I came across this video with the title above and the following caption: "A casual hike on Dumpling Mountain Trail in Katmai National Park led to a very up close and personal encounter with a brown bear. What a wild way to end our honeymoon!"

I hate to be a wet blanket, but I think the 'end to the honeymoon' could very easily have been the 'end of our lives'. If I came across a bear in the wild, I would be backing away, not grabbing my smartphone for a selfie with a brown bear.

Timely post related my earlier posting in the Bear Vs handgun thread in the lounge.
Holy shit!

I heard at least some noise from them, didn’t sound like a whole lot. I didn’t see mention of any spray or a gun, maybe neither available?

In the National Park the bears may be slightly used to people, in some areas. This bear didn’t pay much attention.

I put bears in the ‘unpredictable’ camp. This bear did this, the next may choose a different course of action.

I've hiked up that same "mountain." More like a hill actually.

Did not see any bears on the way up or down.

But did come closer than they did to a bear while in camp. Very cool experience.

The bears there do not consider humans a food source and if you stay out of their way, you won't be annoying enough to run down either.

Katmai is the 2nd most famous place in Alaska for bear viewing due to its extremely high bear density (good salmon runs). You expect so see bears there. Sometimes bear just want to get from point a to point b and don't care who is on the trail.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
Timely post related my earlier posting in the Bear Vs handgun thread in the lounge.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the baddest motherfucker in the valley. Even if you're carrying a Barrett M107, you ain't the baddest Mf'er in Katmai.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
I didn’t see mention of any spray or a gun, maybe neither available?

Katmai's bear safety page says, "Use your bear spray if you think the bear will attack."

Hope they checked their pants after that.

Was in Alaska last week. Saw a brown bear do what I would call jog, not a full run but much faster than walking. They can move fast and cover a lot of ground when they want. If that bear had decided it was dinner time those two would have been on his plate.

I've been close to grizzlies here in Montana TWICE. And have SEEN them within a hundred yds or less, SEVERAL times, while hiking or hunting or simply afield.

My two CLOSE encounters were at Glacier NP and both of those bears were single adults, WITHOUT cubs. I think both were males.

Both of those encounters were like this video. Bear walked by us, seemingly unconcerned. NO threatening body language or sounds, at all. The video bear hurried up a bit when he passed them. Both of my bears leisurely walked by.

These guys did fine. They should have spoken to the bear a bit more ,so it wasn't surprised by them and I would have had my bear spray out and ready.

Maybe I watched a different video than you but I am not sure what they could have done differently? I am guessing they had no firearm so what else should they have done. Maybe been a little more quiet as it went past but they certainly weren’t trying to take a selfie. Sure they were videoing the encounter but not hassling the bear or attempting to draw attention to themselves.
They see the bear they slowly back themselves away and off the trail the bear is clearly using.

Thanks guys. I guess my reaction was based on the them continuing to film even as the bear approached.

I've seen too many stories of people falling off cliffs while taking selfies, filming scenes of car accidents, climbing into zoo enclosures for better shots, etc. I haven't had much experience around bears, but if I saw one coming down the trail I don't think I'd pull out my smartphone.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
Thanks guys. I guess my reaction was based on the them continuing to film even as the bear approached.

I've seen too many stories of people falling off cliffs while taking selfies, filming scenes of car accidents, climbing into zoo enclosures for better shots, etc. I haven't had much experience around bears, but if I saw one coming down the trail I don't think I'd pull out my smartphone.

At that point not sure what else they could have done.
Granted in my case the G20 would have been ready and the wife filming. At that point they are all ready pretty close, running is completely out of the question. At the time the bear is not defensive or upset. Get off the trail and let the bear take the trail as that seemed to be his original plan.
Probably should have been a bit quieter longer but I don’t take issue with what they did given the circumstances.

I have black bear on my property. I hope to see them in person and will video if the opportunity allows.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Katmai is the 2nd most famous place in Alaska for bear viewing due to its extremely high bear density (good salmon runs).

I thought Brooks Falls in Katmai was the most famous for bear viewing. What am I missing that's number 1?

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
Katmai is the 2nd most famous place in Alaska for bear viewing due to its extremely high bear density (good salmon runs).

I thought Brooks Falls in Katmai was the most famous for bear viewing. What am I missing that's number 1?

Alaska’s McNeil River Game Sanctuary. You have to win a lottery to go there and a ADF&G guide armed with a 12 gauge w/ Brenneke slugs takes you from camp to viewing sites and back to camp.

It’s most famous because it’s so exclusive (10 people per day) due to the lottery system.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Maybe I watched a different video than you but I am not sure what they could have done differently? I am guessing they had no firearm so what else should they have done.

I don’t see anything wrong either. They did exactly what I would have done, make enough noise that the bear knows you’re there and let him see you back away slowly. If you have spray or a firearm have it ready, but all of my bear encounters have been about like this, granted usually from greater distances. I see him- “thinks- shit”, he sees me “thinks- shit”, then we both cautiously go our separate ways. Only time I’ve seen a bear come jaunting down a trail like that though is in a national park.

While up in Yosemite a few years ago, as I was in the tent and cleaning/packing, my then soon-to-be wife was on a large boulder trying to get warm in the morning sun when a 400-500 lb brown bear walked through our camp.

I hear from her "bear, Bear, BEAR!!" as the bear is less than 20' from the base of the boulder. I slowly looked out of the tent and told her to "be very, very quiet and do not move" at which point the bear looked at me. I kept motionless, silent, and just watched. Inside the tent and without a weapon, I would be screwed.

The bear, thankfully, wasn't phased by us and created the perfect end to a wonderful week in the mountains but damn, I have never let my wife know the possible danger we could've been in.

It's like the zombies taking selfies and falling off cliffs and such and dying. So many idiots. Videoing some bullshit or taking some bullshit video is more important to them than actually living in the real world. We need Morpheus to start unplugging these dipshits, stat. Or just let Darwin put on his devil ears. So sick of this bullshit!