jimmar wrote on Apr 21^st, 2009 at 4:48pm:

I've been to that same bar in the early 80's, on a bicycle trip around the Kewinaw Penninsula. I think the same old guy was still there. Also went backpacking in the Porkies one long weekend while attending MTU. Got lost one afternoon for several hours, but just followed a stream to the Lake Superior trail. The most nerve racking thing was walking by myself down the trail amoungst chest high thimbleberry bushes, dodging huge piles of bear dung that seemed to be deposited about every 10 ft.

 We backpacked the Porkies several times, nice hike, but the bears are numerous and aggressive. They tell you to hang your pack as the bears will come right into camp without hesitation. We ran into a young couple who decided that hanging there frame pack on a tree knot chest high outside their tent was a good idea. We heard their screams the night before, but didn't realize they were as close as they were. Next morning we passed their camp. The bears(s) had come in around midnight, tore up the food pack, tore up the gear pack, and ripped a hole in the side of their A-frame tent. The bear(s) took the food back with them, leaving two very scared campers huddled by a fire the rest of the night. When we passed by in the morning, they were leaving the park, probably never too return.
 I believe some of the biggest black bears ever taken in MI have come out of the park during the hunting season.