Quote Originally Posted by Hoganbeg View Post
Who cares what the ATC thinks? It's not their call! Do what you feel comfortable with. Consider these facts. 1. You most likely won't use it and the weight will become a burden. 2. If you do need it, you will most likely be miles from any official help. 3. If you do need it, it will most likely be for protection from two legged predators, not four. Finally, have fun!
Being a NC resident who hikes and camps a lot in western Carolina (to include those sections of the AT), I'd have to say you have a better than average chance of encountering not only bears, but also rabid fox, skunks, copperheads, etc ...

You have to also know that a lot of folks that fashion themselves to be outdoor types are also Sierra Club liberal types that have more agenda than sense, often very anti-gun, and some of those will try to push their political views. I had a very heated battle with one such type that made me glad I carry, as his views on being 'peaceful' were just plain coercive and the guy was just a full blown control freak.

I've also experienced a couple of cases where individuals I came across were just not right in the head (managed to get park rangers involved in one case, who added my info to a longer list of problems from the guy).

My advice: Carry, you're in the wild, literally!