluff charge. I have since learned that you also shouldn’t scream bloody murder like I did. It’s recommended that you remain calm and talk to the bear in low tones. Low tones will signal to the bear that you’re not a threat. The National Park Service has more tips. Just be aware that the ADK only has black bears; no brown bears or grizzles. Handling a moose encounter is a little different and you’ll want to back away and be prepared to get behind a tree. Do not stand your ground in a moose encounter.

• Whether or not you carry bear spray is up to each individual. Most locals do not carry bear spray and it’s very difficult to buy in New York state. I have never carried it before, but will likely get bear spray if I solo hike in a remote area again. For me, I don’t think it’s necessary when I’m on popular trails in and around the High Peaks. But hiking solo in a remote area that is known to have bear activity is a different situation. I actually looked for bear spray before I went to Cranberry Lake, and couldn’t find a local store that sells it around Lake Placid. And Amazon won’t ship bear spray to New York State. It’s legal to carry it in the Adirondack Park as long as it’s used for its intended purpose.

• This isn’t specific to bears, but I carry a Zoleo satellite communicator to call SOS if needed and I message my husband several times a day with my GPS location. Even when Eric and I are out hiking, paddling or camping together, we carry the Zoleo in case of emergency, since cell phone coverage is not reliable in the backcountry. There are many other popular satellite communicators, and I generally recommend them for anyone spending a lot of time in the Adirondacks.