Category: fauna

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more bears in the Canadian Rockies?

A few weeks ago – on my first day of mountain biking in the Rockies – I nearly rode into a big black bear on the main trail at Canmore Nordic Centre.

In 2009 are there more bears in the Rockies? Closer to people?

Or am I simply hearing about more bears? And more cougar encounters?

trailex.org tracks encounters and information about trail safety in the Bow Valley (from Banff to Bragg Creek).

That site was set up by the husband of Isabelle Dube who was killed by a grizzly near Canmore.

… Dube, 36, was jogging with two friends when they ran into a grizzly. She scrambled up a tree, but the bear chased after her and mauled the young mother, leading to her death.

She was the first person to be killed by a bear in Alberta since 1998. Since then, two more Albertans have been killed.

Robin Kochorek, a 31-year-old Calgarian, was killed by a male grizzly last July as she was mountain biking on a trail in the Panorama area near Invermere, B.C.

Don Allan Peters, 51, a father of two daughters, was mauled to death by a grizzly last November while he was hunting about 150 kilometres northwest of Calgary. …

Fatal Bear Attacks Spur Tracking Site in Canadian Rockies

Calvin Coolidge, Horace Albright, and others encounter some Yellowstone bears.
Calvin Coolidge, Horace Albright, and others encounter some Yellowstone bears.

photo source – National Parks Traveler – It’s a Bear! Everybody Get Behind the Ranger!!

Having grown up in bear country, I still sleep well in a tent in the Rockies. I really don’t worry about them.

Cougars are a greater danger. But those encounters much rarer.

My prediction: there will soon be a public backlash against bears near people areas in the Canadian Rockies.

UPDATE: 60-year-old trail runner, Thomas Nerison, of Kalispell, Montana, narrowly avoided serious damage when he was bitten by a Grizzly in Glacier National Park last Sunday.

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scrambling Lady MacDonald, Canmore, Alberta

I was looking for a good first hike of the season. And a chance to test my full set of gear.

My original plan of scrambling Ha Ling, then wild camping, was abandoned after I heard about a better option from local hiker Kelly Mock.

In fact, I walked out Kelly’s front door directly to the trailhead and up the mountain to this gorgeous vista.

teahouse-view

… Just above the treeline you’ll find a large helicopter landing pad, a steel ramp for paragliders, and the remains of a teahouse that was being constructed but is now abandoned. A gazebo just to the east of the teahouse sits on the edge of a large cliff. The views from here are spectacular. A number of hikers end their hike here as it’s already been a hard push to get this far, and the scree slope above can be daunting for non-scramblers. …

TrailPeak – Mount Lady MacDonald

Actually, it’s an easy and popular hike straight up to the ill fated teahouse. Most do not go higher as it’s recommended you have mountaineering skills on the ridge.

That’s not far wrong. The slippery scree takes you up to a knife edge ridge with killer views into the Cougar Creek drainage. In summer it’s merely daunting.

Lady-MacDonald
flickr – Marc Shandro – larger version

In the Spring it’s hairier. It looks like you might fall right through the melting cornice at spots.

MacDonald-in-April
flickr – iHeartDimSum – larger version

I stopped when I got to the snow.

Lady MacDonald is a terrific option for fit hikers. Each in your group can stop where they want. Most will relax at the teahouse or the gazebo until the adventurous return from the ridge.

This is a good hike with dogs. Don’t let them chase after the resident mountain sheep.

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hot tub with a Grizzly Bear

This is 800lb Brutus with his buddy Casey Anderson.

wtf-pics-grizzly-hot-tub

source – picture is unrelated

See the entire fascinating story of their relationship in an LA Times video – Meet Casey Anderson — and his best friend, an 800-pound bear

Unsurprisingly, Anderson does not like to be compared with “Grizzly Man”, Timothy Treadwell, who was killed in 2003 by a Griz. Or two.

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climb Snow Mountain (Xueshan), Taiwan

An author of Lonely Planet Taiwan, Robert Scott Kelly also edits a blog called PASHAN HIKING THE MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS, RIVERS AND JUNGLES OF TAIWAN.

Taiwan offers more hikes, on more varied terrain, within one compact region, than almost anywhere else in the world.

