Missing Hiker Returns Relating Encounter With Aggressive Bear on the Lost Coast Trail
Joseph Seiberling taking a selfie on this week’s hike on the Lost Coast Trail. [All photos provided by Joseph Seiberling]
He began his hike on the Lost Coast Trail aiming for the Punta Gorda Lighthouse from Shelter Cove on January 28, 2024. But his return journey took an unexpected path when he encountered what he says was an aggressive bear, resulting in a delay and a missing person report.
Seiberling, celebrating his 27th birthday on January 30, told us he had prepared extensively for his hike, consulting travel blogs and preparing a tide chart to anticipate the trail conditions and weather. Aware of the presence of black bears in the area, he carried bear mace for protection and bear cannisters to contain his food.
Tidal Charts used by Joseph Seiberling,
He said that other hikers he met during his hike told him “that they saw black bear activity” near Big Flat. And he said, “I saw [bear] trails down in the sand. I didn’t encounter any there, nor was my bear can…messed with.”
But on his return trip on his birthday, Tuesday, Seiberling says he came face to face with a black bear while navigating the trail. “As I was getting down into the tidal zone, I encountered a black bear…I got around a little outcropping, you know, where the cliff kind of jumps out. And then it was just there.”
At first he was hopeful it would just go away but, he said he got prepared, “I had my bear mace and my knife at my hip….Not that my knife was going to do much.”
He said the bear “got up on its hind legs and it pounded the ground and roared and it started coming towards me.” Luckily, Seiberling said, the wind was in his favor and, when the bear got close, he sprayed it with the mace. This, he told us, slowed the bear down, but it continued to come towards him. “I could tell that it was probably blinded,” he said. He told us he managed to get to the side of the bear and stabbed it. Then sprayed it with mace again before escaping as fast as he could.
“I was running over the rocks,” Seiberling said. “You know, I had my hiking poles and I was just like, running and it followed me for a little…And then you know, I was running looking behind me to see if you know if I was going to die, and then it just stopped…It just kind of…hit the ground.” Seiberling thinks it collapsed, but he fled the area.
At first he said he was just trying to get away. Eventually, when he had time to think, he told us, he realized “the whole encounter messed up my schedule to get through the tides and you know get back while the storm was still like calm.”
He told us he ended up having to camp that night at Shipman Creek. And then because he had missed his window of opportunity to get through the Impassable Zone in the area (impassible at high tides), he stayed at Buck Creek on Wednesday.
The rain came in on Wednesday. And Seiberling said he had to try to dry his clothes in his tent. Then on Thursday morning he got up early and hiked to Black Sands just north of Shelter Cove where his vehicle was parked.
To maintain focus during the ordeal, Seiberling told us he repeated different mantras to himself, including, at the end, “calm until I get to the car. Calm until I get to the car.” As he came towards Black Sands, he saw a helicopter and guessed it might be searching for him. When he reached his vehicle, the helicopter landed and one of the one of the crew members got out and asked if he was Joseph Seiberling.
He was then checked out by the Shelter Cove Fire Department. (He said he was incredibly grateful for the cup of hot coffee they gave him.)
Photo taken on the Lost Coast Trail by Joseph Seiberling.
We checked with local authorities about the incident. Paul Sever, King Range National Conservation Area Manager, noted the rarity of bear attacks in the area, saying, “Well, it’s definitely the first time we’ve ever had a story like this in the King Range… .” He emphasized that hikers need to be sure to have their food in bear cannisters so that bears don’t learn to rely on humans for easy food and thus increase the likelihood of bad interactions between the animals and hikers.
Shelter Cove Fire Chief Nick Pape emphasized checking weather conditions before hiking the Lost Coast Trail, especially with severe storms forecast. “We understand that a lot of people spend a lot of months of planning to go on the trips and, they’re driving from a long way. But take it from somebody that’s been out there every single year [rescuing hikers]…It’s definitely not worth it.”
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department released a statement yesterday stating, “The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the USCG, the Shelter Cove Volunteer Fire Department and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for their assistance in coordinating agency response from across the state.”
