My planned group hike on Sunday didn't go as planned.

[MontanaMama]

I was supposed to hike into an alpine lake in the Rattlesnake Wilderness with my husband, son and one of our employees. There’s no trail to the lake and 10 minutes into the hike, I knew I couldn’t make in. It was raining, there were downed trees by the hundreds that I could not scale for even the short two miles as the crow flies. I sent the guys in without me and I went back to the trail head feeling really dejected. I walked up the hill overlooking the trailhead to take in the view and saw a trail that was behind a Forest Service locked gate. I grabbed my backpack and started in. What the hell? It’s better than feeling sad in the truck all day.

It was 7 miles to where the trail ended because of downed trees...I ate my lunch at that spot before I hiked the 7 miles back. I saw western tanagers, blue birds, red tails and a big black bear. I’m not gonna lie...I was really happy that bear was black and not a grizzly. I’m in decent shape but couldn’t outrun a griz. I posted the pic below of a log that the black bear crossed just before I did. Crazy!

It ended up being a glorious day. I made it back to the truck just 10 minutes before the guys did. They said their hike was hell. Mine was amazing and I’m grateful for the day.



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[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Epic sister! Nice recovery ... next time you know on which trail to plan the hike ;) nt

[underpants]

2. Looks like a great time.

[keithbvadu2]

3. If you see a bear...

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. If you see a bear, make yourself look big and inedible and weird and not worth figuring out

Put your hands in the air big and wide and slowly move them around.

Walk backwards slowly watching the bear without staring, while chanting or singing a strange song in a non-threatening way.

Never get between a bear and its cubs.

Running from a predator is almost guaranteed to fail. Running tends to get them excited and chase. Do not bet you can outrun a black bear or a brown bear or a mountain lion.

Ideally you should probably carry a bell or make noise so that you don't surprise the bear, but that also scares other interesting wildlife away. If you keep your wits about you and be very vigilant and make non-threatening noises if you have to walk through an area with poor visibility, you will probably be okay.

[keithbvadu2]

17. There is a video of a bear chasing another bear up a tree. FAST!

There is a video of a bear chasing another bear up a tree. FAST!

If you climb a tree, you better have a head start to get higher than the bear feels safe.

Found it....

[sarge43]

43. The American Black Bear can run as fast as a horse.

They can easily out run most people.

Not to be trifled with.

[BobTheSubgenius]

26. I've read that carrying a grapefruit sized rock in each hand

and clacking them together will both warn a bear that there is something coming, because it's a sound that travels. It's also said to be a sound they don't care for, but I'm not sure how anyone would know that for sure.

[MontanaMama]

29. Okay. That's funny.

I’ll be borrowing that if you don’t mind.

[keithbvadu2]

37. Pass it on like I did. Enjoy!

[Phentex]

4. As soon as I saw the word hike, I thought BEARS!...

I'm a walker. And I'd like to think I could be a hiker. But the truth is, I can only hike along a sidewalk or a beach. Or a trail by a lake near a city.

You are brave! And it looks pretty. I mean, not the downed trees but the sky and all.

[Hekate]

5. Gorgeous photos you got on your carpe diem hike! Thanks for sharing.

[Traildogbob]

6. Great story

Obviously by my tag, I am a trial fanatic, with my dog. A word of caution. Just found out our for prophet hospital here in WNC, makes you sign an agreement to pay all costs before treatment of snake bites. Insurance will not cover any anti venom shots. $13,000 per shot and it takes 5 to save a limb or your life. Medicare will only cover $8,000 max. You could die, lose a limb and go bankrupt.
I rarely use trails. Sunday the understory was so think I could not see my new lab pup.
My dentist told me the insurance story Monday. My daughter works in ICU there. She verified it
Shopping for snake gaiters. As for bears, I just need to outrun the dogs…..and not step on a snake running.

[markie]

11. "outrun the dogs"

I just adopted a Aussie/Black Lab mix puppy to hike with... don't think I could ever outrun him

[Traildogbob]

18. I know!

I gonna get et by the bear. No way I am out running em. But my girls would fight for me.

