Bear Awareness - Dana Harper

This time of year it’s always wise to brush up on your bear awareness skills. Make sure you can tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear as your response to coming across a bear in the wild can depend on which species you encounter. Color is one way to tell the difference, but there are plenty of ‘brown’ black bears out there so you should look for other signs. A grizzly bear has a distinct shoulder hump which a black bear lacks. If you are able to get a side profile, grizzly bears have a clear depression between their eyes and the end of their nose, whereas black bears have more of a straight line.

Lyle Weigum and Jason Honecker

Be on the lookout for bear signs in the area which can include tracks, scat, evidence of digging around rocks and big logs and fresh kill sites or carcasses. Bears will often leave markings of their territory in an area such as rubs or scrapes on trees.

If you encounter a bear, first try to determine the species. If the bear has not noticed you, leave the area. If you cannot leave, make sure the bear is aware of you – wave your arms and talk. If the bear acts aggressively, try to determine if its intent is defensive (if, for example, there are cubs in the area or a
kill site close by) or predatory. If it’s acting defensively, back away slowly waving your arms. If it’s acting predatory, shout and act aggressively. If you are attacked, either roll into a ball on the ground protecting your face and stomach if it’s a grizzly, or try to fight back if it’s a black bear. It’s a good idea to carry bear spray, which can be used as a last resort.

Of course, the best solution is avoiding a bear encounter entirely. So, be aware of your surroundings and make noise when you are walking in the woods!

Source: BC Ministry of Forests http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/Library/documents/bib22777.htm

For more information on bears in the National Parks:  http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/mb/prince/securite-safety/ours-bear.aspx

Mark Your Calendars

ACC Summer Trip Planning Meeting  
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2014, 6:30pm - 9:00pm
It's time to start planning our summer adventures: come and join us for a trip-planning meeting. Want to lead a trip? Bring your ideas, or brainstorm with others. We supply the munchies and bevies.

Location:
Boston Pizza - Team Room
4804 Calgary Trail
Edmonton, AB
T6H 5H5

Open to:
All ACC-Edmonton Section trip leaders (old and new) wanting to brainstorm/submit trips, and past trip leaders

Crevasse Rescue Evenings
Location: Hawrelek Park.
Bring your harness locking carabiners and long, medium and short prussiks.
Thursday May 8th, 2014 for Drop Loop practice 7-9pm
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 for Z-Pulley practice 7-9pm
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 for Z-Pulley practice 7-9pm
Already got this down pat? Come out an gain some leadership experience by helping teach!
RSVP Leadership Director Foster Karcha foster.karcha@yahoo.com

Course Announcements

The North Face Summer Leadership Course
Applications are due May 15th. The Edmonton Section will provide a subsidy of $450 for a qualified candidate. An endorsement from the section is required to attend the course. This year's course is held July 26th through August 2nd in the Frenchman's Cap, Monashee Mountain area.
For more information and how to apply visit: https://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/activities/trips2014/summer/tnf.html or contact Foster Karcha, Leadership Director (foster.karcha@yahoo.com). 

Scrambles Leadership Course
Have you been on a few scrambles and feel ready to take some club members with you? Have you lead some previous scramble trips for club, but would like to sharpen your hard and soft leadership skills in scrambling terrain? This 2-day course with ACMG/IFMGA Guide Cyril Shokopoles will teach you how to care for and lead people in scrambling terrain. Hazard identification, risk management, group management, route selection, route finding, pacing, simple snow travel, mountain weather, and what to carry as a leader are some of the topics covered.

Registration is through Leadership Director - Foster Karcha (foster.karcha@yahoo.com). Course fees are $160 and are due by May 5th, 2014. Only 6 spots are available. Dates: June 7-8th, 2014