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I’m wondering what happened to the bear? He said he stabbed him. I’m wondering if the wildlife people have checked on the condition of the bear it is. Maybe the bear has rabies seems like they could hit him with some tranquilizers and check him out.
I’m glad the guy made it out safe. That would’ve been really scary for sure.
Rabies is pretty rare so far north.
Sometimes you eat the bear,
Sometimes he eats you
THANK YOU TO COASTIES FOR RISKING THEIR LIVES AND EQUIPMENT TO SEARCH FOR A HIKER WHO DID JOT NEED TO BE SEARCHED FOR!!! Your dedication is admirable, and we are forever grateful. 12 hours overdo, and family called SAR. You all heard the thunder and lightning and hail in the cove on Thursday morning, right? We got 10 inches of rain in the king range over the last two days. This guy was a moron for being out there, PERIOD. Of course he had to come up with a GRAND TALE of why he was less than a day overdo. Mommy and daddy were probably so scared! No bear pics? Lame! First “bear interaction” like this ever reported in the area. Quite the story…
Damn why so hateful! Even if you are 100% correct which I would not say whether you are or not. As it is absolutely irrelevant to my purpose to make a comment. Which is if you’re going to be so bold then at least site your reasons and give reference. I believe if someone’s 100% correct they can go out anyway they want as long as they can prove their point in a debate.
I get your point, this was a bit harsh, but Shelter Cove Fire Chief Pape was right on when he described the efforts and funds expended and lives risked virtually every year rescuing people who “plan” wilderness beach trips in the dead of winter and are shocked, shocked when the weather is bad.
i used to offer highly critical comments when these emergencies happen until I realized I was still angry at myself for doing the same stupid things when I was young. I got lucky and so did this fellow. Good for him!
Number One: you are not immortal. Screw up badly enough and it will cost you, maybe everything.
Planning is critical: Avoid the worst weather(winter) unless you are testing survival gear and are OK with getting your answer to Infinity a lot quicker than most of us would like. The safest and easiest KR plan is to hike south with the wind at your back from the Mattole Mouth to Shelter Cove where you have a car or pick-up waiting for you. You can power hike it in three days and miss so much. Five to seven is cool, more if you have surf tackle and get lucky. Somewhere on the drive-in, you will have service to get a weather report and delay or abort your trip as required.
Get a BLM map and tide table. There are a few memorable upland trails for good weather use as well. The entire area for miles around is environmentally dynamic. Knock yourself out!
Ya know, the Cove’s economy relies on these hikers and visitors, right? You surely aren’t buying that much pizza and beer. And how ridiculous, of course family is going to call within 12 hours. If the hiker has fallen, or gotten mawled by a bear, hours count.
When the kid reads these remarks, you are leaving a lasting impression of the Cove, giving the impression that it is an unfriendly as that bear.
Myself, I’m glad he was as prepared as he was, knowing when he could and could not go on the sand, how to protect himself from the bear, etc
and Kid, you got a nod from the creator on your Saturn return. Some people around here would say that was an old school blessing. Keep up the good work.
Obviously I made this public comment in the hopes that he would read it. I stand by what I said, and even though it was a bit more colorful than other comments, it seems to be the general consensus. I’m very upset about the situation, whether he actually stabbed a bear or not. When entering a wilderness area, you should plan to be self reliant with no cell service, and you should establish with an at-home party when SAR should be called. In my experience, it’s usually more than 12 hours. A solo hiker who’s willing to hike the LCT 2x amid storm season should absolutely carry a garmin inreach or other SOS device to communicate with their at-home party. It really upsets me that USCG and OES had copters looking for him while thunder and lightning shook me awake. Our emergency responders put their lives on the line to save hikers consistently, and it is very rarely a life-or-death scenario.
So a guy comes over from the city and stabs one of our local bears…
Your poor bleeding heart.
Awww…I was thinkin’ about that poor little bear’s bleeding heart….
“Out of town Man sneaks up on and stabs local innocent bear that was peacefully watching the ocean.”
He may have snuck and bear maced the poor thing on its holiday vacation.. lol. Seriously it’s a fishing story. Test the knife.
