A Very Cool Close Encounter

TreeGuy · #1 07-24-2011, 09:33 PM

The 'Shrubs' got to see their first ever wild grizzly's this afternoon down near the turnoff to the Kananaskis Lakes.

While being only 75 yards away from a big, beautiful sow and cub was a bit perplexing, she paid us no attention and was incredibly relaxed. Deffinately 5 minutes we'll never forget!

Thought you guys would like to see some of the better pics (gotta get a better camera that deals with a somewhat 'shaky' hand though! Although I wasn't the only one on high alert! lol). Enjoy.

Tree

gramps73 · #2 07-24-2011, 09:36 PM

Very cool indeed, never the less I bet it was a little un nerving...
Great pictures.

Stop Staring at my Rack · #3 07-24-2011, 09:37 PM

Neat pics Tree! Thank you for sharing...

Drop_Tine · #4 07-24-2011, 09:40 PM

Yeah that's crazy.... Cool pics as well ..... Encounters like that are one in a million!!!

creeky · #5 07-24-2011, 10:03 PM

nice pics, looks like you had an awesome day!

Rigby · #6 07-24-2011, 10:08 PM

Wow what a cool experience! Nice pics thanks for sharing.

Rockymtnx · #7 07-24-2011, 10:09 PM

Great to see!
Thanks for sharing TreeGuy.

HunterDave · #8 07-24-2011, 10:31 PM

Nice pics! I take it that you were on foot? How hard was it to take the pictures while you were walking backwards?

mudbug · #9 07-24-2011, 10:39 PM

Great pictures

blackmamba · #10 07-24-2011, 10:44 PM

hey tree ,
great pics !! I also have pics of the same set of grizzlies from last week ( or I think they are since there is only 13 of them in the province

)..

They didn t have a care in the world that we were their either , nice to see them just doing there thing ... great pics and thanks for posting

mamba

Alberta Bigbore · #11 07-24-2011, 10:49 PM

nice pics.. that moose looks tasty

alacringa · #12 07-24-2011, 11:07 PM

Very nice...quite a few Grizzlies out that way. Ran into a couple last weekend, and saw LOTS of tracks...of both species of bear. Your kids are lucky. I didn't see my first Grizz until I was 31!

BobLoblaw · #13 07-25-2011, 12:06 AM

Very nice, Treedude!
Up until a few weeks ago, I'd only seen 2 grizzlies in the wild in my 46 years.
Then, we saw one ambling along the river near Field, B.C.
My daughter took a few pics from the safety of the car...

We watched for several minutes as this bruin moseyed along, seemingly carefree as could be.
Then, last weekend we saw a momma with 3 cubs near the Kananaskis Lakes turnoff. Man, them littl'uns can climb the crap out of a tree! We had a good view of one as it climbed WAAAAYYY up a tree, back down, & up again; got glimpses of the other 2 climbing the tree next to it.
My kid got a few pics; if she ever gets around to putting them into the 'puter, I'll try to find 'em & post 'em up. I got some decent video on my new Hi-Def camcorder; I'm a bit of a techno-tard, but eventually I'll figger out how to post that up, as well.
Again, it was nice to see this down over an embankment, from the safety of the car; I would not consider it a "cool close encounter" if we had walked up on this family!

Reeves1 · #14 07-25-2011, 04:16 AM

Cool pics & must have been a special moment for the shrubs as well !

flyguyd · #15 07-25-2011, 05:05 AM

Awesome pics Tree, thanks for sharing .

alpineguy · #16 07-25-2011, 06:11 AM

Great shots Tree. Thanks for posting them.

TheCReW · #17 07-25-2011, 07:30 AM

Awesome! We have yet to see one, but must be a heck of a thrill. Great pics.

Albertadiver · #18 07-25-2011, 08:09 AM

Glad the shrubs got to see those!

They're getting to be a dime a dozen in K-country.... wonder how long it will take till someone whose not 'bear aware' has an encounter that's too close?

chubbdarter · #19 07-25-2011, 11:31 AM

Great pics .....sorry again for missing you this week-end Tree

Almer Fudd · #20 07-25-2011, 01:48 PM

Great pictures and great experience for all.

Thanks for sharing
Were you in your vehicle or hiking?

TreeGuy · #21 07-25-2011, 05:46 PM

Glad ya liked the pics folks.

The bears were initially spotted from the road. After finding a safe spot to pull off, I walked back to them. Exageration by slight ommision.

2wtKarmaBoy, cool pics man. Hopefully you can get ahold of the ones of the sow with the triplets and post 'em up.

'Mamba, can you post your shots too when you get a chance? I know someone who saw the pics and thought he had seen the same bear, just without the cub in about the exact same place. After looking at the pic it was definately yet another different bear. Lot's of them out there right now with lots of cubs too.

dodger · #22 07-25-2011, 06:39 PM

Thanks for the pics !!
Dodger.