Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2015 8:54:42 GMT -8
Should have been carrying bear spray... Yes, that would have been a very good idea. Excerpts from the article: [/u]. . . . the grizzly started chasing Boswell. . . . Bullock, who’s from Britain, said he ran uphill as fast as he could through deep snow. . . . Boswell managed to fend off the bear by grabbing its mouth, pushing and screaming, said Bullock. . . . The bear retreated into the bush. . . . the pair of climbers likely surprised the bear as it was trying to den up for the winter. . . . Officials have closed the area for the rest of the winter to give the bear its space and avoid any further confrontations. . . . [/ul] Wildlife experts with Banff National Park said, “We’re not going to take any further action.” It would be interesting to know if the grizzly's den site was on a north-facing slope. At lower latitudes at least, where snow melts faster on south-facing slopes, grizzlies commonly choose north-facing slopes to den. Either way, I'd say the climbers went unprepared and put the bear in a defensive position by nearing its den site. And then apparently both of the climbers attempted to outrun the grizzly — contrary to the best and widely-available advice for predator-human interactions. To me, the grizzly's actions make a bit more sense than those of the climbers. For the bear, no further action is necessary. And hopefully, other climbers etc. will learn something. Wilderness contains wildlife as well as peaks. No use going prepared for just the latter. |
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 4, 2015 9:51:11 GMT -8
Either way, I'd say the climbers went unprepared and put the bear in a defensive position by nearing its den site. And then apparently both of the climbers attempted to outrun the grizzly — contrary to the best and widely-available advice for predator-human interactions. I wonder if running away from the den, not necessarily the bear, would have been wise in this particular instance. Of course this is pure speculation on my part, and the climbers probably didn't even realize there was a den nearby. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 4, 2015 9:55:05 GMT -8
I've been climbing and inadvertently gotten too close to a raptor's nest and gotten attacked for it: dive bombed by a VERY annoyed, really big bird lots of noise and head swops, hard to imagine how much worse having a bear pop out would be.... granted I was a lot more trapped, just along a small ledge system with no way TO run. Silver lining was he/she wasn't a damn seabird where they routinely throw up on you. Now that would have been disgusting rather than just scary.
ETA: For an ice climb a sort ways off the highway I can see why they might have waved off bear spray but as is evident from Yellowstone, everywhere, every time, might be the better rule for grizzly country.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Dec 4, 2015 10:04:31 GMT -8
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RedDoug
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Post by RedDoug on Dec 4, 2015 10:06:14 GMT -8
This time of the year on ice I would expect no one out in those conditions would be packing pepper. Sometimes you just get hit with a coincidence and nothing can prevent it. It just happens.
Interesting story.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 4, 2015 10:55:16 GMT -8
This time of the year on ice I would expect no one out in those conditions would be packing pepper. Sometimes you just get hit with a coincidence and nothing can prevent it. It just happens. Interesting story. The encounter was on the bushwhack approach slope on the way back to their car and not the climb. Still a short push to the cliff and then climbing would easily lead to not wanting to be burdened with extra things, especially if the return wasn't over the same ground so there'd be no opportunity to just stash the spray for pickup on the way out. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2015 10:58:16 GMT -8
December is too early in the season to take for granted that the grizzlies are inside their dens. A little research might have pointed that out to the climbers. I expect they spent a fair amount of time researching their planned route. Good to do ample research on the wildlife also — especially if contemplating a route that might leave them out after dark.
But yeah, accidents happen. All in all, the outcome was good enough. The bear will be left alone to den, and the climbers will recover.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 4, 2015 11:04:27 GMT -8
From the map I glanced at I couldn't tell: how far is the cliff base from the highway? Looked like some places I've been, you can see the cliffs from the car, though not QUITE belay from the passengers seat or tailgate listening to tunes like you can in Joshua Tree....
ETA: Okay I saw the scale, maybe 1000 meters.
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RedDoug
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Post by RedDoug on Dec 4, 2015 15:46:10 GMT -8
I have backpacked in bear country. In griz country I have always packed pepper, but this time of year? I'd probably play the odds and skip it. I have backpacked a lot in northern Michigan with a nice black bear population. I don't know of a bear attack in Michigan for some time. So I never take pepper with me in the U.P. I play the odds. I would guess a lot of us do that. I have told my wife a few times "IF I knew I would live through it, I wouldn't mind a bear attack. It would make be famous!" Then I smile. There is always a balance out there in the backcountry. I have seen a number of ultra-light backpackers who I thought were living awful close to the edge of a disaster. It's their call in the end. And what is there about bear stories that is so fascinating? I think I read every one I come across. OutDoor Life used to be a great place to read about those encounters, but magazines are dying. And really, I am grateful I have never had to share one of my shin bones with a bear.  |
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Dec 4, 2015 15:49:07 GMT -8
Apparently you've never lived in grizzly/brown bear country. Is Scotland known for its grizzly/brown bears? To clarify, the climbers are Scots; so, no, they've never lived in grizzly country. |
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Dec 4, 2015 16:34:13 GMT -8
Maybe they should have thrown traditional British food at it. That should repel a grizzly...
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