Best to communicate with the bear, mind to mind is best, but voice is OK too. Explain why you are in the area, pay your respect, and try to think of something you have in common. It is their land, and they are the guardians of the forest. This might seem a little esoteric, until you have spent a lot of time hiking off-road, at night alone.

Avoid getting in the way of a bear and its cub or food.

Never turn your back on the bear, back up.

Do not run, unless you have a safe place close buy. Bears are quick, and can run over 35 MPH.

Avoid valleys and streams, where bears scavenge for food. Keep on near the top of a ridge, since this will give you a good view, and still be angled. Bears hips are aggravated by long walks at an angle, they will do it, but only in passing through.

Bears are usually attracted by the smell of food. Do not pack with fresh meat, cook bacon or fish. All sweets should be double sealed.

Pepper spray will not stop an attack, but it will prevent one, since bears are driven by their nose. If a bear is in the area, spray a little around the area and he will look for some good smelling food elsewhere.

Hanging old style moth balls in perforated plastic bags, leaves an unpleasant odor in the area, which discourages bears. Keep it off the ground, suspended, so other animals do not eat it and die.

Bears usually do not like a lot of noise, if camping, good to keep the noise up. If a bear is in the area, banging of pots and pans, can give them a headache, so they leave. I have used within 6 feet of a pack of black bears before, although I would try it that close with a Brown or Grizzly.

I have also had good luck with throwing rocks at black bears, from a distance, not to hurt them, but to annoy them like a bug. If you hurt them, they will attack. Brown bears are easily annoyed, and have attacked rock throwers, since they are territorial.