Because Black Bears are excellent climbers. However it is always worth a crack Trev.
If you see a grizzly throw yourself at his feet and assume a star shape so he can’t roll you over. How this is useful I am not entirely sure but the little wildlife preparedness card in our Motel room tells us so.
If you see a cougar do not break eye contact. I am not sure exactly how long one must engage in a staring contest with the big cat who I am assured has really nasty breath as they do not floss, but I think he has to blink first then you can shake hands (paws) say great game mate and be on your way.
And always stay at least three bus lengths away from an elk. “Stay right there Elk,” you must call out. “The wildife information card says three bus lengths”. If he asks whether you mean Chicago buses or those long bendy London Buses then you have met a sassy Elk and it is best to climb a tree. Unless there is a black bear in the tree already. Then you might like to try eye contact. Or maybe throw the information card at said Elk to frighten it away with words. Words are powerful you know.
Simple really.
Keeping all this in mind have a lovely walk in the forest around the outskirts of Canmore.
Beautiful.
Good morning. The best thing for a hang-over (not that I would know as after you turn 40 you don’t get them anymore) is a good walk. I have tested this theory frequently since I turned 40, um, some time ago. So a good walk was had by all.
Though I don’t think we thought enough about elevation a the symptoms of altitude sickness’ the repercussions of flying up all this way then landing here. Canmore is 4296 feet (1076 metres) up in the air, not too high, but Wellington where the others are from is at sea level, and the prairies are around 800 (120 metres) feet above sea level. So it is a consideration. Tiredness, nausea, lack of appetite and a headache are symptoms of mild altitude sickness. It feels like a hang over. (Or it is a hangover but at the wrong end of the party) Luckily I do not have any of these symptoms but one member of our party does. So I made a big potato salad, we went for a long walk, drunk heaps of water and green tea and then early to bed. Mama said. Hopefully everyone is back on form for today.
We have woken up to thunder and lightening and heavy rain. A good old storm. Without a car we have been walking everywhere so I hope it does not last too long!
Have a lovely day.
your friend celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Climbing Trees won’t save you from Black Bears”
And don’t carry food or sweets in your pockets whilst doing your little power walks. If you encounter a bear, they’ll try to pick your pockets. Stealth isn’t one of their strong points.
God god, imagine having your pockets picked by a bear, luckily i do not have a sweet tooth!
When I was travelling in Beleize the safety post in my hotel rooml advised me not to go to the beach after dark with a man I had known for less than 6 months. Kind of puts the dampner on a holiday romance when you have to make such a long term commitment!
This sounds really refreshing. And your sense of humour is alive and well. This sounds like recovery to me!
Around here they say if you see a black bear, make a lot of noise like bashing of pots and pans. We had one come into our campsite once and didn’t hang around to make any noise. The star shape made me roll my eyes. What lovely country and so happy you are having a lovely trip so far.
Oh Celi. Is beautiful!! Keep enjoying yourself and keeping us posted 😉
Thanks for the tips, by the way. I will keep them in mind 😉
G
The scenery is beautiful. I imagine all kinds of maladies are possible with the great distances some of the family have traveled.
While on a horseback pack in fishing trip in Colorado I had the misfortune to get stung by the altitude. No fun at all. The outfitter gave me a little yellow pill and after I had taken it he asked if I was allergic to anything (!) and then suggested I go directly to my tent. Best 14 hours of sleep I ever had! Worst of it is if it’s a hangover at least you figure you must’ve had a good time. Do you think the bears, elk and cougars read the same card?
It seems to be getting better now, thank goodness, just a mild case I think… c
What a quandary… it would be cool to see Black Bears, elk and cougars in the wild but also not such a good idea… (a surfer got whacked off his board over the weekend by a misplaced whale tail)… wildlife up close and personal not such a good idea. However your walk and surroundings hangover, altitude sickness or no, are stunning 😉
Oh Cinders, I think all of us are laughing our heads off at your version of ‘Stranger in the Rockies’: and how beautiful they are!! Glorious photos. But you can’t get away from four-legged critters, can you 🙂 ! After this all at home will seem like veritable pussycats! As for ‘hangovers’ [I wonder what they are 😉 !] . . . now I hit 40 kind’of earlier than you [hmmm!!!!] did and these days I can easily manage three times as much as before if I feel like it with never a headache or else . . .
Just recently there was a PBS program about bears and it stated not to try to out climb a black bear. As you walk, stomp and sing. The noise will scare off most things — including people who will think you crazy. That’s such beautiful country, Celi. Imagine a train ride through those mountains. 🙂
You are seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in our wonderful country. Sorry you don’t have time to see more of it – there are beautiful parts from the Pacific to the Atlantic to the North. While you’re having your coffee in bed in the morning (or settling down at night) you should check out the July 1st posting of http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog She is a Canadian treasure herself, and every July 1 (our equivalent to your July 4) she posts information about Canada. This year’s post includes links to previous July 1 posts, so you could really learn a ton about the country your son and his new wife are making their home in.
Enjoy your trip, but be safe around the wildlife.
Chris S. (a Canadian reader)
Thank you Chris, I am indeed sitting in bed right this minute having posted a page with your beautiful mountains. I shall zoom over to this blog and have a read. Lovely. Have a wonderful day! c
You sound so happy and relaxed – hurray….
Your delicious bear advice reminded me of a sixties game when we were asked what we would do if we were walking in a wood and a bear confronted us. Every one climbed trees, hid, ran off etc, and I caused a sensation by saying I’d offer it a pot of honey – obvious really, isn’t it… they are bears not just of little brain, but of sweet tooths…
I must take note of the bear advice in case I meet some in the city today! 😉
Wonderful to read about you enjoying family time is such wonderful surroundings!
Good morning Celi ; the black bear dont do to well transfering from tree to tree which a human can do quite well. just so you know. be a blessing mike
very good point mike! I shall practise my tarzan.. c
We loved our stay in Cranmore and our weather wasn’t good either. If you get a chance, take a trip to Moraine Lake, now that’s spectacular. It’s the photo on our old $20 bill!
It sounds like your having a lovely time, wild life and all.