Some good advice when in bear country is to wear little bells on your clothing and carry some pepper spray. When a bear hears the bells, he will leave the area; if he stays, the pepper spray will drive him away.
However, it is important to know whether the bears are black bears or brown bears. The best way to tell the difference between black bears and brown bears is to examine their scat.
Black bear droppings will contain squirrel fur, berries, and smell of fish.
Brown bear droppings will contain little bells and smell of pepper spray.
I am a suspenders and belt kind of guy.
If I were roaming the woods in bear territory I think I would carry a Ruger Super Blackhawk loaded with a heavy load of hard cast 240 grain semi wadcutters along with a can of pepper spray.
The Ruger is fairly light but packs a pretty heavy punch. In some situations the spray might actually be better.