Survival "course" fail

[68Charger]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/25/alaska.bear.attack/

6 out of 7 in the party were injured or had "exposure" issues

Ummm, you're in the middle of Salmon run, crossing a creek/river, and you don't have bear protection at the ready?
at that point, you're in prime enemy territory.

Wow, they dealt with it after the encounter- but were VERY poorly prepared for the encounter...

[jerrymrc]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/07/25/alaska.bear.attack/

6 out of 7 in the party were injured or had "exposure" issues

Ummm, you're in the middle of Salmon run, crossing a creek/river, and you don't have bear protection at the ready?
at that point, you're in prime enemy territory.

Wow, they dealt with it after the encounter- but were VERY poorly prepared for the encounter...

I have left this one alone just because I have Family in AK and it has become a sad topic.

It is summer, let's climb Pike's Peak in our T-shirts.

[68Charger]

yeah, I managed to learn my lesson without blood being drawn- scared the crap out of me, tho..

another story on same incident: http://news.yahoo.com/grizzly-bear-a...062207870.html

some of the comments are ignorant, some really hit home...
I once mentioned "alternating buckshot & slugs" at a Big R- the guy behind the counter asked if I was from Alaska- apparently the only other time he's heard of that load was for Grizz protection there.

I can only hope that some will learn from this- whether they were in the course or not... even if your only protection is pepper spray- it better damn well be in your hand when you're crossing water (at the least- you should give someone the 'job' of watching for Bears, and they've got it at the ready constantly)

I wish I could say it surprises me, but there are people that ignore the danger everywhere- even in bear country.

[rocktot]

You'll never get rid of the 'It won't happen to me" syndrome. Human nature. That's why we have 'natural selection' and Darwin Awards. Pepper spray may be better than a shaking, oh shit, crap, where's my gun, out of ammo, crap aaaahhhhhh moment. Had a gangbanger looking boob act weird when we pulled up to the _________ today. He went inside and was talking on the payphone, even though he had a cell phone. It made me uneasy, and me without a shoot shoot. Just weird feeling. So I kept moving, looking, moved the car out front. Wasn't nervous, went over a scenario in my head a few times, kept out of range. Just not used to seeing gangbanger looking boobs around probably.

[Mtn.man]

Aren't bears cute.

I like bears.

[Ranger]

A survival course, in Alaska, where preparing for a possible bear attack is not in the agenda? Hmmm. Sounds like that guy on Discovery channel - Timothy Treadwell - who had a very hippie stance towards bears and thought as long as you're not a threat to them then they aren't to you. Well, he and his girlfriend got killed AND EATEN by the very bears they lived with. Note to self: when teaching others to survive, be sure not to adjust for local indigenous dangers....

[rocktot]

Yea, but he was eaten by an older, out of shape bear, who could not get food normally. (All that was left was a spine and his head).

He DID use the pepper spray once on a bear, and that convinced him never to do it again. Bad mistake.

But yea, he was an idiot with the bears. That bear also stalked the pilot of the plane, it was like feast or famine.

I'd carry at least 2 pepper spray in bear territory. The big ones with good handles.

[BigBear]

Aren't bears cute.

I like bears.

Rgr!!

[jerrymrc]

Rgr!!

We have to like you.

Had a bear watch me once at Buffalo Creek. Probably was thinking "So how do I get the food OUT of that tin can (camper)" About 75 yards away. Just sat there for 5 min or so. I did not sleep well that night.

[Wulf202]

Goes down in the ranks with the idiot from Into the wild. Except this guy only owes me only 5 minutes, Mcandless owes me several hours of my life I'll never get back.