scooter
05-30-2005, 09:36 AM
Hiker fights off charging grizzly
Kick to head stuns bear
Sherri Zickefoose
Calgary Herald
Monday, May 30, 2005
A peaceful weekend Bible retreat quickly turned into the scare of a lifetime for a Calgary man.
Lyle Simpson was hiking through the bush with friends Saturday afternoon near Waiparous when a grizzly bear started chasing him, he says.
"It just burst out of the bush, charging right way. There wasn't much time to think," said Simpson, 32, adding a cub was nearby.
The group of hikers quickly split up in different directions, but as he was running, Simpson tripped, landing on his back.
"I put my arm up as the bear was coming on down towards me. The bear tried to bite my arm," he said.
But Simpson's Brazilian martial arts training instincts came to him at the right time -- he kicked the bear in the face.
"I think I stunned it just enough. I really think it saved me from a mauling."
The friends quickly regrouped and made the 15-minute trek back to Whispering Pines Bible camp.
Simpson needed six stitches from the bear's bite and has a painful gash on his hip.
"My shorts look like they've been cut with scissors."
Simpson, who reported the incident to wildlife officials, says his close call hasn't sullied his appreciation for nature.
"I would go hiking again for sure, but be a little more protected with bear spray."
Kick to head stuns bear
Sherri Zickefoose
Calgary Herald
Monday, May 30, 2005
A peaceful weekend Bible retreat quickly turned into the scare of a lifetime for a Calgary man.
Lyle Simpson was hiking through the bush with friends Saturday afternoon near Waiparous when a grizzly bear started chasing him, he says.
"It just burst out of the bush, charging right way. There wasn't much time to think," said Simpson, 32, adding a cub was nearby.
The group of hikers quickly split up in different directions, but as he was running, Simpson tripped, landing on his back.
"I put my arm up as the bear was coming on down towards me. The bear tried to bite my arm," he said.
But Simpson's Brazilian martial arts training instincts came to him at the right time -- he kicked the bear in the face.
"I think I stunned it just enough. I really think it saved me from a mauling."
The friends quickly regrouped and made the 15-minute trek back to Whispering Pines Bible camp.
Simpson needed six stitches from the bear's bite and has a painful gash on his hip.
"My shorts look like they've been cut with scissors."
Simpson, who reported the incident to wildlife officials, says his close call hasn't sullied his appreciation for nature.
"I would go hiking again for sure, but be a little more protected with bear spray."