This Man Survived A Grizzly Bear Attack. Here’s How.

2.

Q: Did you experience an overwhelming sense that you were going to die? What went through your head during the incident?

A: I am going to give a longer answer than what you would probably expect for this one. It’s really strange. That entire summer was spent hiking and climbing in the northern Rockies, mostly in Montana. The best days of my life. Throughout the entire summer everyone that I climbed and hiked with, I always reiterated the same message. I would look at them and say something like, “We are so lucky, and we should be so appreciative that we can do these things. Life is so amazing. Some people will never get to experience this cause their bodies won’t let them. Our bodies one day might change and we will never get to do this again. So let’s just remember how so incredibly lucky we are, and we should be so grateful.”

I said this always with a good heart. My mother, when I was young, introduced me to climbing, hiking, and the outdoors. When I was in high school, she got sick from cancer and eventually passed away. But I remember the bitter years of seeing my lively mother become stuck at home dying in bed. I told myself I was always going to be thankful for every healthy second I get on this earth.

But when I said this to people, part of me deep down inside knew my body was going to change or that I was going to lose the ability to do these things. I know that may just sound crazy. But that’s just what went through my brain. However, I never thought I was going to die. I just knew something was going to happen at the end of the summer.

During the incident, there was a split second where I thought, “Is this where I die? I am going to die right now.” But something just pushed me forward, maybe it was adrenaline, but I just had this overwhelming urge to make it out. It was just sheer will. During the incident, over the hours, my mental state was incredibly drained, though. Every bird I heard, every squirrel, every noise in the forest or on the mountain was another bear. I may have only encountered one, but my brain saw a million.