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

Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:30 pm
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:30 pm
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

quote:



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."



quote:

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."



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.
Posted by Chad504boy
4 posts
Member since Feb 2005
170216 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:32 pm to
quote:

both carrying bear spray but no firearms
Posted by mach316
Jonesboro, AR
Member since Jul 2012
4810 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:34 pm to
quote:

The injured guides were both carrying bear spray but no firearms,


Posted by AFtigerFan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2008
3420 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:38 pm to
Maybe I'm being naive, but it may be a good thing that they weren't carrying a weapon. With 22 people in the group besides the guides, it would be real easy to hit the wrong target... especially if the initial encounter happened with the bear being 6 to 7 feet away. This may have been the best outcome possible.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:40 pm to
quote:

Maybe I'm being naive, but it may be a good thing that they weren't carrying a weapon. With 22 people in the group besides the guides, it would be real easy to hit the wrong target... especially if the initial encounter happened with the bear being 6 to 7 feet away. This may have been the best outcome possible.


Could be. They were following policy most likely.

Getting between a sow and cub at that distance, you aren't going to have a lot of options even with a firearm.
Posted by Clyde Tipton
Planet Earth
Member since Dec 2007
38988 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:42 pm to
Just the thought of being attacked is unbearable.
Posted by Chad504boy
4 posts
Member since Feb 2005
170216 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:44 pm to
quote:

Maybe I'm being naive, but it may be a good thing that they weren't carrying a weapon.


yeah well when that lady was being mauled, i'm sure the thought of "i'm glad nobody has a gun" never crossed her mind.
Posted by Chad504boy
4 posts
Member since Feb 2005
170216 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:45 pm to
quote:

Just the thought of being attacked is unbearable.



Guides should have the right to bear arms
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:45 pm to
Yeah, I try to limit my exposure to bears that are fishing, bears after berries are going to be more of a problem.

This fella was in Sweetheart Creek last week.
Posted by ihometiger
Member since Dec 2013
12475 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:52 pm to
The problem here is that no one was wearing those Bear Bells the Japanese tourist use to ward off the bears.

Posted by SabiDojo
Open to any suggestions.
Member since Nov 2010
84216 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:55 pm to
I'm sure there are good reasons not to have a gun but I'm sure as frick not going into the Alaskan wilderness naked.
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:58 pm to
quote:

The problem here is that no one was wearing those Bear Bells the Japanese tourist use to ward off the bears.


It's not uncommon for people to clap their hands and say "hey bear" every 100 yards or so. I don't get it really, the bear doesn't speak english.

But I gotta admit I've done it.
Posted by Pettifogger
Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone
Member since Feb 2012
81237 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 3:59 pm to
Haha well you need something to say

I've done it too
Posted by Winston Cup
Dallas Cowboys Fan
Member since May 2016
65964 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 4:25 pm to
quote:

both carrying bear spray but no firearms

Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 4:30 pm to
quote:

Haha well you need something to say

I've done it too


Yeah, it's alright when there's no one else around...
Posted by Tigris
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Member since Jul 2005
12606 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 5:31 pm to
quote:

It's not uncommon for people to clap their hands and say "hey bear" every 100 yards or so. I don't get it really, the bear doesn't speak english.

But I gotta admit I've done it.


My wife and I sang while we hiked through the brush on the Russian River. And we can't sing for shite. But it was prime bear country with no visibility. At one point there was a terrible odor. Sure enough, we'd hiked very close to a bear on the other side of brush. We didn't see it but other hikers could see us and the bear and told us we'd need to change our underwear if we realized how close we'd been.

I'm living in Florida now and have a mother black bear and 3 cubs hanging around the house. Nice to see but it's keeping me on my toes.
Posted by mach316
Jonesboro, AR
Member since Jul 2012
4810 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 6:00 pm to
Bear prob dindu nuffin
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 6:08 pm to
quote:



My wife and I sang while we hiked through the brush on the Russian River. And we can't sing for shite. But it was prime bear country with no visibility. At one point there was a terrible odor. Sure enough, we'd hiked very close to a bear on the other side of brush. We didn't see it but other hikers could see us and the bear and told us we'd need to change our underwear if we realized how close we'd been.

I'm living in Florida now and have a mother black bear and 3 cubs hanging around the house. Nice to see but it's keeping me on my toes.


Friend was a helicopter pilot and told me he used to fly over trails all the time and see people walking past bears totally unaware.

We have them on the freaking street here. You can run into them downtown. Most of the "urban" bears are fairly easy to run off though.

Look at this beauty. First one I had seen with this color configuration

This post was edited on 8/19/16 at 6:11 pm
Posted by BFIV
Virginia
Member since Apr 2012
8002 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 8:21 pm to
That sure is a beautiful bear. Kinda reminds me of a huge wolverine with that color mix...
Posted by RogerTheShrubber
Juneau, AK
Member since Jan 2009
268678 posts
Posted on 8/19/16 at 8:29 pm to
Yep it does. Never seen one like it. Posed perfectly too..
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