Imagine you’re out hiking, enjoying the fresh air and beautiful scenery, when suddenly, WHAM!
A grizzly bear shows up and turns your nice walk into a thrilling experience. That’s exactly what happened to Amanda Wylie. Now, I’ve hiked a lot of trails myself, and while I really appreciate nature, I definitely don’t want to meet a bear up close.
I mean, seriously, that’s a little too much excitement for a regular Tuesday, right? But Amanda, with her adventurous spirit, got to experience nature’s wild side firsthand.
She was hiking in Glacier National Park, which is famous for its breathtaking views but also for having a lot of wildlife.
As she went further into the park, she noticed signs of animals around her – those fresh bear tracks made her heart race a little.
But being a smart hiker, she kept going, her senses on high alert and her heart beating fast with a mix of excitement and a bit of fear. Then, out of nowhere, she saw something move in the bushes.
Suddenly, the prairie dog did a complete turn, and that’s when the adrenaline kicked in. Before she knew it, there was a grizzly bear standing tall on its hind legs.
Can you imagine how scared she must have been? I’d probably be too scared to move! But Amanda, luckily, stayed calm. She slowly backed away and took out her bear spray. As she shared on TikTok:
“I took out my bear spray, got low and backed away slowly from the bear. I talked to him nice and once I felt a safe enough distance away, I got my phone out to record wondering if these would be my last moments.”
Fortunately, after a few moments, the bear decided to leave and wandered off, letting Amanda try to regain her composure.
I have to say, it was really close, like a scary moment that could have turned out badly. But at least she has an amazing story to tell, as she mentioned:
“Once he turned away, I rejoiced, knowing I would live to see another day and have an amazing encounter story to share.”
So, the next time you go hiking, my advice is to consider leaving your earbuds behind and watch out for any surprises. And if you see a bear, just remember, it’s not the right time for a selfie!
@twobraidsontrail July 4th I had my first Grizzly encounter… I noticed Bear tracks in the mud, fresh scat, and dug up roots. I kept my eyes peeled but saw no threat and kept hiking. I listen for the birds and smaller animals to warn me of a bigger threat based on their actions. That's when I watch a prairie dog leap from my right side, to the left side of the trail I thought to myself: how many bears have seen me while I haven't seen them?I look to my right to find a grizzly 2x my size on his hind legs, paws up. Terrified, I reminded myself not to run and said aloud "oh my god, it's happening." The safety video I watched before getting my backcountry permit immediately played in my mind. I took out my bear spray, got low and backed away slowly from the bear. I talked to him nice and once I felt a safe enough distance away, I got my phone out to record wondering if these would be my last moments. Any sudden or unexpected behaviors by me could have turned this curious grizzly into a defensive one. He followed me down the trail, off the trail and eventually shook his body, which let me know I could relax a little. Once he turned away I rejoiced, knowing I would live to see another day and have an amazing encounter story to share. After all is said and done, l'd still choose the bear. #manvsbear #glaciernationalpark #montana #bearcountry #grizzlybear ♬ original sound – TwoBraidsOnTrail