Forest Wagner's Cliffside Grizzly Bear Attack
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
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Welcome back to Scary Bear Attacks! Today’s episode takes us to Mount Emmerich about nine miles west of Haines, Alaska. The Chilkat and Kicking Horse River deliver fresh glacial meltwater to the Chiklat Inlet before eventually flowing into the Gulf Of Alaska. At the top of Mount Emmerich lie still unnamed glaciers and it was first summited in 1976, well after Mount Everest. The climate on the mountain is listed as a Tundra Climate with cold snowy winters and cool wet summers. It is a granite mountain that lies in the St. Elias Mountain Range.
Mountain goats are known to balance on the cliffs and crags but not much else can scratch out a living on Mount Emmerich. There are no wolves or cougars here, but lower on its slopes you will find brown bears.
35 year old Forest Wagner grew up in Fairbanks and had made a living as a guide on Mountain Denali as well as a high altitude guide internationally. For the last ten years he had been an assistant professor at the University of Alaska Southeast in the state capital of Juneau. His background allowed him to teach outdoor leadership, ice climbing, backcountry navigation, rock climbing, glacier travel, crevasse rescue and mountaineering courses.
On April 18th 2016, Wagner had planned to take one of his classes out to the Juneau Icefield but poor ice and snow conditions had him choose Mount Emmerich as the location instead. The six day expedition consisted of Wagner and two teaching assistants as well as 11 students.
The 18th was the fifth day and the expedition was descending the mountain. They were at about 2,000 feet in elevation and had strung out a bit to skin up their skis. When climbers skin up they place a slip resistant cover called a climbing skin over the bottom of their skis. This allows them to use them in much the same way snowshoes are utilized and permits movement across less than ideal skiing terrain. They had planned to remove the climbing skins once they reached an area more favorable to skiing for their descent from the mountain. While the group placed their climbing skins on their skis, Wagner skied ahead inspecting prospective descent routes and possible difficulties.
Now the Alaska Department of Fish & Game had issued a public notice at the beginning of the month that bears would likely be out of their winter dens earlier than normal this year. The winter had been more mild than most and skunk cabbage and other greens had already begun to bloom. These nutritious sprouts are one of the first foods bears seek in this area after emerging and are mother nature's way of inviting them to do so. It is known to local scientists that brown bears in the area hibernate at elevations up to and around 2,000 feet.
By himself and leading the expedition, Wagner had not brought a firearm nor bear spray on the trip. Bears were supposed to be hibernating for a few more weeks and aren’t regularly seen on the barren slopes of Mount Emmerich.
Shortly after skiing to an overlook, Wagner gazed out at the terrain and looked for a viable and safe way down the last stretch of the descent. Unbeknownst to Wagner he had skied right past the small opening of a winter den of a sow grizzly and her two cubs.
Given the insulation and protection of the den and snow around it, the sow likely hadn’t heard or seen Wagner until he was very close to the den opening. She exploded from the opening and bounded toward Wagner instantly enraged by his proximity to her and her cubs.
Wagner lifted his arms above his head and waved them while yelling at her. He was hoping she could see he was a human and not a threat to the three bears. He didn’t get to wave his arms too much before the sow plowed into him, knocking him to his back.
Wagner was trained in a wide variety of survival skills and strategies, but as is all too common in bear attacks, didn’t immediately follow the modern conventional wisdom. Instead of playing dead he fought back trying to get the bear to stop her attack on him.
According to onlookers the sow’s attack was brief, consisting of rapid bites to Wagner's side. As she tossed him around, the battling duo approached a cliff's edge but were too focused on each other to notice. As they tumbled over the ledge Wagner somehow landed before the sow.
The fall was only ten feet and may have done the damage noted to Wagner’s leg, but having the enormous sow land on top of him may have added to it. After using Wagner as her landing pad, the sow clambered back up the slope in search of her cubs, while Wagner's expedition members made their way toward him.
Greetings from Idaho!
Greetings from Georgia! 🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
Greetings from Griffith Indiana!!!!🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻
Greetings from Massachusetts!!!
Hola mi amigos from black bear country in PA 🫡😊
Greetings from Denver, Colorado!!!
As far as accepting an invitation into the wilderness without adequate protection, I 'll take a permanent rain check! This story was suspenseful, Addicus - well done.
I can't understand how educated people venture into the woods without adaquit protection.
Great video, Sir!
Hog Man, LIBERALS! No common sence or intelligence.
Come on, we all know educated morons.
Wagner will make sure he carries protection from now on. The mama bear got her point across loud and clear. Always be prepared even during hibernation for one never knows if the bears awake. I am sure the bears in the Wisconsin/Minnesota Northwoods are up and about for it has been in the 40's to 50's. So, stay safe, warm/cool, and blessings.
Idk, he wasn't smart enough the first time.
I will always err on the side of caution and never venture into grizzly country unarmed. However, I could see trying to limit the weight when mountain climbing and thinking the bears would still be in hibernation. The other mistake was fighting back. A protective sow will continue the attack until the threat is over. Playing dead might fool her enough to break off the attack.
