"About a quarter of a mile up the trail we heard a big crash and discovered a bear 25 yards or so off the trail. " Consider yourself very lucky. I hiked almost 1000 miles on the A/T before I got to see my first bear. About 14 miles shy of Harpers Ferry I had an encounter with one who made it very clear that he did not want me in his territory. I'm just glad I had extra underwear with me.... LWOP