Now that summer is around the corner, people already have plans for doing some serious summer camping. At an evening program at the home of Nandini Kishori, there was a sizeable gathering of especially young boys and girls, all of bhakti yoga parents. I was asked to share stories about my adventurous walks; the most intriguing one was about the grizzly encounter. There was also the time when a brahmachari and I met up with a black bear, whom, we were not aware, had her cubs nearby. She was munching on wild strawberries and I guess you could say we happened to be there at the time of her breakfast. We were imposing on her leisure-time and she let us know about it. She got up on her hind legs looking tall, then she lunged forward on what is called a "bluff charge." We casually and respectfully moved out of her way and went down the trail.
The things that I learned from park authorities on the subject and personal experience with bears are as follows: 1) when you encounter a bear respect it and go backwards in a slow retreat 2) avoid looking at it in the eye 3) never run away as you are inviting the bear to charge 4) to fight off a black bear, strike it in the nose 5) play dead with a grizzly, head down with your hands to the back of your neck 6) carry bear spray and you may avoid #5 7) when walking through bear country make noise, let them know you're coming—or as I do, chant mantras audibly to warn them.
Those are some tips for those planning a wilderness trip of some kind.
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