NOSE TO NOSE WITH AN ALASKAN BROWN BEAR
When hiking in Alaska, you’ll find safety signs about bears everywhere. They give essential advice such as:
- Travel in groups
- Stay together
- Make noise so the bear can hear you
- Stay calm
- Don’t run
- Keep at least 300 yards away from a bear
Unfortunately, bears can’t read, and the one we encountered during a group bike ride in Haines, Alaska, didn’t keep its distance. I was a last-minute addition to this bike excursion during our cruise in August. The weather was windy, chilly, and wet, so the bike company provided yellow slickers, safety helmets, and waterproof gloves. During the pre-ride briefing, our guide, Tom, assured us that we had zero chance of encountering a bear. He’d been leading these rides for years and expected we’d see them from afar, perhaps fishing for salmon in the river. Luckily, he was prepared when his prediction proved wrong.
We had just ridden into Chilkat Lake State Park and stopped at a scenic overlook near the river. As we stood there with our bikes, an adolescent brown bear—estimated to be about 300 pounds—slowly and calmly lumbered down the road toward us. We were behind a low wall, about hip height, when the bear approached it. Our guide reached for his bear spray, reminding us to stay calm, keep together, and mstay behind him. He gently spoke to the bear, encouraging it to head down to the river and fish for salmon. The bear didn’t change its pace and passed right by the wall—so close that some of us could have touched its huge brown back. It continued down the riverbank, and for a moment we watched. But when it looked like the bear just might double back, we hopped on our bikes and quickly got out of there. It was a thrilling and scary, once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m glad I was there—and had my cell ready to snap some incredible photos as proof of our “nose-to-nose” encounter!
ALASKAN ADVENTURE: A JOURNEY TO REMEMBER
Despite many cold and overcast days during our Inner Passage cruise, we were fortunate to experience a few crystal-clear, blue-sky days that allowed us to fully appreciate the breathtaking beauty of Alaska. Our guides were thrilled to point out the vibrant fall colors set against the snow-capped Denali Mountain —an extraordinary sight that only a lucky few visitors get to witness. Even during our stop on Hurricane Bridge, the train staff couldn’t resist snapping photos of the stunning landscape, which only about 10% of travelers are fortunate enough to see under these clear weather conditions. As an unexpected bonus, the lodge treated us to a 2 a.m. wake-up call, urging us outside to witness the magic of the Northern Lights dancing across the sky. This adventure will undoubtedly be a cherished memory for years to come.
