Thanks for the encouraging words about hiking in bear country phat and jimshaw.
Yellowstone is beautiful and I don't want my fear to keep me away. Please don't worry that you put fear into me that I didn't already have OregonMouse. It's probably good that I have some fear so I'll be careful. I'm reading Stephen Herrerro's book and I read everything I can find on the net about bear safety so I'll be ready. I just need to get my husband to read some of this stuff too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I think he's a bit overconfident. I've almost changed my mind several times about going until I read another trip report from someone who came back alive from Yellowstone! We plan on making lots of noise and looking ahead with our binoculars while we hike, and we're going to hang both packs with the food in them and everything else except for our headlamps, and xtra clothes that don't smell like food. I've also been trying to learn how to identify the species and how to recognize bear sign. It's funny but I'm more worried about being attacked in our tent than on the trail even though that kind of attack is the most rare. From what I've read most people who have had a bad experience ran into trouble on the trail when they surprised a bear.