I'm trying to tick off the mountains right around Revelstoke. Between Begbie and Blanket is Mulvehill. A long jagged ridge, road acess to 1500m but a 7km approach into the alpine lake just south of the main peak. So I took 3 days and did some stupid bush wacking. After 5 hours I got to an amazing lake. The next morning had some great fun walking through glacier torn areas and then up a long snow slop to the top of Mulvehill 2660m.
Gorgeous day! Peaceful and quiet. I started to head down with my eyes on an unnamed peak a couple of km north. Just down the ridge there was a notch to climb down into and then out of.
Coming out of notch I was met by 2 grizzlies only 30ft away. Normally in telling these stories you say something like "I first thought..." But I didn't even have time to think. The closer bear was just as frieghtened as I and instantly charged. I back up, started banging my ski pole and ice ax together while yelling "no, no, no!" I would like to think it was a commanding "No!" But I think it was more a pathetic plea.
After only a second or two the grizzly was close, I held my ice ax point out towards its face. In my day dreams of this situation I was always bravely wielding the ax and bringing it down on its head. Now I was fencing with a bear. One more step and my thought was to poke it in the face. Thank God I didn't get that chance, the bear turned and took off.
I let out a breath and then a good hearty laugh.
The bears went the direction I wanted to go. I started that way but looking at the fresh snow on the steep sub peak I wanted to traverse I thought I'd leave that for anther day.
A quick jump down the snow and then a couple hours of walking south took me up Castor peak and looked down at the lakes and cabin at the base of Blanket Glacier.
I slept well that night despite the bear encounter.
The next morning was a good hike out. I stayed high to aviod the bush but it is still a long ways. oh, and I forgot spare batteries for my gps which made finding the car fun in the middle of the forrest.

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That's quite an encounter! Definitely one to remember. Cool trip and great scenery.

Wow! good writeup of your encounter. I've often thought about that very scenario where I have to try and poke a bear with my hiking poles to keep it away haha! Kinda like bull fighting, I know it'll be pointless but good to hear it "might" just work as it did in your case.

There were two about two years old which has been chased away by their mother when she gets pregnant again. They ostly are totally confused as they have to look for their own food and do not know what happened to them. They come sometimes near the house but than take off to look for their own territory, not dangerous at all. By the way: Thank you for not littering or spoil Mulvehill Creek in any way, it's where our drinking water comes from. René (co-owner of Mulvehill Creek Wilderness Inn)

Wow that is one bear encounter to remember all time.

Glad you enjoyed your hike, stayed safe, and got out to share this adventure with us. Beautiful shots.

K

I used to daydream about fighting a griz with a chainsaw but never got anywhere close to acting any of the scenarios out. Great story (now that you've lived through it).

Bear encounter aside, looks like you had some great scenery.