A grizzly spray memory
If you check the 911 reports in the Daily Inter Lake, or any other state news source, you know it is getting fairly common for a few crooks and some “off center” dingbats to use bear spray for other purposes. It is a growing “weapon of choice” in wild domestic fights as well as occasional attempted criminal activity.
There were a couple of those incidents already this month in the Flathead and that led the Over the Hill Gang coffee group to recall our first bad experience with that normally lifesaving stuff. It so happens, that experience was covered in my column of June 7, 1989. Have a read:
How ironic! It was just a year ago when a Missoula County sheriff’s deputy made headlines when he accidentally triggered one of those pressurized bear repellant cans and completely emptied out the county court house.
Last Thursday, the Over the Hill Gang decided to hike over that steep ridge between Lake McDonald and the remote Camas Valley of Glacier Park. ‘Twas a fine morning as we prepared to leave our cars at the West Lakes Trailhead. Fresh spring aromas of blooming flowers and cedar trees filled the air. We were “happy hikers.”
My son Shannon and I were about 100 feet from the others, lacing our boots, when unexpected chaos erupted. All I could hear was sudden frenzied coughing and gagging as seven wise and mature men staggered and rolled around like a bunch of drunks. There was no clue as to what the trouble was, so I started towards them, but one teeny tiny whiff of something scary sent me scrambling. Shannon later said I actually spun some gravel.
The facts soon emerged. We were headed into a well-known grizzly hangout, including the scene of the fatal attack at Trout Lake. One of the “boys” was worried his bear repellant might not be working. “Better safe than sorry,” as he gave it a small test…just pointed the thing away from himself and lightly touched the trigger. He detected no noticeable wind at the time but, alas, there was a slight breeze towards the others.
Now, we all know what emptied the big Missoula County Courthouse and why. Compared to bear spray, tear gas is the dainty lilac breath of an angel. All agree that when it hits, you instantly cannot talk. I feel fortunate we had two doctors along to share this exciting interlude. If you ever get bear sprayed, Doctors Gibson and Palchak can give details.
After all the coughing and wheezing had finally stopped, we had a great 12-mile hike. There could possibly be nothing in the world like a good snort of griz repellant to open up a fella’s sinuses and stimulate the respiratory system.
Thursday morning’s adventure was probably a valuable and unique experience, however, some of the gang members have joked (half seriously) that it might be better to take their chances with an ornery grizzly than absorb another good whiff of that stuff. Others thought a good whiff could trigger a “fright recall adrenaline reaction” which would enable them to leave even the fastest griz in the dust.
2018 epilogue – The gang has had a few other brushes with unplanned triggering events over the years, but we all know that first unplanned time was something we will never forget or fully forgive Ivan O’Neil for causing.
G. George Ostrom is an award winning columnist from Kalispell.