If I was a betting and was from the 80s. I would highly doubt the fact that he stabbed the bear. if he was that close, the bear would’ve had him. And if he was able to get to the side, he didn’t stop. He kept moving like a motherfucker lol. However, they do need to tack the bear. He said it went down he thought??? However, now the 80s part. Rambo his damn self couldn’t get it. He’d be pissing himself.
I walked up on the world’s most famous grizzly bear (#399) and her 4 cubs while they were eating on a dead elk. I pretty much pissed my pants too. Luckily they were more interested in their elk than me!
I can bearly believe this really happened. But will take a stab at it.
Your comment is ursine!
Well, said absolutely brilliant!
Seems a little far fetched, but fun story. I heard it was a grizzly bear and he wrestled it for three days straight.
I’m pretty impressed he was able to spray and stab the bear without dropping his hiking poles. Or maybe he set them down to deal with the bear and then picked them up again after the stab
In Europe they have cell service everywhere in the Alps for emergency that the people my have while enjoying the Alps, it saves lives. Maybe it is time for us to request more cell towers to help people with emergency in our remote areas in Humboldt County, like the Kings range and the new Rails for trails areas, for safety. It can save lives. Contact your county and state representatives and make a suggestion for better cell service. It can save lives.
The whole point is to get away from all that, take risks, manage them. So many ppl are so soft. I need service EVERWHERE. Jeez.
Well… you just might need to stop looking at that ferocious ocean and play a comforting video game…
What if it isn’t the bear that’s the problem? What if it’s a serial killer. Of course people need to have options. Don’t be simple.
Many places in the World including Europe also have underground power lines and roads with paving that lasts decades. We are a young, impetuous, short-sighted country that doesn’t invest much in community nor long term. Sigh.
If you are frequently in places without cell service and feel the need to stay in constant contact with others I’d suggest one of the satellite message services like the Garmin InReach.
But please, don’t make the Wilderness less wild. It’s a rarity as it is to be out there and completely on your own.
I definitely respect your concern! However, a cell tower or even a few cell towers don’t take up much an imprint. And when technology changes and we don’t need those towers and we’re able to send calls over longer distance. They can simply be removed. It is a very small sacrifice for the safety of others which should never be argued. However, if everybody had that same mantra, then everything would flow better. That is my opinion , Never argue safety.✝️
Would a satellite phone work in the area? If so it should be encouraged to have.
In the open and close to the ocean, I think a satellite phone would work fine. They are carried by hunters, guides and bush pilots in Alaska with excellent results. The brown bears in Alaska will stock you or come to the smell of a fresh kill. Hunting in pairs provides safety. One to gut, skin and pack the animal meat and the other person to watch for bears, wolves, etc.
There is satellite communications, walkie-talkies, and phones. Look at the cost, though, sometimes unfeasible and we would still end up with the same problem of people being in somewhere without what they needed. However, most people have a regular cell phone, so yes, service needs to be made possible.?
True, the story definitely warrants a time and place to make an announcement like this. We can never utilize too much to protect our people.
Who pays for all this nonsense. Is it the hum co taxpayers?
It’s called recreation. If THAT is what you’re worried about as far as where your tax dollars are going, then you’re not paying very close attention.
I missed the part where he called for rescue.
before you set out on your hike you register with the parks and give a return date. If you don’t report by that date the search is automatic… that’s why its required to register your hike.
Thank you for that explanation
That’s not true
He didn’t! However, someone that will make a great future politician, took the best opportunity to address safety. However, safety doesn’t have a price tag. It is priceless, conservation and itself of our children and grandchildren. And is absolutely needed to be considered for self conservation and procreation. Damn feel like human beings are priceless. Especially after reading that.
Who pays for what? The phones or the story that’s dead our arrival with no credibility? Because Service to call 911 over short transmissions in the wilderness is protecting our future. We can cut expenses from other areas of our tax payouts.
“Cmon mannnn. I them thar faced a bear, maced em, stabbed em, and then ran. No joke! “ Righttttt! Good story for his employer who was wondering why he didn’t show up to work.
I think I understand what you’re saying!
Word.
