One of my favorite animals is the grizzly bear - Ursus arctos horribilis. The Latin name kinda tells you all you need to know about bumping into these beasts. "Horribilis" can be translated to terrifying, amazing, horrific, monstrous, and astounding. I think grizzlies are all of those things.
As someone who loves to backcountry camp and has done it frequently in grizzly territory, I recognize the respect I must hold for them. I take every precaution in the woods when I know these mighty bruins could be near. I keep my bear spray in arms reach. I hang my food. I don't cook where I sleep. I don't keep anything with a scent near the tent. I don't wear the clothes I cooked in into my sleeping bag. More than anything - I am AWARE.
A former ranger friend of mine told me the coolest thing about hiking and camping in griz country is that you're senses are naturally heightened. You can smell, hear, almost even see better. I've carried that message every time I've spent nights in the backcountry in range of these bears that have the potential to be lethal. It really is so true. I feel so much more present in places like this- where the risk of the wild still lives. It's instinctual. And exhilarating.
Anyone else spend much time in grizzly country? What do you like/dislike about it?