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Archived Outdoors

Getting bears out of backpacker food fare

The specialty Appalachian Trail license plates have raised money to help backpackers safeguard their food from roving black bears along the AT in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy recently granted $2,000 from its specialty license plate funds to the Friends of the Smokies group for the installation of poles and cables that backpackers can use to store food out of the reach of black bears.

“With more than 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail running along the high ridges of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s only natural for our groups to work together,” said Holly Demuth, North Carolina director of Friends of the Smokies.

Work was done at two popular shelters on the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies, Spence Field and Peck’s Corner.

www.friendsofthesmokies.org.