This story makes no since; this person steps into a vast wilderness, by himself and comes across a black bear, that should be hibernating or could have new born cubs near by and you spray it with bear spray and stab it, even after people along the way have told you they have seen sighs of a bear in the area. Should have taken a small air horn or rape whistle, not the bear spray. Why were you by yourself?
Guys like this is why we should NOT advertise the wild areas as places for the city folks to “recreate”. They can find these places on their own or else stay in the city and watch nature on TV- like the great majority of the moronic urban overpopulation should be doing…
Thank you for the recommendations. Very helpfull.
I’ve only encountered black bears twice in Humboldt & both times it ran opposite of me.
When I spent time on our land in Willow Creek, I carried a large open black parasol, a young Pit (Jane) & my Norwich Terrier (Kika). This a long time ago.
I do like the quote! And what recommendations are you speaking of? Yes dogs are great to have with you for deterrent. and if this was a long time ago, I hope Jane and Kika are doing fine.
Who said he was from the city?
The article said he was from Davis
I hope other potential hikers read your comment and i wish that had been in the article…to take a whistle…(can we call it something else though besides a rape whistle?). Yes especially given he had been told of sightings a whistle around his neck. Make noise, try to look big and back away right? Though on a cliff in the rain or whatever easier said than done especially someone’s first time…also are people not allowed to hike alone? He had good tide charts and told people he was going and specifics.
I understand your reasoning exactly. But that bear can close 100 yards on you really fast and you cannot outrun it.
I wasn’t saying he should run from it. And yet he claims to have done so and stabbed the bear without getting so much as a scratch….a bear still able to use its limbs cause claimed it chased him after he stabbed it.
He went out right before an Atmoshpheric river. DUH?? What held him up? Maybe the numerous creeks that were impossible to cross due to 10 inches of rain perhaps? Why was he hiking in HUGE thunderstorm, in the dark, in a tidally influenced and often impassable stretch of boulder-ridden beach with 25 foot waves?? Without a sat phone/garmin? IRReSPONSIBLE behavior. That bear became his excuse and has taken blame for this young man’s very poorly planned trip. Who pays? We do. And so did the BEAR who lives here. Thank goodness the SAR didn’t also pay with their lives that treacherous morning. There’s plenty of help and info available to safely hike this trail. Let’s do better people!
Whistle….. hahahah. You’re funny Ed. Sounds like you’re the one from the city. I don’t think a lot of the lower elevation coastal bears hibernate.
This stabbing part of the story sounds like a stretch, only 1 person knows the truth. I was on a 100 mile pack trip and one of the guys in our group was being a whiny jerk for a few days complaining about everything and his heavy pack, then suddenly disappeared one afternoon. Turns out he hiked downhill to a ranch and used their phone to call for a ride. He left his pack in the woods and claimed that he ditched it to get away from a bear faster. We all thought his story was bull shit. But like this bear stabbing story, only 1 guy knows the truth.
After many close bear encounters during decades in the woods it just never occurred to me to make a high pitched sound similar to a terrified, wounded animal, with a whistle when one was acting aggressively.
Simply speaking to them while backing out of the scene always worked for me. Speech is a sound that càn cause momentary confusion to them, switching their thoughts from aggression to insecurity.
True
When I hike alone, I prefer to be by myself…
Good for you! and that is totally you’re right. However, that comment that she made was in regards to what was you doing there alone. After other comments that was talking about having communications in place
Why the hell would you not be by yourself in the Wilderness? I’ve spent a lot of time alone out in the wilds specifically so I could get the hell away from people. I realize some folks can’t tolerate the solitude but for those of us who can, leave us alone.
Bear spray is the go-to defense against aggressive bears and has been for years.
And as other have written, coastal bears don’t hibernate, the climate is too moderate to require it and food sources are still available because they aren’t buried under snow.
really the whole conversation was about the need for safety to be put in place. Like communications for instance. If you have to register, they should send you out with the satellite walkie-talkie like they use in explosion, proof facilities, like a refinery.
You only need two people to get away when you’re sure you cannot run the bear. Lol maybe try a Whistel or airhorn prior to spray the bear. or to scare them off. However, do you realize how fast the bear runs? You don’t have any time to react. But we can’t stick to the same track and trip of our partner. Gotta work smarter, not harder.?????.
