Posted on 03/13/2017 4:45:16 PM PDT by SJackson
A reader visits a notorious site in Glacier National Park—and comes back with a story of his own.
Why did I get so infatuated with Trout Lake? First, some history: Back in 1967, on a single night, Glacier National Park had two fatal grizzly attacks. They were the first ones ever in the park. One of them was at Trout Lake.
Forty-three years later I was working at the park’s dispatch office and I found the original incident report. I’ll confess my brain doesn’t work like other people’s—I was soon convinced I needed to visit the place so I could see my first grizzly.
My first attempt was in early June and I got maybe 2.5 miles—halfway to the lake. I came to the top of Howe Ridge and it was just white—no trees, no nothing. I was alone. I turned around.
The second time, there was no snow on the ridge, but every 100 feet or so, there was a fresh pile of bear scat. Soon, I reached a slide path: Where the trail should have been was anyone’s guess because there was just debris. That was the end of trip number two.
I was frustrated but not defeated. For the third try, I went in the height of summer, intending to hike past Trout Lake to explore the waterfall-rich drainage behind it.
But really, I was hoping to see a grizzly. I was on my own, so I was being very cautious about the bear spray. Somebody I worked with told me that to really be prepared, I should make sure the safety was off. Otherwise, by the time I saw the bear, it’d be too late.
I got to the ridge where I’d lost the trail, no problem. I got to the place where the avy had been, no problem. I kept going and finally reached the lake. I was feeling good and decided to take pictures.
I had my tripod with me and I set it up near a creek to do a nice long exposure of one of the waterfalls. When I went to pack up, I heard hissing. What the hell? I thought. Is that a snake? I saw this cloud of orange coming at me and my eyes went wide with surprise. The bear spray I’d accidentally fired wafted in from point-blank range. I instantly started gasping and wheezing. I doubled over, my eyes burning and filling with water. It was like chopping the hottest pepper imaginable and rubbing it in your face. I crawled over to the creek and dunked my head as though it were on fire, which it was.
I stumbled down the trail, blind and breathless, stopping to soak my face in every creek I could see with my swollen eyes. It took me four hours to get back to my car, gasping and coughing.
So yes, I made it to Trout Lake that day, and even got to enjoy it for a minute before I blinded myself. I’ve hiked to many other lakes in Glacier since then, but that was the last time I went to Trout Lake. I think maybe I’m not supposed to be back there. Never did see a grizzly.
My parents (who camped in both Yellowstone and Glacier when they were newly married) bought a Super Blackhawk when they first came out.
Something they related to me is that some people can handle the recoil of a .44 Magnum better with the “hawgleg” design of a Super Blackhawk better than a modern S&W/Colt DA frame. Once they saw a shooter firing a S&W .44 Magnum at a range...they were holding it wrong, and the recoiling pistol split the web of the guy’s hand.
I’ve read that .38 Super was once marketed as an anti-bear cartridge for its high velocity...any thoughts on this?
Two words. Eye relief.
lol
Humans can be so rude. :)
When I was younger I noticed that the guys who really knew guns tended to carry .38 supers. It was probably as much a fad as anything else tho I guess it would be better than a lot.
If I could afford a new gun it probably would be a Glock, can’t recall the model number but the full size ones chambered for 10mm. They would seem to be a good choice for bears but the number of people who have actually had a lot of experience shooting them must be minuscule.
One of the best guns I ever owned and I have owned several hundred, was a Smith, model 57. About as good a choice for protection from large animals as any.
I looked over my shoulder once as I was running and I think Uncle Hortense was using the brush saw to cut Huckleberry branches.
I’m trying to remember if I ran faster from the bear or the bees that came roaring out after I cut into their nest in a fallen tree.
Try spraying them rascals with bear spray. That just ticks them off.
And I recall my parents talking about bear attacks at Glacier after they had been there. At least one of them was a woman...they said it was speculated that she was menstruating at the time, and the bear picked up on that somehow as a rival threat.
Fool can’t even carry a can of bear meal seasoning.
Pathetic.
To hell with hand guns.
If I’m going into THAT guy’s neighborhood I’m taking my 7.62 x 54R or at least a 12 gauge rifled slug gun.
LOL...no bear bell? :)
I doubt anyone could hear the bear bells inside that guy’s stomach.
Is now the time to *RIP Tim Treadwell*?
[image not treadwell; bear *brutus*]
LOL!
Bears love pepper spray. Adds spice to their meal.... you!
Exactly what I was thinking.
My FIL is an old Alaska teacher. Carried his pistol at school as hungry bears were known to come into town.
When he moved there the old timers told him that if you were attacked by a bear and you were carrying a .357 the only thing to do was to put it in your mouth a pull the trigger. Everyone carried a .44 mag and many loaded their own extra hot rounds.
He joked that the gun was pretty good at stopping running in the hallways too.
Well said. I love the big bear guys.....but....if it comes to me or him/her....I HOPE TO HECK I have prepared right. Up here, you never know.
I’d only go into bear country armed.
That said, I’d prefer a Karelian Bear Dog as my first line of defense.
Once they saw a shooter firing a S&W .44 Magnum at a range...they were holding it wrong, and the recoiling pistol split the web of the guy’s hand.>>>>>>>>>>
I can’t hold a S&W properly. To much distance from the back strap to the trigger, my trigger finger is then not long enough to squeeze properly with the gun lined up center web between thumb and forefinger.If an S&W would fit my hand, I would use one. But Colts and Rugers are about 1/4 inch shorter in that distance.
Also one should not fire a 44 magnum without a nice uninsulated thin leather glove.I use driving gloves. It keeps the best grip on the gun so it won’t roll back.Its not the scales or backstrap of the gun that can split the web of one’s hand, but the hammer rolling back into the web of ones grip. That can slice you between thumb and forefinger pretty badly.
I always fire with a two handed grip. To fire off handed would require hands the size of cabbages.I also know from experience that I can only fire 3 successive shots accurately , after that, my right hand goes wobbly.It takes about 7 minutes rest before I can fire another 3 rounds accurately.
But three rounds should be enough to dispatch any bear if one stands and shoots. Anyone who runs from a bear and then tries to fire a .44 magnum while out of breath is really asking to be eaten.
A .38 super just is not a heavy enough bullet.
The smallest pistol bullet anyone should use on a bear is a .44 magnum, and even then one should use hollow points.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.