Bear Encounter

A couple of us had returned from our day of galavanting to our camping site, where we had our packs and most of our stuff packed. The three of us (Marshall, Jonathon, and myself) were resting on the tundra, waiting for the other two to return to camp to take off. Hannah came back a few minutes later. After a bit of chatting saying where we went, what we saw, etc, she said "Umm...there is a bear. Actually there are three bears."

We all stood up and about 100 yards from us were 3 grizzly bears. A mom and two second year cubs! The three of us that were resting hadn't noticed the encrouching bears. But luckily Hannah had come just in time to see them and warn us. After standing up we all waved our arms and starting letting them know we were here. We slowly started walking back from our stuff. But I didn't have my shoes on and all our food was there out. So we went back and hurrily, scarily, nervously packed all our stuff (thank goodness most of it was already packed-only a few things were left out). We moved away from the bears cautiously. There was a problem though. Megan wasn't back yet. And the direction she was planning to come from was right where the bears were headed. She might turn the corner at the same time the bears were turning the corner too. 

While we were moving back we decided to move forward (ahead of the bears) to try to get to Megan. As we turned the corner we saw Megan coming forward. She was about to meet up with the bears. We started franticly gesturing to her to move to the right (away from the bears and down the hill). She got the signal, only she started running toward us (thinking we were just waving and excited to see her back from her trip). We yelled "DON'T RUN! STOP RUNNING! BEARS!". She stopped, realized there were bears, looked around and saw a bear coming over the hill behind her.

The next moment was a little scary when the bear looked at Megan and us trying to determine what we were. All of us talked calmly and waved our hands, slowly getting closer and staying together, forming strength in numbers. Bears in Denali are not as habituated to humans as in other places. So they don't really associate us with food or as threats. But with a mom and two cubs, you never really know how protective she will be or what she will do. Thankfully she decided we were not worth bothering, and the bears moved on up the valley and we hurrily walked away from the bears and out of the valley. 

With our adrenaline high, we booked it out of the valley. We hiked 7 miles to the road and caught the bus home. On the way home the mountain was out in full force. Probably the best view to date. Even ended up seeing a caribou off the road. :) 

In the wilderness it is inevitable to encounter animals.  Winnie the Pooh is fiction. Animals are WILD. The wilderness is not a zoo, there is no glass protecting you or fences surrounding the wildlife. While seeing the wildlife up close can be exciting and thrilling. It is important to RESPECT it and understand that we are here as guests. This is their park, their territory. Wildlife RULES.