As an avid backpacker, I'm not stoked about the plan to reintroduce brown bears to my state.
I do a lot of hiking as well, and yes brown bears are definitely more of a pucker your b-hole scenario. But for the most part as long as you don't sneak up on one accidentally or accidentally get between the bear and the cubs, they're fairly harmless. Ya just gotta have something that makes some noise when you're hiking, I have buddies that just strap a cow bell on their packs.
It would still be pretty rare for one to outright attack a full grown person, they are generally aware that peeps be dangerous.