Hiking with Bears

We started our hike this morning even though breakfast was provided with entertainment of the bear-walking-down-golf-course variety. Perhaps not the most intelligent thing we have done yet in Canada.

The first bear didn't cause me too much panic because he was pretty far away and we were down wind. That is, of course, until he saw us and was less than thrilled with our presence. So, we walked slowly in the opposite direction, avoiding direct eye contact, just like the brochure told us to, and he left us alone. We named him Rufus.


The second one was a bit more startling. Mostly because we didn't see him, and he didn't see us, until we crested a hill (which, by the way, would be the beginning of a pretty splendid black diamond) and there he was. Giant, arched back, bristling hairs, scrounging muzzle. Luckily we were still down wind and I forced SPF to walk down the mountain slowly while I walked backwards with camera ready to get at least one more great shot, should he see and dislike us. AQF's how to get a great shot while being mauled by a bear to death.

Tomorrow we are getting a canoe.