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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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You got damn lucky in a situation that isn't remotely similar to the others up thread, but are still intent on extrapolating your experience to the others.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Anders is a special case.
Bears may be omnivores but even they won't eat lawyers
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Nick,
Brown bears are different from black bears.
Alaska is different from Yosemite Valley.
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Douglas Rhiner
Mountain climber
Tahoe City/Talmont , CA
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Alaska is different from Yosemite Valley.
You are correct.
And Kodiak Island is a whole other beast all together.
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 2, 2010 - 10:12pm PT
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Ron, that is an extremely funny observation on Anders, very droll.
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RDB
Social climber
way out there
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I'll leave Anders out of the conversation as he is from Vancouver Canada I believe. But my guess is he has seen more black bears than grizzley or brown in his life.
But back to your comments, why do you think the past response of any black bear is going to be anything remotely like a inland grizzley, brown bear or polar bear?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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I resemble that remark. Aren't some of Ron's best friends lawyers?
It is common to see black bears in the mountains near Vancouver, and near Squamish. Grizzlies can be found within 100 km of Vancouver if you want. Further up the coast there are lots of both kinds. Most are unfamiliar with humans, and curious about their visitor.
I pick blueberries every autumn somewhere quite close to Squamish. There are usually a few bears within rock throwing distance, doing the same thing. They need the berries more than I.
I once saw a grizzly, near Haines Junction, from a helicopter. It was running through very dense brush at considerable speed. The kind of brush that you or I get a kilometre a day in.
Anyway, it's strange that in BC, with healthy populations of grizzly and black bears, wolves, and cougars, those who work and recreate in remote areas are rarely if ever armed with guns, let alone handguns, and they're none the worse for it. I know two BC climbers who own handguns, but neither takes them into the backcountry. We sometimes take pepper spray, but not guns. And despite our sane handgun laws, it would probably not be that hard for most of those who want to get licences to have and carry a handgun in the backcountry.
With the possible exception of Alaska, it seems that when Americans take guns into the outdoors, it's about the gun, not the real or imagined threat from wildlife.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Anders, if you're talking about Greg (who is Canadian) whom you met at Snow Canyon then it is funny to note that prior to his trip to the NW Territories the following year he bought a Remington 870 and had me teach him how to use it, but then he had a wife to protect who isn't a lawyer.
Furthermore I imagine in your case that if confronted by a bear you would likely be able to engage it in a mutually productive dialogue.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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If bears in the Valley have only partially eaten two people its not going to do much to thin out the crowds. Let the bears be and let the tourists pack heat.
FOOD FIGHT!!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Rokjox,
For years, the NPS has destroyed black bears in YNP that are proven excessively aggressive in seeking humans' food. I'm always sad when I hear or read about it, because I feel that improper food storage has "contributed to the delinquency" of the bear.
If the NPS kills bears that try too agressively to get humans' food, I would expect them to do the same to any bear that tries to get human food.
John
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MeatBomb
Gym climber
Boise, I dee Hoe
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BlowJox So I am talking about two very specific bears,
How do you know it is 2 bears? You are once again just making sh#t up to fit in your BS theories. You know dick, but that wont stop the spew will it?
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nick d
Trad climber
nm
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Topic Author's Reply - Jun 3, 2010 - 12:02am PT
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It seems all my detractors say the same thing, that I dont get the difference between brown and black bears. Actually I am well aware of the differences. Like I said, I'm a thinking person, and I believe my wits are my best "weapon" as it were.
If I think I am going to be afraid in a situation, I avoid it. Obviously that didn't keep me from having a once in a lifetime experience.
I kept my wits about me,thought it through, and I made it out ok. I didn't need a gun to pull it off.
I expressed my belief that a charging 1000 pound animal would be able to kill before it died. Maybe some of the people here don't really have a livestock background, but I do. A gun would have endangered me as I would have been standing around when it was the right time to go.
I also was an active hunter. I hunted to help one of my friends families. They were a very poor mormon family and the food we could bag, rabbits, deer(my fist in 3rd grade!), some birds and everything we could fish for. It was a lot of fun growing up, but really by the time I had finished elementary school I knew that I enjoyed seeing live animals on the hoof a lot more than I enjoyed bagging them.
I'm just amazed that so many self professed nature lovers are willing to help chip it away, a little at a time.
I love the land, and it's not a replaceable resource.
I still feel that way and it angers me to see it dissapearing before my eyes.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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See, there have been two very recent deaths in Yosemite, and both of the bodies were partially eaten by bears. Evidence, please. That is to say, a reliable, objective source(s).
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Sorry, RJ - a single, unattributed, anonymous statement on SuperTopo is neither reliable nor objective.
If there had even been one incident of a bear in Yosemite eating part of a human body, it would be front-page news. Even if a bear had mauled a human body. One incident might just be somehow hushed up, at least for a while - but not two. If there had been two such incidents, half the bears in the Valley would be dead by now. And it would be on the front page of the New York Times.
Whatever the actual story, I suspect it's grown in the telling.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Don't you mean "groan"?
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Scott, read my post more carefully. The bears found on the Vancouver/Squamish area mountains in autumn, eating berries, are black bears. They're not necessarily "safer" than grizzlies, but don't seem to cause a lot of problems. Those usually relating to protecting young, food sources, and rogue/old/unhealthy animals.
As coastal estuaries and rivers are a major source of food for grizzlies and blacks during salmon spawning season particularly, it's unwise to go near them. (Why were you?) It's well known that bears can be aggressive when it comes to protecting their food and food sources.
I don't smoke anything, and never have.
I don't have any illusions about bears - one friend was killed by one, another mauled, and others have had scary experiences. Including me. But I'm not paranoid about them, nor do I believe that a gun would magically protect me.
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RDB
Social climber
way out there
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Nothing will "magically" protect you.
Climbing gear isn't magic. Neither is a gun of any kind. Both take training, practice and some skill to use effectivly.
Guns, fire surpression gear and climbing equipment are just tools you might require when protection is needed. You choose what you deem necessary and what you think is worth your time to train with.
Hard to imagine that with thousands of days on foot in grizzly and brown bear country between us over the years none of my friends have been killed or mauled by a bear. But then pepper spray and guns are part of everyone's common kit for actual "bear" country.
Typical sign telling you are in "bear" country.
Obvious the majority of anti-gun "experience" and worldly comments here are based on black bear. No surprise as they are the most common bear from Southwest BC to the east coast of North America.
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Jennie
Trad climber
Elk Creek, Idaho
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Here’s a very avid “gun nut” who won’t be carrying guns into Grand Teton National Park for protection from Black and Grizzly Bears.
Hint: he’s a long time resident of Jackson Hole……naturalist….painter….and author of books on various topics including gunfighters of the west. He’s done a few climbs, also.
Oh, and I think he's a lawyer, too.
And, yes ………he knows Piton Ron !
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Only one incident. Absolutely free is on the lower brother.
And it hasn't been verified. So I wouldn't be spreading this.
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uio
Social climber
chennai
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I guarantee you Nick, that if a grizzly charges you, and you have so much as a rock, you will be throwing everything you got at it. And running like Peewee Herman, and squealing like an 8 year old girl. Hope your wife can outrun you, it's always humiliating for a man to lose his wife by outrunning her.
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