ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

[stoneramhunter]

This world is complete new for me.  I have a question at what elevation do you cease to see animals?  \in northern  B.C, canada in the back country i have seen animals up around 10000 feet but havent been higher than that. 

[JasonG]

Birds are always about, even on the highest summits.  In Nepal, ravens have been seen around the summit of Everest and Bar-headed Geese fly OVER the Himalaya on their migration routes. 

[stoneramhunter]

wow thats amazing

[olyclimber]

Ok let’s do strangest or most startling animal encounters 

[JasonG]

Grouse will always be the most startling. Every....damn....time.

[stoneramhunter]

I've spent over 50 yrs in the backcountry  with my packhorses   mostly Northern British Columbia  and in all that time have had only two encounters with  grizzly that were not good. Although ive encountered many bears over the year with no issue  i wasnt so lucky on these occasions.  Lost a couple of horses in one encounter  and was attacked in the other fortunately i wasn't seriously hurt. 

[olyclimber]

1 hour ago, stoneramhunter said:

I've spent over 50 yrs in the backcountry  with my packhorses   mostly Northern British Columbia  and in all that time have had only two encounters with  grizzly that were not good. Although ive encountered many bears over the year with no issue  i wasnt so lucky on these occasions.  Lost a couple of horses in one encounter  and was attacked in the other fortunately i wasn't seriously hurt. 

Damn never would pass up hearing more about either or both encounters…

[stoneramhunter]

My first grizzly account happened 35 yrs ago  packing deep into northern B.C.  I was  moving up a steep  ridge thick with willow and buck brush when i heard a crashing coming from up the hill. By the time i was able to pull my rifle the bear appeared attacking me and my pack train  my horse rolled with me partially down the hill The bear continued the attack on my pack horses causing them to crash all the way down the hill in to a small creek two were killed in the fall one horse still alive  was trapped under a dead horse.  i made my way down and rescued  her by cutting all  the hitching she was torn up by the bear. I had a broken rib and bruised was very lucky. The area was extremely thick with buck brush and the bear was still in the vicinity. I could hear it but wasn't able to see it. I managed to get the wounded horses back up the hill to where my riding horse was. Of the 5 horses i had my riding horse and 4 pack horses  two were killed and two wounded.  I managed to get to my spike camp and dealt with the wounded horses for the next 2 weeks.   Few days later i returned to the attack site to retrieve my pack saddles and panniers from the dead horses. \i knew the bear  would be there but i needed the supplies. I watched for 2 or so hours from above even though i could hear the bear i could not see it .  venturing to the other side of the creek up high but same no visual.  I slowly made my way down and when i was within 50 feet of the dead horses i could hear the bear but still couldn't see it  i fired two shots to temporarily deafen the bear and  hope it would depart but when a bear claims a kill thats usually a bad situation.  In this case the bear had attempted to bury the horses and and started consuming one of the horses.  After the shot i heard it crashing  in the opposite direction . i headed to the horses retrieved my gear and returned to my spike camp.  After my horses mended enough i spent six days to get out of the mountains.  i reported the attack and location so that they could deal with the bear as i was concerned if any other hunter or back country adventurer where to come near the bears kill  it may very well attack defending its kill. my thoughts all along was that the bear was malnourished  had mistaken my horses for elk moving thru the buck brush but once blood was drawn it was too late. Had the bear seen me and the horses before it was right on us i think it would not of attacked and retreated It was the perfect storm and I dont blame the bear.