Year 1988
My close encounter was at Katmai National Park, Alaska, where the Brown Bears are accustomed (somewhat) to humans. But I don’t care what anyone says, they’re still BIG and they own the trail!
* * * * *
Alaska outback country is pretty awesome, big and gradiose. Greenery covers the landscape for miles in all directions. Clouds dart in and out of the sky like the many Alaskan critters one can encounter. Some areas are fairly thick with vegetation. I was in such an area when I encountered my bear.
I was coming down off a mountain trail, on foot, hiking with my brother, Dale. The trail, lined on both sides with tall grass and vegetation, was sort of a channel through the forest. It lead to the river where both bear and fishermen like to catch the salmon working their way up creek.
Dale was in the lead and I was trailing when I heard what I thought was a runner coming down the mountain behind me. I could hear the thump, thump, thump of his running feet as well as the ragged sort of breath a runner has that matches his pace. I figured the guy was about to run me over so I turned around in time to see about 1200 pounds of Alaskan Brown Bear hustling down the mountain to chow time.
I stayed calm and tried to get my brother’s attention to get off the trail. The bear was close behind me, and gaining quickly. I kept talking, trying to catch my brother's attention without making a big disturbance.
But Dale didn't hear me. So I remember trying to raise my voice just a little to catch his attention. Finally, he turned to see what all the commotion was about, when suddenly his face turned white-ashen. I saw fear in his eyes.
I spun around and prepared to ask forgiveness for all my past sins. The big guy was nearly right on top of me and making tracks. I felt actually light-headed and somewhat detached, as if I were really not there. I guess that was the good old fear factor.
My feet seemed to stand their own ground as I stood there in shock. Then the grizz passed by me, a measured eight feet from me, and left the trail to avoid us. He never really threatened me at all. But I saw, and remember to this day, the hair in his ear! He was way close. It was awesome (once I recovered)
Oh, you ask, why didn’t my brother hear me? Well, he later told me that all he heard during this whole mess was this weird squeaking sound coming from behind him.
He couldn’t place the irritaing noise until he turned around and saw my lips moving. A mouse-like, high-pitched squeak was coming from a 200 pound, six foot guy. That's all the noise I was making. Even though I heard myself talking in a normal tone of voice, there was no voice -- only a squeak. Pretty sad!
Oh well, we all lived. The bear went merrily along. And, I bought new underwear.
###############
And the next day . . .
The very next day we had another encounter. And we got it on video ... sorta!
This time the grizzly met us on the same type of trail, face to face, about thirty yards way from us. We all stopped; me, my bro’ and the bear; and just kind of looked each other over.
We had the video camera rolling so in some moment of total goofiness, my brother films the big guy looking at us. Then all of a sudden big boy decides to declare the trail his. Mind you, both sides of this trail are lined with tall grass and brush; we’re kind of stuck.
He, the bear, gives a half-assed grunt and leans towards the bank along side the trail, and with his teeth, yanks out a wade of brush, grass and dirt. He flings it around like a dog with a blanket, then flips it over his shoulder. All this time Dale is running the camera.
Unfortunately, when the bear flung that clump of trail over his shoulder, bro’ and I were not confused that he was telling us he could do that to us. About then the level of photographic professionalism diminishes - when you watch the video to this day, all you see is a really shaky picture of bushes, tree tops, blue sky and more shaky as my brother flings the camera wildly in his now trembling hands!
We lost it (nearly), but we had no where to go. So somehow, little brother manages to get the camera back on the bear as he comes toward us.
Again, fate intervened. The big guy turned before reaching us, and sauntered off into the brush. At first we thought he was circling us; but then we realized he just wanted to get around us. Little did he know we couldn’t have moved had we wanted to!
Again, we all lived and there probably really was no threat. It was just purely thrilling to be that close to such a great critter in the wild.
###########
Epilogue:
Bears are wonderful critters to watch, photograph and enjoy. However, I don't recommend getting close! When in parks and wildlife areas, be sure to follow the rules and use common sense. Do not disturb the natural habits of the critter you're trying to enjoy. Del.
|
Copyright © 2000 - 2007 Del Albright
All rights reserved. Please do not use or reproduce any material without permission. Email Webmaster. |