Doesn’t really get cold enough for bears to hibernate on the Lost Coast, they’re active year round.
Most bears in Northern California don’t hibernate, they just reduce their activity. It’s not cold enough to trigger true hibernation here.
Very hard to believe this story. Did this perp have any scratches or any sign of struggle? Was there any trace of blood on the knife blade? What kind of knife was it? Boy Scout Knife? “I turned and it looked like the bear had collapsed.” Are you sure it wasn’t Bigfoot or another person? A bear attacks you but you’re unable to walk out in a day? If it really happened, do you think you’d stop and bunk up for the night? It’s a beach hike.
I agree with you. This is made up.
Every bear I ever met in Humboldt turned & ran when seeing me.
Right! He stabbed it while it was still functioning enough to later chase him yet the bear’s massive legs, paws and claws did not touch him before nor during the stabbing?
I have come face to face with more bear than I can count. I’ve had them false charge, strike the ground, snap their teeth, and more. Not once have I had to shoot one of them. I was ready to but never have had too. I had a stand off with one for more that 5 minutes last deer season and just took a video of it.
Bear have horrible vision. if they cant smell you but can see your fuzzy figure the will try to scare you off. thats why you are supposed to make noise and act big. the near mace probably didnt help. poor bear.
Where in Humboldt County have you come face to face with more bears than you can count? I call BS (bear shit)!
Parts of this story dont add up. Like how does a 5 (10?) minute bear encounter, after which you get past the bear and continue on your way, cause you to miss the tides completely and have to stay another night? Some of it just seems very unlikely. Thats all.
The daytime low tides aren’t very low this time of year. And some of those trail sections have narrow windows to cross that gets narrower with the winter tides.
I hope there is follow up on this story and especially, particularly that bear and any cubs – if true . Also would be interesting if it was verified though top priority now is that bear and cubs…again IF true.
Story sounds like maybe the guy too embarrassed to admit a mistake and had to create a story to make it bearable. I hope he admits to it if so cause it is wrong on many levels including potential future hikers who read the story and get the idea they can mace and stab a bear…somehow i don’t see that happening without so much as a scratch and with hiking polls in hand (or even dangling on wrists) especially as guy claims the bear was still able to chase him.
Nice for article to show he went prepared with good tide maps etc. for others to see what that looks like.
Cool story bro
Can’t believe the ignorance on here. Whistles?!? There is a very good reason that everyone who regularly hikes and camps in our area carries bear spray. Those that don’t, carry firearms. And, of course, keep your food in bear-cans.
As far as whether this man exaggerated his story some – none of us can say. I have had bears chase me short distances before breaking off, I’ve had them follow me on a trail for miles for no obvious reason, and I’ve had them tear my car door open hoping to find some food inside. When you return to your car and find your door literally ripped off, and bear hair everywhere inside… well, you have to be very careful around those critters.
Prove it
In coastal Humboldt bears did this??? Where?
Utter nonsense.
You shouldn’t have left snickers on the dashboard.
And this guy couldn’t get his little knife through a bear without that bear taking off his face for being an aggressive nutbag human.
This is total bullshit and I wouldn’t put it as news on a blog in the backwoods
We’re supposed to believe some yuppie kid ran up and stabbed a bear while it was enraged from being maced? And then somehow the brief encounter made him miss the tide window? I dunno… seems like a pretty tall tale. Until someone finds the “collapsed” bear or checks his knife for the animal’s blood, I will assume his story is BS (bear shit?). He probably felt like an ass for not returning on time, resulting in SAR being deployed, then fabricated the story so people wouldn’t blame him for wasting their time / resources.
Leave the bears alone!
“Kilt him a bar when he was only three….”
Ties-Standard ran the story of Joseph Seiberling returning but did not include all his malarkey about the bear encounter. I’m calling BULLSHIT on him. Which means to say I am calling him a liar- also known more graciously as a teller of tall tales. And Kym got played…
The Times Standard shared information from a press release from the Sheriff’s Department. They did not speak to the hiker, the Shelter Cove Fire Department Chief or BLM or the Sheriff’s Department (or other people that I did not reference). They simply posted a few lines shared from the Sheriff’s Department statement. You can choose not to believe the hiker’s story. However, many crimes or events don’t have outside witnesses. We can’t guarantee that this is a true story. We can say that several people who did speak to him said he did seem truthful.