[markie]

21. just went out to

lock up the chicken coop and had to chase a bear out of the garden... my pup watched closely from the porch that bear is a whole lot bigger than him... he's no dummy

[Traildogbob]

22. Śmart pup😉

[womanofthehills]

14. I was bitten by a rattler in my yard in NM about 5 yrs ago

Medicare under our local hospital plan covered the antivenin totally - they paid $80,000 for 16 vials of antivenin and paid totally for the helicopter that took me to the hospital. I now have 2 pairs of snake gaiters. I think it’s a bad idea to go on a long hike by yourself esp if the bears have babies. I was in a hiking group that got ahead of me and I came upon a black bear shaking a tree at me - very scary.

[MontanaMama]

49. Holy crap!

Are you kidding me?? As I said...I would take a bear over a snake anytime. I'm so glad you are okay and could get to a hospital.

Last fall, I was awakened by a weird sound in the middle of the night...after I got my wits, I realized the sound was outside...I opened my window to see a black bear in the plum tree in our front yard. He was standing in the crotch of the tree shaking it for all he was worth. It was raining plums everywhere! Smart bear...he climbed down and proceeded to gorge himself of the plums laying all over the yard. A couple deer came and munched their share too. It was really something to see.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. "trail" "profit" "thick"

[Traildogbob]

19. Ha!!!!

Need to put on the readers, damnit. Former students would have a hay day with red pen revenge.

[MontanaMama]

30. You guys have snakes!

I’d take a bear over a venomous snake any damned day of the week. Bears are more predictable. I have black bears in my yard off and on from August through October....depending on when the apples and plums ripen. The dogs tell me when they’re here and we stay in the house. I wish I’d had my dog with me on the hike...she was with the guys. She’s a hunter and so are they so that’s where she wanted to be.

[cilla4progress]

7. Very cool, MM,

and kudos for your guts and endurance!!

[markie]

8. can't believe there is any such thing as a bad hike

but in reality, things do happen... your hike sounds great!

I am so glad that grizzlies are not on my worry list!! ...and I so often have to chase black bears out of my back yard that they have become too familiar

I did a 5 yesterday with my puppy ...nice but not as exciting as yours...

[BlueSky3]

25. Please be careful around black bears

I read recently that black bears have killed “only” 61 people since 1901. “Only”?

[ret5hd]

27. So like, one every two years?

I mean, I’m not gonna try to pet one, but I think my chances are pretty good out there.

[MontanaMama]

31. That's a beautiful pic!

I did a 3 mile hike after dinner tonight with our chocolate lab...I took a trail down by the creek...the doggo can barely handle all the smells and she’s kind of a nightmare on that particular trail...but when I go walking close to sunset, it isn’t smart to go without a dog because the bears are out and about.

[NBachers]

9. I've been hankerin' for a hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco. My son & I

will be going down for an overnight in July.

I'm inspired by your tale and your pictures. Thanks for posting them.

[jpak]

10. What? No Bigfoot?

[MontanaMama]

32. Bigfootmight have been there...

But he’s a champion at hide and go seek...

[ratchiweenie]

12. I'm so jealous. I used to be an avid hiker but I have real problems with my upper neck and even

a day pack now bothers me. My husband is terrified of bears, which is weird since he grew up in Montana. We moved back here and have managed to do some light trails and are looking for some nice day hikes this summer. That was a great save on your part. You go girl!!

[Evolve Dammit]

15. Sounds like a great day anyhow. What's all the blow down from? High winds? Cutting?

[2naSalit]

23. Beautiful pics!

But I have to scold you a bit in a mini rant.

A bear is a bear and whether black or griz, they are equally likely to harm you. Many think that a black bear is not as much of a concern as a griz but that is not true. Indeed, a black bear is actually more likely to kill and eat you than a griz. A griz's usual intent is to neutralize a threat where a black bear is wondering if you are food first rather than a threat. And you can't outrun either of them and never run from a bear no matter what knid, it entices them to chase you. Carry bear spray and use it if a bear approaches you in any situation.

Sorry, bear safety was one of my main gigs for a while so I feel obliged to enter correct info for anyone reading this.

Rant off.

PS, I still love you.

