[pct-l] bears . . . I'm not biting this time

[CMountainDave at aol.com (CMountainDave@xxxxxxx)]

In a message dated 12/31/03 12:29:01 PM, kdpo@pacbell.net writes:

<< As for black bears, we have seen 6 or more on each

of our treks. Interestingly more on the AT  >>

I just love that story I heard on this list about a bear on AT they nicknamed 
Bouncing Betty. Story was that she would roam down the trail until she 
encountered a hiker and then started bouncing up and down. This bizarre behavior so 
unnerved many hikers that they dropped their packs and ran. She then helped 
herself to the goodies. Probably a non urban legend.
  One other time in the Olympics we were about to cross a slope and could see 
a bear several hundred yards downhill just grazing away. The two lead guys 
were halfway across the meadowed hill when suddenly the bear reared up and RAN 
up that steep hill at a speed that I never would have believed was possible. He 
stopped about 10 feet from them, reared up sniffed the air and then ran back 
down hill just as fast. The only thing we could think of was that he thought 
another bear was challenging his domain (they have lousy eyesight). But it goes 
to show how wary of people they normally are. He wanted nothing to do with us