So excited for my new episode tonight!!!❤❤❤ Me scary bear 🐻 attacks tonight!!! 5 hrs Rooooarrrrrrrrr 🐻!!!!!!!!!!❤ Looking forward to seeing you tonight Addicus!!!!!!😘
Wow Addicus this was a suspenful story, congratulations to this young man surviving and what he’s doing in the world! ❤
Wow wow wow!!! Very interesting episode and storytelling Addicus as always!!! That one 🐻 was soooo darn cute!!! Peek a boo!!!🐻 Thank you Addicus for another terrific episode 👍😁🐻🐻🐻😘😘😘
Those students definitely learned what not to do thanks to their professor. He was very lucky that sow cared more about her cubs than ending his life.
Love the content! And your voice is so soothing Addicus.
Amazing stories! I just can't listen to enough of this Channel 💯
Another episode i didn't miss😂
Unprepared.
A hidden snow covered den. Tough call. I was told by a hunter friend to be prepared for a bad bear encounter in winter. He said bears awake then are the most dangerous, as they often did not fatten enough in fall & are starving. Not the case for this sow but still. Lucky guide.
another awesome episode Addicus!
Thanks buddy and you make sure to take care of yourself!
Another banger of a story Addicus!
Your new thumbnail art style is fantastic too! 👍
Momma bear vs chainsaws killer. I'm saying Momma bear 🐻
It's hump day!!! Happy hump day everyone!!! Lol,!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
I remember hearing about this attack....
I think this could happen, a lot more often, due to how many factors had to combine to create the scenario in which the attack occurred
Momma bear got woken up!!!!!
I don’t blame her because I’m pretty grumpy if I get woken up too. Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t been anyone yet, but it might happen.
And that's what made it worse, right? Not to mention that she was hungry, too, Addicus. If I'm not mistaken, it was mentioned that you or maybe just now myself would not want to be anywhere near that den!? If not, I believe that I would agree! Momma Bear was hungry, and displayed angst that this human dared venture near that den! My thing is: It seemed like he needed remediation on: How close is too close? Or, should he not have bear spray or an adequate fire arm? Even if he had these potentially life saving items, would he be quick enough to thwart Momma? We know how quick these bears are! She saw him first, right? Most times, that's the case! His injuries dictated that he was a tad too close to the cubs, and Momma! I'm being redundant, and I apologize! His errors still amaze me due to his experience, which has caused my redundancy. God and Momma showed mercy only fleetingly because she did return, but the Alaska State Trooper changed her mind. He had ammo and apparently more experience than the guide, who thankfully lived, although the sow used him for a 'landing pad!' Oh, how fortunate this man was! I'm also relieved for those students! It most certainly could've been much much worse! With so many bad outcomes, this ended better, especially in front of those kids! @@scarybearattacks🐻🐻🐻🐻🤷🏾♀
I’m from juneau i remember hearing and reading about this
Good evening Addicus. Thanks for sharing another fantastic episode, I was literally on the edge of my seat during your Story telling.
I too was wondering why the Bear returned to the attack site? Could it have been because her Winter home was so close?
Again, thanks.
Stan
RUN FOREST
Heyyy greetings from very hot Australia at the moment 🔥🔥
Too hot.
@@sharonsettle9079 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I would NEVER enter bear country w/o an appropriate weapon! After watching your channel religiously, I am amazed that I’m alive. I never thought that bears were so scary & I used to put berries out to attract them! 😩🙄🤡😶
This guy was lucky along with the students. It doesn’t matter when you enter the woods one should always carry a firearm. This isn’t just for the four legged predators but the two legged kind too. More two legged predators have killed innocent people on the Appalachian Trail than other predators.
They were hibernating... what are the odds that he ends up skiing right over 1 of the _maybe 2 or 3_ dens on the 🗻?? 🤔
Momma bear HANGRY after not eating all winter!!!
Getting mauled by a bear is an "adventure" I hope to NEVER experience.
It's been unusually warm where I live, and I've been wondering if black bears will emerge early from their dens. Makes for a dangerous situation.
Professor without Bear spray.
Hella skiers???? Sounds like a badass mountain gang. Bears should been running away
Heliskiers.....as in helicopter////
@@marlenemacphail1648 I know, I'm trying to lighten the mood a bit. The man had his face ripped off.
@@johnschoen703 hard to lighten that situation haha
@marlenemacphail1648 that's why we need these areas patrolled by elite bear smashing Hella skiers and doomsday snowboard divisions.
❤️
Not saying stupid but maybe overconfident.
Again whether in Grizz or black bear country, spring and fall create greatest risks.
Everything from mamma bear protecting cubs to flat out "Hangry"😮😂..
Packing on lbs, or protection of cubs is top on list.
To go unarmed, (at least bear spray is foolish.)
Ive had close calls but you never know.
As populations increase
Encounters will as well.
That's a fact.
I don't understand a man with this amount of experience not having at least bear spray on this journey. After all, he was responsible for his students safety. Yes bears hibernate but they don't all stay in hibernation for the same amount of time. Some are early risers !
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Not sure if this guy should be given an award for excellent method teaching or fired for putting students at serious risk... Yeah, Fired! Just another example on how complacency can kill or maim... Where it is perfectly legal to carry both firearms, spray and whatever else outside of grenades, why wouldn't you? I don't flying kites or running around nekkid in lightning storms.... Well, I did once in my youth on a dare... :p
What's he teaching,. That they are in bear country and can be eaten 😢
Interesting... should have had more training to recognise bear dens. Course, bears got to eat too. Stuff happens
Plan for the best, prepare for the worst.
❤
As Quint said in Jaws, you go in the water, the sharks in the water. You go into the wilderness, the bear is in the wilderness.