I’m astonished at the animosity folks like Farce are displaying towards a guy they apparently don’t know about a story they seemingly don’t know the details about.
Kind of a sad statement on how angry people get over something that has nothing to do with them.
The only way a person could be in a position to stab the side of an aggressive bear AND survive the post stabbing reaction of the bear unscathed…and then the bear walked away and collapsed from a single knife stab, is that “the bear” was actually an orphaned cub in pretty desperate straits already and that is an entirely different story that should have had better outcomes.
And the bear aledgedly still chased him after the stabbing.
Weird to say that.. I’m not angry. I do think that bullshit should be called out and not accommodated. I’m far from alone in that sentiment. And if we had more people calling out the bullshit we would have a much nicer place! (smiley face)
Which version of the story was truthful??
Is there another version? There’s the story he gave me. And there’s the press release from the Sheriff’s Department where they thank the different agencies for helping them search for a hiker. There is no other version of the bear story.
Why do you feel it is necessary to disparage Kym. She wasn’t played, she reported what she was told by the only person that could tell the story; and I appreciate that. I agree that the story sounds FAR fetched.
because of the lack of empirical research, false information is spread. Fake news ….that is a problem.
She didn’t present it as fact, she said that he told the story. I think Kym reported accurately. I think you have a stick up your … fake news outlet.
Cute story, but I’m calling BS
Dreams of appearing on Good Morning America and his 15 minutes ended up being on a local blog. Unbeknownst to him , he should have saved it up for when the real Bigfoot attacked him the next backpacking trip. Guess that didn’t work out very well.
I have been hiking, working, and backpacking in Humboldt and the greater PNW in some of the darkest holes of forests and have never, ever needed a weapon to protect myself from black bears. Had one walk by me on a deer trail while I was eating lunch. It was literally three feet away, weighed around 300 lbs, and was as surprised to see me as I was it. If he wanted to, he could have swatted me into oblivion. Instead, he stopped, looked, and ran as fast as he could the other direction. As far as carrying whistles, guns, etc to protect oneself from black bears, cmon mannnn. That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard of. Stop scaring people. You’ll end up shooting your eye out Johnny before needing it to fend off black bears.
Carrying some sort of protection is the stupidest idea you’ve ever heard? That might be the stupidest comment I’ve ever heard.
stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!
Your comments are …
Sounds like a bearshit story.
IMO this “hiker” is either or ALL:
1- liar
2- idiot
3- an asshole.
4-jerk
6-mean
Did he really have to stab the bear?
I hope Fish & Wildlife will go looking for the bear, just in case the man is not a liar & there is a sick black bear out there, acting out-of-character.
Let me take a stab at this mystery, Bearman took a dose of mushrooms, when he didn’t feel anything he took some more, long story short he took a mighty dose of mushrooms and then hid out in his tent for 24 hours trying to talk himself down.
I thought something similar. I’ve encountered quite a few black bears. The only time one charged toward me was when it had a cub (that I hadn’t seen). I just stepped back so I wasn’t between them, and they left the scene. Every other time, solitary bears ran away in haste.
Why would someone even get close enough to a threatening bear to stab it? Doesn’t pass the sniff test.
it would be a bigfoot if that was the case. a bear encounter on shrooms is the worst buzz kill.
I’ve been backpacking regularly since the 70’s and was a park ranger in bear country for 10 years. That doesn’t mean I know everything, but I know some of the things. My one-word assessment of his story: bullshit.
Yeah, I must have stabbed well over a hundred bears in my time and it just doesn’t go down the way he described it.
Before you go bagging on this guy someone should check to see if he has “Bear” tatooed on his hand because that is the only thing he stabbed waiting out that brutal rain in a tent for a couple days. If you are ever close enough and in the position to get to the side of a bear to stab it you would have the requisite new asshole torn into you to prove it. No “but”s on that one.
