High Sierra Topix

That's hilarious markskor. Great story!

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One of the best bear stories I've ever heard! Thanks!

Well there was the time when I was 4 or 5 and came face to face with a bear near hetch hetchy.... Then there was the time the bear took a crap 4 feet from my head while I was sleeping.... And the time I woke up face to face with a bear--don't know which of us was most startled... then there was the time a bear was rumaging thru my camp and I sent it over to a Sierra Club camp ... shortly heard lots of yelling and pots and pans clanking .... once I stopped a charging bear by charging back (I wasn't going to out run it!) and I could go on and on but nothing compares with markskor's tale. He not only out does me in fishing tales but also in bear stories!

Mike

I have seen lots of bears, most of them while hiking around Mineral King. On a dayhike to the Mosquito Lakes, came across 2 cubs in a tree, and momma bear was on the other side of the tree eating grass. They were in a way blocking the path, and it took a while to get them to move up the hill and out of the way - that was a little tense. On another dayhike in MK up near Timber Gap, heard scratching and breaking of tree limbs, then saw a beautiful cinammon colored bear drop out of a tree and hit the ground running to get away. And on another occasion while hiking back from Eagle Lake in MK, had a bear cross the trail in front of us, then while excitedly trying to get the attention of other members of our group, saw another bear cross the trail behind them.

There was the bear that swam across the southern portion of Summit Lake, at the boundary between Hoover Wilderness and Yosemite NP. When it reached the western shore, it climbed out, shook the water off, and blazed up the hill and into Yosemite - I have pictures of that, although not good quality.

And the closest I have ever been was car camping at Sherwin Creek near Mammoth. Just before dawn, my wife woke me up, saying something was in our camp. I then noticed something sniffing at my head through the wall of the tent. After a few tense moments, the sniffing stopped, and I cautiously got up to take a look outside the tent. There at our table was a momma bear and her cub, exploring around our camp.

Have been stalked/followed by a mountain lion in the San Bernardino Mountains (never saw the cat, but the footprints in my bootprints in the snow were unmistakeable). On a dayhike in Chino Hills, saw the tail of a mountain lion in a bush, again unmistakeable. And finally, while hiking in Weir Canyon Wilderness Park last spring, my wife and I listened to the eery wailing of a mountain lion in the canyon below.

Good stuff!