[Paddlewise] My first encounter with a black bear

Actually, with a mother and cub (estimated at about
1.5 years old).

I went camping on Friday up at Kidd Lake (about 80
miles east of Sacramento) and was planning on staying
until Wednesday.  Its a beautiful place.  I was there
last year with the same group  Marin Canoe and Kayak
Club.  Theyve been going for years and havent had a
bear encounter, even though the caretaker always warns
that its a possibility.  And this time there were
prints in the mud and scat in one of the campgrounds. 
Anything with an odor went in the trunk of the car 
food, toothpaste, chapstick, etc.

Friday night was just fine.  We had our happy hour
and then went back to our individual campsites for
dinner.  I read, did some Soduko puzzles, and went to
bed pretty early.

Saturday involved some hiking, paddling, and being
lazy in the sun with a book.  After dinner we had a
gathering at the central campfire and sang songs.  It
was so great.  I was beginning to relax after a busy
summer of working two jobs.

About 10pm I went to bed.  About 11:30 I woke up to
what I thought was someone getting in to their car. 
My tent was about 50 feet from where we parked our
cars.  It made it easier for getting the food out of
the trunk every day.

As I listened, I realized that the noise was not
someone getting in to their car.  It was clearly
something pushing on a car and rocking it back and
forth.  It sounded like plastic was being pushed in
and out.  I froze in my bed as it dawned on me that
this was a bear trying to get in to a car.  My heart
was beating fast, my mouth went dry, the adrenaline
was shooting through my body and all my senses were on
extra alert.  And I was so hoping that it was not my
car.  Then I heard the glass shatter.  I cannot
express the terror that I felt.  I did not move for
fear of attracting attention to my tent.

As I continued to listen, I heard the bear rustling
around with (what I now know is) a plastic bag.  Then
I heard the whistle.  Another camper, Richard (whose
tent was just next to the parking lot), was able to
shoo off the bear by blowing on his whistle.  Later,
he described this bear as the adolescent.  About 5
minutes later, the bear was back.  Or rather, the
mother came around.  Richard blew on his whistle and
he said that Mom just stood there, on all fours,
looking at him.  So he set off his car alarm, and that
got her moving.

A few minutes later I could tell that there were a few
flashlights out in the parking lot, so I decided to go
out there and try to alleviate some of my fear.  As I
walked I was trembling and just scared out of my wits.
 It was pitch dark, and I have never experienced this
before, so I had no idea what to do or what to expect.
 I kept remembering the story about the man who lived
with the bears and they finally attacked and killed
him.  I was really not in the mood to be attacked.

When I got to the parking lot, Richard and Alan were
there looking at the damage.  Thankfully, it was not
my car.  It turned out to be a minivan, and the owner
had left the windows cracked and there was food
inside.  Apparently, he had not taken it seriously
when told about the bears earlier.

After talking with Richard and Alan for a few minutes
I went back to my tent.  They were so nonchalant about
the situation, I was amazed.  And still very afraid. 
Of course I didnt sleep.  My senses were still on
high alert.  I heard some people opening and closing
the side door of the minivan.  The owners were
cleaning up the best they could for the rest of the
night, and they put one of their coolers in the toilet
room.

Well, it wasnt over.  After the flashlights were
gone, about ten minutes later, I heard a very large
something take a leap and land with a large thud
what seemed like 20 feet from my tent.  Oh my gawd! 
My heart stopped.  I still cannot express the terror I
felt.  I had nothing in my tent to defend myself or to
make noise with.  What was I going to do if this bear
(or bears) decided my tent was interesting?

For a few minutes I heard nothing.  Not the best when
you know they are around.  Then I heard some pots and
pans being nuzzled and falling to the ground at nearby
tables.

I couldnt sleep and I dared not move.  I was just
frozen in my bed staring at the walls of my tent for
shadows and waiting for the sun to come up.

Finally, I went to sleep for a few hours and woke up
around 6am.  I dressed, got out of my tent and went to
talk to people.  As you can imagine, I cut my trip
short.  I knew that I couldnt sleep at night if I
stayed.

Keep in mind that I never actually saw these bears. 
With as scared as I was from just hearing them and
knowing they were so close, I have no idea what would
have happened if I had actually seen them.  You know,
like had I gone to the bathroom and saw them as I was
walking back to my tent.

What amazes me still is how nonchalant most everybody
was.  They only want the food, so dont have any in
your tent.  Oh, it was just a bear.  Ive been
around them lots in Yosemite.

Ill tell you, I dont want to give up camping so Im
going to do some research and see what I can do to be
better prepared.  But I hope to never take a bear
encounter in stride.


Shannon


       
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