Headline should read: In attempt to compensate for being a moron, man makes up elaborate story about killing a bear and ends up looking like an even more complete idiot.
exactly my sentiment
That’s a better comment, Tony …
Fake news
Oh, it happens…
We hung all our food between trees for weeks before we got lazy one night. Sure enough, a bear showed up.
I was using a sack of cob for a pillow (sweet feed for the horses).
We banged on pots and pans and scared off the bear.
Toward morning I was torn open from trachea to scrotum by a bear! Then I woke up and saw the Douglas Squirrel run up the tree, almost as startled as me!
True story…embellished.
I figured it out! After doing way too many “fun” candies out there, said adventurer came upon an unfortunate elephant seal that “ reared up and roared” then came at him. Resulting in a pepper spraying. Which makes sense that it was obviously slowing coming after him which then resulted in a stabbing of the disoriented seal and as he was running away with what I assume to be at least a 50 lbs backpack in the sand it wasn’t able to catch him? And after a glance looked like it layed down or fell down. Someone should get out there soon to check on any seals with stab wounds and swollen eyes!
A knife and a can of bear spray. This jackass is damn lucky to still be alive. I sure hope he does not plan to hike any trails in Kodiak, Alaska and meet a brown bear (Grizzly). He will quickly become a bear snack.
Incidents like this are where the phrase “bear with me” comes from. Not many people know that. You’re welcome.
Sounds like he surprised the bear, which is why you’re supposed to carry a bear bell or make noise when you’re hiking. Rule #1, never surprise the bears.
If he wasn’t a day late and in need of a explanation…BearS !!!!
Could be you ran into a sohum
hippy dope grower down on his luck and looking for a handout.
Did it smell like a bear or a hippy?
Were any other hikers reported missing? It’s hard to picture a healthy adult black bear being overcome by mace and letting a human get close enough to stab it. It’s more likely he maced himself and mistook another hiker for a bear.
If that bear had a gun, none of this would’ve happened
This in the Constitution. The second amendment give us the right to arm bears.
Yes- what ever happened to the right to arm bears? The libs take that away too?!!
There was a bear you know so I stabbed it you know and then it collapsed and I got got away you know… sounds good bud
Asshole for stabbing the bear. Not sure I believe the story
I’ve dealt with both sows with cubs and boars as bear guide (and just hunting) in another State. I don’t believe what your boy says. I’ve had the safety off, 10′ away saying “stay . . . stay . . . ” Never killed a bear. Never felt the need to. This guy didn’t stab no bear.
Does anyone know if there will be follow up to this ‘incident’? I’ve only done LCT a few times but looking at his schedule, whether he ran into a bear or not, he was going to arrive late?????
This dudes lack of planning is abuse of the lives of rescuers and wildlife. If SAR had a casualty from some call as dumb as this kids planned 12h delay in a wilderness area I think we would all lose our mental. Not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but this kid is just another privileged brat, where mommy and daddy r used to bailing him out. I think I’m just trying to say that we should save our resources for someone worth losing, like maybe a bear?
There’s just so many flaws in his story I’m appalled that the “professionals” did not seek more credibility. Did the sheriff who interviewed him asked to see blood on knife or ask how he managed to mace, stab while holding trekking poles, yet forget to take a picture? Did the BLM go check for bears or ask ANY wildlife for their side of the story?
I just feel like this kid set an example for abusing emergency resources without credibility. The next time I get cold at night or want free coffee, I will lie to sheriff and firefighters about a bear story too. Thanks Joesph seiberling.
I can’t wait for further statements from CDFW, BLM, and sherif!!! This will be a great learning lesson for everyone…how to react when you encounter a bear, how to plan ahead and prepare for winter hiking, how to use NOAA to look up tides for yourself rather than using whatever website he used, the definition of wilderness, etc. Big thank you to emergency responders and all of the government employees (county, state, and fed) whose time will be wasted over investigating this BS. Still praying that the bear is fine!
I call total bullshit on the whole story
Why let the truth get in the way of a good story?
I don’t believe his story……
Of all the things that didn’t happen last week, this didn’t happen the most.