Enjoying the Wilderness safely

Wow Dudes and Dudettes! Think your actions through!! "Look before you jump". If I do "A", I will probably get "B",
We have been keeping the law enforcement rangers (LE), and Search and Rescue (SAR), folks busy over the last month or so! A dead ginseng hunter, a car crash leaves several dead and a woman who has been missing for nearly a week, as this note is typed. These events are sad and mostly preventable. These, along with the usual but many less life threatening events are keeping LE/SAR busy, busy.

The GRSMNP is a beautiful, fairly natural wilderness setting which is nothing like where most of the 10 million plus annual visitors come from. Thus an honest individual appraisal of this environment and it's realities should be made by All who come here to enjoy and learn. Whether it's an immediate assessment of should I drive the speed limit in the park? or get closer to the bear for a better picture?, honesty with self is required.
Telling yourself,
"Oh, it'll be alright", as you approach a bear or saying "here, hold my drink, watch this", as you decide to float over the falls at the Sinks, are examples of where You take responsibility for your own fate.
However in making uninformed sometimes careless decisions, people also put SAR/LE personnel in jeopardy as they work to locate you.
So when you decide to go hiking on a trail in the GSMNP, or any other wild area like the GSMNP, please check with a ranger or  currently qualified personnel about "your plans".
Just because you saw it on the internet or your TV does not make it "reality", or doable. I used to work in entertainment production and I assure you that there is a whole lot of stuff going on off the camera, before whatever you see on the screen appears.

Please do yourself, and all the park personnel everywhere a favor. Slow down and think first. Ask for some opinions from those who know better, and please do not approach the bear.
I also speak with some compassion to those whose families are affected by the accidents which may occur when people make the choice to visit wild places to enjoy the moment. Peace