[MontanaMama]

33. Hey my friend...

You are right about all of that. The black bear I crossed paths with was a decent distance from me...I could see him/her up and down the trail ahead of me and when the bear stopped to feed...I stopped and gave him distance. I was concerned about grizzlies being on the inside boundary of the wilderness...and it’s still spring and I know they’re on the move establishing their territory and they don’t care where the boundaries of wilderness and national forest are. Grizzlies are everywhere these days. I had a bell on my pack and bear spray on a tether on my jacket. I will say that I will take my younger dog with me next time I’m in this situation. I didn’t plan on being alone but that’s how it turned out.

PS. I love you too. 🐻

[2naSalit]

36. You know...

Otherwise, I'm glad you had a nice hike. At least you had rain up your way. It's dry as hell down this way. As I drove up out of the Gallatin Canyon I could see that a fire of notable size was raging up towards Townsend, it seemed. There are two more over by Red Lodge, one seems to be in the A-B Wilderness, but I haven't looked at inci-web yet to confirm that.

I think I have to make a statement in the Environment group about my observations regarding YNP. I was horrified by what was going on, it means we are in big f'ing trouble. Might take a day to digest it before I say anything.

[MontanaMama]

42. That fire by Townsend is a big one.

We just hired a kid ( U of M student) who is from Townsend. He said they’re fighting it but it is so darned dry over there. Happy we got rain...we’ve actually had a few good days of precipitation in the last couple weeks. It might save our asses this year. With all the people moving here who don’t know how to be in the woods, fire danger will increase if only because of that fact alone. My neighbor came across a campfire up in Nine Mile, west of Missoula that was left by campers last weekend. It was still burning when he came upon it and there was no one anywhere near tending to it. This summer will be a doozy.

[Fla Dem]

24. 14 Miles! Wow, wonder women.

Although I hope you had contact with the guys the whole hike. Being up their alone without communications would be scary. The scenery was great. Glad to see fire damaged woodland coming back.

[Duppers]

28. Fantastic! 👍

Hubby & I used to hike/backpack/camp in the high backcountry in the GSMNP where we'd occasionally cross paths with black bears. We even slept on the ground & hung our food in the trees on ropes. Black bears are not really bad "people" as long as you give them room & don't feed them.

[MontanaMama]

34. I love bears.

And...yes, they aren’t bad people at all. I’d take a bear over a republican any day.

[Duppers]

35. I do too!

Yes, indeedy, I would rather have bears as neighbors than rethugians.

[jimlup]

38. I've had similar experiences in the Rockies

Sometimes when things don't go as planned they actually turn out better.

Thanks for the picts! I miss the west. Hopefully, I'll get out there this summer.

[Liberty Belle]

39. I'm glad you're okay but it's wise never to hike alone without telling someone where you are,

and when you are due back.

As a news editor I've had to report on too many instances of hikers who had an accident, injury, snakebite or other medical emergency and those stories didn't end well.

The photos are gorgeous - but next time please call someone and let them know where you're going.

[Kali]

45. on the other hand

all the people that survive fine don't make the news so the risks aren't as dire as the "news" would have people believe.

[LisaM]

40. Behind a Forest Service locked gate?

I think I am misunderstanding something. I'm assuming you didn't crash a locked gate?

Sorry for being dense!

I echo the person who said it's best not to hike alone without telling anyone where you went, but maybe you left a note at the car or texted someone first?

[grantcart]

41. I am guessing the gate was meant only to stop vehicles.

[Ginger42]

44. Bears are everywhere this year

We live in the Flathead Valley and they've been coming around since April. We finally had to call Fish and Wildlife to trap one that was very persistent - always around and trying to get into the house. The game warden said they'd had a lot more calls about bears this year than in previous years.

[Niagara]

46. Sorry to hear that your hike didn't go as planned.

There's nothing better than getting out and enjoying the beauty of nature.


I certainly hope that you're placing your food into a bear canister while hiking in areas where there are known bear sightings. Better safe than sorry.

[MLAA]

47. Beautiful pics, so glad you had a serendipitous adventure!

[Permanut]

48. I went hiking with a friend recently..

A bear began following us from a distance. I stopped to get my running shoes out of my backpack so I could switch. My friend said "What in the world are you doing, stopping to change your shoes? You can't outrun a bear!" I told him I didn't need to outrun the bear, I just needed to outrun HIM.

Stolen from somewhere, years ago.