De Bear

No picture to show - had breakfast at Standing Bear then hiked in rain all day. Sucks mentally. Hiked over Max Patch - a bald - supposed to have great views - I had 40 mph winds and sideways rain. No view. Got to the shelter - the hostel owner told us that a lot of bear reports coming out of the next couple of shelters - read the shelter log and it agreed - everyone losing their food. Stayed with Muffin Paste, Bert, Mosey, Guns, Holler, Forest Gimp, Barefoot Sage, Rest Stop, Venture, and Pixie. 3 of them hung their bear bags as normal, the rest of us put a line over the roof of the shelter. At 12:30 we all woke up to the sound of branches and trees snapping. Two guys got up with their headlamps - yep - it was the bear - and he had taken two of the bags. Went back asleep and in about an hour - heard something again - and heard the rope snap - there went the third bag. Talking to other hikers - the bear has been staying at those two shelter and getting all the food every night. Some shelters have bear hanging cables - which are easier and better than throwing your own line - these didn't. Mosey lost his bag - and went and found all 3 of them - 300 yards away - got everyone's stove back, just no food. His name is now Happy Tracker. He was so positive and tracked everything down. Ready to get out of here and on to town.