When I hike in griz country, I carry bear spray. When I camp in a campground in griz country, I take a 44 Mag to bed with me at night. Black bears don't worry me. If you spend most of your time on the AT and just hit towns to get food etc then people prolly won't be a prob. If I wanted to carry a piece on the AT, it would prolly be a .38 snubbie..small, light, adequately effective.