Grizzlies to eat hippies and other unwanted

[num1mc]

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024363037_grizzlyrecoveryxml.html

[Pete_H]

Grizzlies only eat hippies if they're really really hungry since hippies taste like patchouli and the dreadlocks get stuck in their teeth.

[JasonG]

I spent a few years working in the woods of AK and MT and had a fair number of unpleasant grizzly/brown bear encounters, a friend mauled, etc. Near as I can tell, their scientific name is pretty much spot on. I can't say I'm a fan of the reintroduction efforts.

 

Although I'm sure it would add to the excitement of alpine climbing in the North Cascades.

[Pete_H]

I'd also rather see the money used for this spent on road and trail maintenance

[dave schultz]

I'm not a fan of bringing them back to the North Cascades; their presence in Wyoming and Canada has been a big reason I have not done much in those areas during the summer months. It will be interesting to see how this thing plays out over the next several years, and hopefully their option of no action prevails.

[dfrost]

Maybe I'm missing something, but aren't there grizzly in the North Cascades already? I seem to recall confirmed sighting and tracks just a few years ago.

[tvashtarkatena]

I'm not a fan of bringing them back to the North Cascades; their presence in Wyoming and Canada has been a big reason I have not done much in those areas during the summer months. It will be interesting to see how this thing plays out over the next several years, and hopefully their option of no action prevails.

 

Thanks for keeping Wyoming's awesome routes less crowded for guys like me!

 

While bears are a common sight in the Tetons (no big) - it's pretty rare to see one in the Cirque and other more frequented areas of the Winds.

 

Me? I'm a bit more concerned with dangers I actually have to face there. Like lighting, for example.

[JasonG]

I'm a bit more concerned with dangers I actually have to face there. Like lighting, for example.

 

I agree, forgetting your headlamp is pretty bad.

[tvashtarkatena]

The danger of an under or overexposed photo cannot be underestimated.

[num1mc]

 

While bears are a common sight in the Tetons (no big) - it's pretty rare to see one in the Cirque and other more frequented areas of the Winds.

 

Nowadays it is.

 

Not too long ago, the Cirque was bear heaven

[DPS]

Da bears.

[dave schultz]

 

Every other danger is more real, but one bad experience with a bear has resulted in a horrible phobia that simply doesn't come into play here in PNW because there are so very few of them. I'm not a fan of ridding them off, but here where they aren't preveleant and haven't been for many years (if ever) it seems against nature to bring them back in - especially when they are doing well at other areas. Let's face it, the Wyoming and Canadian bears are in not in any danger of loosing population anymore - why attempt to establish a population that was not ever largely established and that was not lost due to human encroachment.

[Pete_H]

their presence in Wyoming and Canada has been a big reason I have not done much in those areas during the summer months.

 

Yeah me too. I definitely would have soloed the North face of the North Twin by now if it wasn't for the grizzly bears.

[Pete_H]

I'm not really too scared myself about the grizzly bears. I'll be scared when they start introducing sharks, especially Great Whites, into the North Cascades. That will suck.

[ivan]

first the grizzlies, then the fucking t-rexes - i say we take a stand here

[tvashtarkatena]

More grizz = faster ascents.

[JasonG]

Dave-

 

There were quite a few grizzlies out here before we shot them all. Read the journals of Lewis and Clark, or talk to the area tribes.

 

http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/history/

 

But I'm a selfish bastard, and prefer dealing with the much more predictable black bears.

[pink]

The danger of an under or overexposed photo cannot be underestimated.

 

 

or an underexposed chick, that you might be photographing

[dave schultz]

Dave-

 

There were quite a few grizzlies out here before we shot them all. Read the journals of Lewis and Clark, or talk to the area tribes.

 

http://westernwildlife.org/grizzly-bear-outreach-project/history/

 

But I'm a selfish bastard, and prefer dealing with the much more predictable black bears.

 

Jason - Good info, thanks. I didn't realize the extent that they were previously here in the PNW pre-1950. I knew they were here, and to some extent still are, but I was making my references to the last 50 or so years where they have very low populations, and didn't receive the publicity and population recovery of the Canadian Rockies and Yellowstone region (TONS of books about those regions and the bear recovery/attack aspects).

 

Again, it will be interesting to see the direction the government agencies decide to go when it's time for them to make a decision.

[ivan]

The danger of an under or overexposed photo cannot be underestimated.

 

 

or an underexposed chick, that you might be photographing

they're all just asking for it

[Jake_Gano]

 

Get over it. Make some noise (bells, etc.), carry some spray, be smart, pay attention, don't wear headphones.

 

Not to sound blase, but there are a lot of dangers in the mountains that more likely to kill you and are harder to mitigate than bears.

 

 

 

 

 

[JasonG]

But, but...... those bear canisters are so unwieldy!

 

 

[tvashtarkatena]

If he's sleeping, switch the GoPro on and gently pet him.

[ivan]

But, but...... those bear canisters are so unwieldy!

 

shiiiit, far easier to put yer partners nasty climbing shoes in w/ the food n' leave the can at home - ain't no animal alive nasty enough to want to get a piece of mine or most of my people's feet

[Fairweather]

The truly dangerous omnivores usually hang out closer to the trail head. I have no problem reintroducing grizzlies--or wolves--back into the places they once lived. As long as it doesn't result in closures or restricted access.