PNW: The Bear

Marci and I drove to Whistler with the intention of taking the gondola to the top of the mountain for a hike. To our dismay, we arrived to find that there was a downhill mountain bike competition happening and the snow at elevation was still too dense to manage for a hike. Instead, we set off from the base of the hill, away from the masses of mountain bikers, to find some peace and solitude. We zig-zagged our way up the mountain, attempting to follow a roughly marked trail, but after an hour of climbing and the trail dwindling and eventually leading us to a dead end, we decided it was best to take the fire road back down to the base of the mountain.

So there we were, walking down the fire road, looking out over the hills and down at the races below. Chatting away, passing a fellow hiker or two here and there, minding our own business. And that's when Mr. Bear decided to join us on our hike. On a bridge. So this is one of those situations that you look back on and think, Really? Did I really just find myself on a bridge--not 200 feet from thousands of people--with a bear? We were about 3/4 of the way across the bridge when all of a sudden this black bear steps out of the woods and onto the bridge with us. Rather than do all those things you are supposed to do when you run into a bear, I grabbed Marci's arm and told her to just keep walking. At it! Here's the thing: the bear was also continuing to walk toward us, with his eyes on us, but he wasn't angry or charging or scared, just moseying. And there was enough distance between us and the bear (Oh, about 15 feet) so that it seemed logical to just keep walking. So I kept my eyes locked on the bear and we walked passed him and off the bridge. And so we survived and so did the bear. And I managed to snap a picture of him.

Seems pretty small you say? Well, let me just put you on a bridge with a bear and see how you feel about him then! All things considered, I think we handled the situation well, although my insides were quivering for many minutes afterward. An onlooker rode up and asked us if it was really a bear on the bridge with us. Yes, yes it was. He then informed us that he'd be taking the paved road up the mountain thanks to our experience.