A lone backcountry enthusiast survived a brutal double grizzly bear attack while elk scouting in Montana's Madison Valley, according to a harrowing account first reported by www.outdoorlife.com. The incident, occurring on the first day of October, involved the critical use of bear spray and a 10mm pistol as defense tools.
Starting the hike in darkness, the individual proactively called out "Hey bear!" every 30 seconds. About three miles in, just after daylight, a grizzly sow and her cubs were spotted at a trail fork. The sow initially retreated with her cubs along the western trail. Believing the area clear, the hiker proceeded along the eastern trail.
However, a branch snapping signaled the sow's immediate return, charging from 40 yards. The bear closed the distance with terrifying speed, ears flattened, eyes locked. Drawing bear spray, the hiker deployed a full blast at 30 feet, but the sow blazed through the orange mist, momentum unchecked. The hiker dove to the ground, protecting the neck and head, as the sow repeatedly bit the arm, shoulder, and back. The distinct sound of "crushing and tearing of muscle" preceded the bear's disappearance after "a few seconds," leaving the acrid scent of pepper spray.
Sustaining substantial but non-life-threatening injuries to the right arm, shoulder, and upper back, the hiker began the descent. Adrenaline briefly subsided, and a false sense of safety returned after five minutes of hiking. This proved a critical miscalculation.
A sudden noise heralded the grizzly's second, more aggressive charge. With no time for bear spray or pistol, the hiker again dropped to the ground. The sow's aggression was markedly escalated, its bites feeling like a "sledgehammer with teeth." A bite to the left forearm went "clean to the bone," producing a "crunch of something breaking," rendering the hand numb. A subsequent movement triggered a frenzied series of bites. A powerful claw swipe inflicted a gash above the right ear, "nearly scalping" the individual and blinding them with blood.
Focused on remaining motionless, the hiker endured 3-inch claws pinning them to the ground. The bear's pungent odor and hot breath were acutely felt. For 30 terrifying seconds, the sow's enormous weight pressed down before it finally lifted. Realizing a third attack would be fatal, the hiker then discovered the pistol had been ripped from its holster. Wiping blood from their eyes, the individual located the 10mm and a second can of bear spray 10 feet away, resuming the harrowing retreat, still bleeding and deeply shaken.
