need advice

Depends.   Up in Old Forge they are not at all afraid of people and will wander around close to them.  In areas where there is less exposure to people they are more tentative .   I have had several close encounters with bears while fishing in a remote reservoir in Quebec including one where I was fishing in a 14 foot row boat, heard a splash and turned around and one was swimming  10 feet away from away from me.  I was very glad the little 10 horse started on the first pull.   A few other time they have been milling around our tents ad took off when we yelled.   We actually have one around here and I have seen it as close as 100 feet from my house.     There are 2 things you have to worry about with bears,  are they hungry and are there young about, the later is the most important of the 2 as a female will protect her cubs at all costs.  Pepper spray is a good deterrent.  Do not feed it or it will come back.   There skulls are strong  as steel.
 
Here is an interesting little read.
http://www.fws.gov/mounta...izzly/bear%20spray.pdf

Yes agree feeding it is a bad idea, I haven't been up that way for some time but being my camper is now winterized, I'll be lake fishing at night for walleye, I'll buy pepper spray just in case this is one of those bears not afraid of humans.Pouring here in nnj, flash flood all day today.. gl up this fall, and let us hope for moderate weather.. in truth the icecap/sheets and polar regions are melting at an alarming rate. but that is off topic too..what a mug of coffee will do this am lol

Then the polar bears will move south, and they have a predilection for consuming humans.  Bear spray is like Louisiana Hot Sauce to them.
 
Before I get an ursine lecture-  kidding.

So what kind of winter outlook you been hearing? Sometimes warm summer like temps can happen during thanks giving? Gee look into but don't get too near my chosen avatar nothing can escape it's infinte gravitational pull, not light and not even me!