In 2005 Robert and a friend climbed Snow Mountain (Xueshan, 雪山) and posted a detailed trip report on the standard 3-day hike.

I was particularly interested to read about his startling a bear.

Bears in Taiwan?

Yes, a few Asian Black Bears survive there.

Asian-Black-Bear

I’m definitely planning on hiking Taiwan one day.

Taiwan

It’s a good read – Snow Mountain (Xueshan, 雪山)

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hiking in New Zealand

We named New Zealand the best hiking region in the World.

When researching where to tramp Down Under, start with our list of the best hikes in Australasia.

Next, browse the excellent New Zealand Tramper website.

tramper-new-zealand-coastline

It’s sprawling, chock full of information. Use the SEARCH function on specific topics. For example, Stewart Island Kiwi.

You don’t need to be a member to use the main site.

kiwi
Kiwi photo source

Check it out – New Zealand Tramper – home page

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is the Ursack truly bear proof?

I’ve been considering the Ursack system for protecting food from bears.

above_tree-ursack
more photos

Those who try Ursack seem to like the product. But it’s not currently approved for use in the Sierras.

I currently use a 2 lb 9oz Bear Vault. It’s great.

bear-vault-bv500
details – Amazon

… On the other hand, the Ursack V27 that holds almost as much food weighs only 7.5oz. (Recommended is to use a small Brillo pad squeezed under the opening to protect your yummies from mice and insects.)

Calipidder posted a terrific comparative review of all the available systems.

(via Two-Heel Drive)

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Earth – the movie

Happy Earth Day.

The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate Earth Day 2009 (April 22nd) with the debut of “Earth,” the first feature-length nature documentary from its new production banner, Disneynature. …

Follows the epic migratory journeys of four animal families as well as the earth’s journey around the sun and the massive influence it has on all life on the planet, from the Arctic spring to the Antarctic winter.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Lake Vesuvius Lakeshore Trail, Ohio


The WARNING SIGNS on this trail are over zealous. From one trip report circulated by email:

It was a beautiful day, no rain and warm sun shining down on the steamy well watered ground.

We decided to take full advantage of the rare sunny day in Ohio. Just a piece up the road is Wayne Forest State Park.

We set out for the park and to our delight a hike around Lake Vesuvius. The map showed a fairly flat 8 mile trail all the way around the lake.

Perfect!

The fearless leader Scott jumped out in the lead and set a good pace, until……

the WARNING sign……..

warning-sign

Would we be able to make it? Should we turn back now? OH MY 7 more miles to go EEKKK! I quickly calmed Scott down and told him we would be just fine! Let’s just enjoy the beautiful early spring flowers and push on ahead!

So we hiked on looking for the perfect place to have lunch.

We resisted the lunch recommended to us by the nice Forest Service man, Mr. Boggs. He said in a heavy Kentucky accent “Ain’t nothin’ better then sittin’ on a log with a good Balona’ sandwich, yew should russell yer selves up one”

After lunch we continued hiking and then It hit us…..

THE SECOND WARNING SIGN!

warning-sign2

6 MILES! Maybe we should turn back? The sign says it will take us another 5 hours! That’s about 1 mile per hour how could we ever do that?

But the healthy lunch I made for Scott wasn’t full of Balona’ and this time he was the one to say we should press on!

And so we did, up little hills, around big rocks, through a few mud bogs. The sun was warming up the ground and Canada Geese were defending their soon to hatch eggs.

We never saw another hiker. I was sure it was because these Ohio hikers can’t handle the big miles. Look at us we’re doing just fine!

But I spoke too soon! that was not it at all,

And we soon found out.

Now, I can’t say for sure. But maybe, the nowhere to be found, other hikers knew something we didn’t?

like what was waiting up around the next bend!

copperhead

Now this California girl had no idea what this nice specimen of a snake was, but my fearless leader Scott knew just what it was. A COPPER HEAD!

We turned around and headed back to the car. Not that we couldn’t do the miles, but just in case the warning was more about the snakes!

Back at the Ranger Station, Mr Boggs informed that indeed that is a Copper Head, “Out early this year!”

GREAT! I hope they like Balona’ Sandwiches better then hikers in shorts exposing bare skin for the first of the season bite!