Bear Foraging on Pohono Trail

Forgive the camera shake. This was taken about 0700, and the light was poor.

I spotted this bear, probably 200 meters away, and tried to snap a couple of shots with a doubler lens. Unfortunately I was upwind of the bear, and she scented me and the ham sandwich in my backpack. I continued up the trail, hoping she would continue her hunt for grubs and roots, but the smell of ham was overpowering. About 500 meters up the trail, I turned around, and there she was, probably 25 M behind me. I didn't have the presence of mind to take her picture, but I shouted at her, then turned my back and walked on. When I looked again a few minutes later, she was gone. About ten minutes later some hikers came up the trail and were somewhat surprised when I asked them if they had seen the bear. We decided to stick together the rest of the way to Stanford Point.

I wish I could have seen you.The presence of mind to take her picture!I would have faint for the second time in my life.The first and only time was after have given blood,not for the blood but why they gave me to eat and some coke and as soon as I trank the coke I fainted.I don't know why. Take care when you walk in the woods! Daniela

Thanks, Daniela. When I saw the bear behind me, she wasn't looking at me but at the ground. The trail was steep and I was uphill from her. I had two small packs, one on each hip, and my light jacket was draped over them, and the sun was at my back. I must have looked pretty large to her. When I shouted, she looked up at me as if I had startled her. She probably ran off as I was turning away from her.

I wish I had a picture of me, too. I was more scared than the bear, but I didn't want her to know it. That was my closest encounter with bears, but I have had others, though not as scary.

But you're right. It's not a good idea to hike alone when the teddy bears are having their picnics. You might end up the main course.

This is why I prefer to hike and backpack in remote areas with little visitation. Bears that hang out near popular trails or campgrounds are much more dangerous IMHO, as they have usually been habituated to humans and their food. I do carry pepper spray, but have never had to use it, and have never known anyone personally who has had to use it, even though most of the people I know are hard core outdoors people. I've never seen a bear that didn't run, except for a sow griz with 3 (yes, three!) tiny cubs who I inadvertently surprised one day while I was working. She stood up in the road when I suddenly crested the hill. Very fortunately for me, I was in a truck. I stopped immediately, she sent her cubs up a tree and took off. I decided to find another spot to work for the rest of the summer.

Very good shot Chip, even with the hand shake, it's attached to a really scary story. The most dangerous animals I have in the area I live are rumminating cows ;)

Try to get a 3D shot on the bear the next time you meet :P

Thanks, Eve. You're right about the bears being accustomed to humans making them dangerous. I carry pepper spray and pretty loud whistle, but like you, I haven't had to use them. The griz + cubs encounter must have been a thrill. A truck would be no challenge to Mama Griz if she were protecting her cubs, especially if you were between her and them. I had an encounter with a mama black bear and her two cubs in Sequoia, but she was ahead of us on the trail and took off with the cubs when she heard our approach. Still, it gives your heart a flutter.

Hi Vasco. I'll take the pictures if you'll come here and hold the bait.

We have agreement then. don't forget to carry the tranquilizer darts.

Don't forget to inform us when you will go. It's worth a travel to US only to take a photo from both of you in such a situation!I'm sure you 'll have a great audience.ciao Daniela

Ok Daniela, we will inform you! ;)

No, really, with the stories I've heard of men encounters with bears, I would be scared to death going around such realms. Remember the most dangerous animals I have contacted so far in my life ware a domesticated horse and a rumminant cow. Though, going to the U.S. for a few days and personally wander through those landscapes I see in your photos Chip would be a travel of a lifetime for me.

I had a similar experience in Shenandoah NP, Virginia, a few years back. We were walking, heard movement in the underbrush off to the right. This bear came out, stopped and looked at us for quite a while. I managed to take the photo, but after what seemed forever (probably 30 sec) I began to worry a little. I started talking to it and it moved on. Almost immediately another came out onto the trail, glance at us, then took off running after the first. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3034874

And again in Sequoia in 2003. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3035036

Yuo guys play with fire... I still prefer my rumminant cows...

Good story and, indeed, a good picture in those circumstances. These black bears can be worse then grizzly. They run up to 60km/h, they climb, and they swim. If you happen to startle an aggressive dude, you have no chance. Knowing this, I still hike alone, but it keeps me on my toes, believe me. My last bear encounter was this one: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3008036 A black bear in the tree. I had never seen anything like it.

When my wife and I were in Glacier NP, MT two years ago it was the first time we'd ever hiked in Grizzly country. We were nervous, had pepper spray, were careful to make lots of noise, and were extra vigilant while hiking near noisy streams, especially walking into the wind. My wife decided she wanted to keep a knife handy. I don't know what she'd have done with that 3.5" blade if we had been attacked, but I was more worried about her tripping and stabbing me in the back than I was of seeing a bear, let alone being attacked by one.

For all of you concerned about bears, I recommend a book - Dave Smith's Backcountry bear basics: the guide to avoiding unpleasant encounters. Sensible advice. Also, keep in mind the vast numbers of people who visit our national parks and the actual number of bear encounters. Your chances of being injured by a bear is virtually nil if pay attention to your surroundings (like you did, Tim, but I'd leave the knife for cutting your lunch:). My husband has guided in Yellowstone, Glacier and Canadian Parks for 25 years. I've worked alone in remote areas of the Greater Yellowstone area for the last 17 years. We backpack and hike without fear. Neither my husband or I has ever had to spray a bear (or even come close to it), nor has any one we are personally acquainted with. By the way, there is a term for unreasoning fear of bears - bearanoia.

Thanks, Eve. I've been hiking alone in Yosemite and Kings Canyon for a few years, and have had only three bear encounters that I know of, though I'm sure there have been many that I wasn't. I'm not a bearanoid, nevertheless bears are big and they can be scary, and you can't predict what they will do. The book is a good idea. I'll have to get a copy.

Tim: I'd certainly be more worried about hurting myself with a 3.5 inch knife than in hurting a bear. I carry one, but it's not for self-defense against wild animals.

wow.chipstephan! love all these bear stories.have you seen my photo of a bear in captivity in silver sprigs florida? looks a bit sad dont you think?have you seen my recent uploaded illuminated man photo. ?what do you think?

sorry. we have already spoke about the bear!