Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while knows that I have a healthy fear of encountering bad things when I’m hiking in the mountains. Examples of bad things include: mountain lions, snakes and bears.
I first realized the bear threat to be real when I read a Facebook update from my hiking guru, TJ, of BLR Malibu fame. It was her story of a bear encounter while hiking Mt. San Gorgonio in Southern California which prompted me to source and purchase bear spray in advance of my hike of Mt. San Gorgonio’s sister peak, Mt. San Jacinto back in May.
Photo credit: howstuffworks.com
So far, I’m delighted to report, zero sightings of mountain lions, bobcats, cougars (which may all be the same thing, actually), snakes or bears. I have seen deer. Also rabbits. Neither of those sightings resulting in any form of altercation.
If you think I may be overreacting with my whole carrying-bear-spray-around practice, then I have a story which may serve to change your mind.
If you’d like a little glimpse into what could happen if you had the misfortune of running into a bear, then have a quick look at this story about 80-year-old Russian shepherd, Yusuf Alchagirov and his run-in with a bear.
Dude is a bad-ass!
My favourite part of the story was the description of how this senior citizen showered kicks and headbutts on the bear to knock it off balance.
This is pure gold.
Now I have known for a long time that Russians are made of hearty stock. My dearest friend, the Russian Princess, is a prime example. She could probably scale a mountain in 4 inch heels [if she had to]. And she wouldn’t even spill a drop of her Dirty Martini while she was doing it. This I can guarantee.
Still, the image of this 80-year old, with his fancy MMA-style moves wailing away on the bear, this makes my life on so many levels.
And lest you were feeling badly for the bear, fret not, mes amis. The beast, apparently slightly miffed by the blows delivered by dear old Yusuf, decided to toss him off a cliff, and then just “sauntered away”.
“I got off easy. It’d have killed me if I’d chickened out,” Alchagirov told television audiences.
Photo credit: wildsmart.ca
Yes, Yusuf, but you’re missing the real lesson here: if you had just carried bear spray with you, you could have avoided getting into that scrap in the first place. 🙂
Get moving! (And, always carry your bear spray!)
xoxo nancy
Another reason to continue exercising and lifting weights no matter your age–you may have to fist-fight a bear when you’re 80…
True dat, Carrie, true dat.
So yup, there it is… the final nail in my resistance to hitting the weights. Sure, I’ve been doing my cardio lately – but you’re not going to have much luck out-running a bear I imagine… unless there’s someone with you and you just have to outrun them of course 🙂 But yeah, you just might need those biceps and chest muscles to kick some big-time bear butt in your golden years…
Looks like it’s time for some Arnold Presses…
Or…carry bear spray. 😉
Ah, where’s the challenge in that? 😉
This from the girl who refuses to hike because there might be snakes! 🙂
Haha, true. Guess I’m getting a little verbose. Easy to cast judgment when I have no intention of hiking anywhere near bears or snakes…
One of these days Carrie, I’ll get you hiking!
Or make friends with a bad-ass Russian and invite him along to all nature walks. 🙂
Yikes! We ran into a bear during a family picnic in the mountains (4 adults and 3 small kids). We had just set all of the food out when my brother saw a bear grazing through the huckleberries about 20 feet away! My sister and law and I grabbed kids and food frantically shoving everything back into the car while my brother stood on the table to take a picture. My son had a different idea and rolled down the window to stick his camera out and take a picture of a big pile of bear poop. I guess we should have noticed it before and yes, I do have the poop picture somewhere in my archives. 😉
What a story! And yet another example of a bear spray-warranted situation!
Yes!
As someone who lives nowhere near any bears of the large alive sort, I like the idea of meeting a bear…I don’t think I would like the reality however! The most dangerous thing I might meet in a hike is an angry goat…or possibly a grumpy sheep!
I am all in favour of lifting up heavy stuff mind you! It is awesome! 😀
Sam, would there be no bears up in the Scottish highlands either? What about other scary things (mountain lions, snakes, etc.)? If not, I may need to visit the UK for some hiking. 🙂
No bears, mountain lions or any such scary beasties! Possibly an angry cow or stag!
The uk has one poisonous snake, the adder, but I have never seen one and I don’t think they are that poisonous! /-) come and hike over here!! 😀
Hell yeah! I’ll be right over. As long as you’re not cookin’ any of that haggis for dinner.
I have never had haggis! I am happy to keep it that way! I’ll meet you in the highlands 🙂
And the good scotch will keep us warm whilst hiking! 🙂
That is definitely true 🙂
I’m not sure why the idea of encountering a bear doesn’t frighten me that much but if I saw a mountain lion in the woods I am pretty sure I would pee myself.
According to the guy at the sporting goods store who sold me the bear spray, I’m much more likely to encounter a mountain lion than a bear on Mt San J. When he saw my horror, he added, “but don’t worry, the bear spray will work in mountain lions too.”
Lucky, lucky me.
Hahaha yeah I wouldn’t consider that the most comforting statement…
Bear spray is our friend. Bear bells are not. They attract big cats. I only learned this after ringing one for six solid hours on a hike in Glacier National Park.
Why would you ring it if it attracts big cats??? You are one brave chick.
I didn’t know bear bells attracted bog cats before I started.
But why did you KEEP RINGING it?? You are cray-cray Andra.