Posted on 06/25/2013 2:14:42 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Last Saturday, Banff mechanic Tim Bartlett was christening a new motorcycle through the Rocky Mountains when he had a rare wildlife encounter that was equal parts terrifying and enchanting. On a stretch of British Columbias Highway 93, a massive grey wolf emerged from the trees, lunged at his speeding ride and chased after him at full speed as he pulled away.
The story would have become little more than another legend clanging around the roadhouses of Western Canada if Mr. Bartlett had not whipped a camera out of his top pocket to record the event for posterity; capturing a series of rare snapshots that have since been beamed around the world. The Posts Tristin Hopper reached him by phone on Friday morning.
How did this happen?
I was about 320 [kilometers] into a 400 k trip and was doing about 90km/h in the right hand lane going north and [the wolf] came from the left hand side of the road. It darted out, crossed the other lane and I had to swerve and accelerate to get around it. I went forward about 100 meters and when I turned around it was just standing in the middle of the lane watching me.
How close did it get to you? It was coming at me. It probably got to within a couple meters, easy, maybe a meter. If Id have slowed down I would have definitely hit it, so I just opened it up, got a bit of power and got around it. Ive had dogs run out at me on bikes before and you sort of get a feel for the distance the speed youre going, but it was pretty tight.
But after youd gotten some distance between you, thats when you pulled around for a closer look?
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...
Oh look, he wants to play!
I guess he heard "Dances with Wolves" was going to Broadway ...
Yeah, he wants to play alright.
Play with your spleen.
I guess that’s why doctors call it a murdrcycle.
I guess that’s why doctors call it a murdrcycle.
Meat is meat.
What was the matter with the guy in the Ford. I’d have run the doggie over, threw it in back and stuffed it. Tell my buddies, “That’s what you get for F’ng with ME.”
In that area you are part of the food chain on not necessarily on the top.
I saw an elephant in my pajamas ...
I wouldn’t call the wolf “massive.” it looks like an ordinary wolf.
Poor wolf, all those calories expended and no meal.
What beautiful animals. (even if they want to eat you)
True story. I was a 12 year old paperboy in Alaska, out at the end of town where the roads aren’t paved. One part of the route was a long curved road. After delivering up the road. On the return I’d cut cross country over a clear cut section of the forest. One day a wolf came out of the woods and stalked me for about three hundred yards, walking not quite parallel, slowly closing the gap to cut me off before I could get to safety. Running wouldn’t help. Finally, when it was only about 20 feet away, I turned to confront the wolf. I’d picked up some rocks and tried to make myself look as big as i could. We had a stare down for a few minutes before he backed off and left for easier prey.
What big motorcycle you have.
It came complementary with a meal.
I bet it would look bigger if it was chasing you.
I bet it would look bigger if it was chasing you.
Is that a direwolf?
Cute wolf. I am a lot more afraid of deer though when I am riding. But soccer moms on cell phones are probably the most dangerous of all.
Dumb dog. That’s a good way to become roadkill. Or maybe he just has a habit of doing that sort of thing.
"There wolf!"
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