Saturday's bear attack is only the second in the school's history, and the only mauling involving a grizzly, Palmer said. In 2003, a black bear wandered into a camp in Utah and bit a student, he said.
Given there have probably been thousands of NOLS courses in the American west, with course lengths lasting from 14 to 90 days, I think their record with bear attacks is probably below average for the number of days spent in the wilderness. Most bear problems come from people not being careful with food, something NOLS training works to prevent. But sometimes bad stuff just happens - such as walking between a sow and her cubs. I am not sure how 50 cal handguns would have made a difference here, as it seems the teens panicked all around. Not that I blame them, I blame NOLS for not having at least one adult with them.
The lesson is about...."Picking your crossing"...These are kids...not SEALS.