We were struggling uphill on nearly imperceptible trails, relying on satellite positioning to stay connected to each other and the base camp.

Maxine, Mac and Eugene Douglass set out early in the morning, and then an hour later Hyung, Tong, Keith, and then Ann, and Slate. So, we were in three groups. And we would hear of a possible bear sighting every now and then.

By the end of the day we were tired out, and it was getting late. We hurried down, racing the sun, but it was no contest. The sun had set.

Ann and Slate were almost home

Maxine, Mac and Eugene Douglass were in the midst of the brush and heard a loud rustling of leaves ahead of them. Stopping in their tracks and turning on all lights, they saw two cubs. From below, they could hear the mom rushing up towards them.

Maxine started conjuring up all manner of augmented reality. These infuriated the mom. She rushed at Mac. He had little time to reach for the bear spray and got swiped in the thigh. The cubs were 50 meters downward now, and the mom judged us to not be enough of a danger. So, she relented.

Moments later, Hyung, Tong, and Keith arrived and we assessed Mac’s injury.

We carried him down to the yurt.