No matter how much experience you have out in the wild, you never quite know when you might be face to face with one of the most intimidating creatures on the planet. One hiker and her group found out just how valuable having an experienced guide can be in the wilderness when they got a shocking up-close look at a grizzly bear.
British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest is home to some beautiful scenery and wildlife, but thank goodness this sage guide of hikers had a steadying voice to keep them safe. Otherwise, the exchange between the hiking group and the wild grizzly bear in a video that’s been making the rounds could’ve gone south real quick.
Seriously, this is pretty intense. Knowing that multiple other people are in close proximity during this encounter makes it all the more scary. Right from the start, the grizzly bear explodes into the frame. The way the majestic creature tears through the water is the stuff of S-tier aquatic sound design that would have James Cameron giddy.
The woman taking the video indicates in the caption that she’d never seen a grizzly bear in the wild before this bonkers situation. Again, thank goodness she was with a seasoned hiking leader to help navigate the literally choppy waters.
According to British Columbia’s Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, the province’s grizzly bears are supposed to go into hibernation sometime in October or November. In the weeks before they go down for the long nap, bears engage in a weeks-long overeating phase called hyperphagia so that they’re plenty full for their lengthy down time. However, those hibernation periods can vary based on the type of grizzly.
Sounds like in this case we had a very hungry bear who had just gotten up from its months-long hibernation to chow down. That only adds stakes to the situation, and makes me more impressed with the hiking guide who somehow talked down this fussy furry mammal. For real though, she’s talking to the grizzly like I’d talk to my family dogs. Aren’t you supposed to try to get big and look as physically imposing as possible? Maybe that’s if you’re on your own. Couldn’t risk any sort of antagonizing with the group around.
Grizzlies have especially keen senses of smell and hearing. If I were in that hiking group and packed, like, some basic trail mix, I’d have been shaking in my boots! No clue how many people were in said group, but they deserve a round of applause for not yelling or panicking at all, or at least enough to agitate the bear.
The hiking videographer Sarah Sekula provides a lot of other cool context to this trek through nature. It was mandatory that her group had a guide, and any prospective outfitters who want to go to the Great Bear Rainforest must be cleared by the indigenous Kitasoo Xai’xais tribe.
I’m sure if the hikers got the privilege to hit the trails, they must’ve had a primer of sorts on what to do in the event of a grizzly bear encounter. The main basic points are to not mess with them. They’ll be avoidant most of the time and won’t attack unless provoked.
Thought it’d be cool to end by mentioning that there’s a documentary on the Great Bear Rainforest. You can stream it for free on Pluto TV. See the trailer below.
