Two guides mauled in S.E. Alaska on hiking trail

I know quite a few people with the company involved and used to be a guide for the company that many of these people worked for prior to the formation of Un-Cruise.

LINK

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Troopers spokesman Tim Despain said in an email Friday that the group of 22 passengers, from the Wilderness Explorer, were being led by two UnCruise employees acting as guides. The male victim reported that the bears were first seen at a range of 6 to 7 feet.

"Reports indicate that there was a cub and that initially the group found itself with (the) cub on one side and mom on the other side of the group," Despain wrote. "Report was that the sow initially bluffed-charged and then made a real charge."

The woman was mauled first, Despain said. The man was injured moments later when he deployed bear spray against the sow.

"He went up with bear spray and was bit before the bear ran off," Despain said. "He was bit in the leg or mauled in the leg — her injuries were substantially worse."

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The injured guides were both carrying bear spray but no firearms, Scoltock said. She said no decision had been made on whether to recommend or require that guides carry guns on future outings.

"It's too early for me to answer that question yet," Scoltock said. "As you can imagine, we will learn what we can from this incident and review our procedure for hiking on any trails."

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The ABC (Admiralty, Baranof and Chichagof) Islands are loaded with large coastal brown bears. Some of the best bear viewing in the world, but attacks aren't uncommon. A man was eaten on Chichagof Island a couple of years ago.

I had a conversation with one of the company managers a couple of years ago about firearms in bear country. The cruise line is a great company though, if you're looking for something other than the traditional shore excursions, this is the best way to see S.E. Alaska.