Comments on: Grizzly bear, Icy Bay Wrangell - St. Elias National Park

By: Beth Lunsford

Beth Lunsford — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:28:13 +0000

To Carl’s Dad, Neil Donohue: Obviously, you’ve done a great job teaching Carl as a boy & young man how to handle such situations. Carl is very smart,too. I’m just breathing a sigh of relief myself!!

By: Beth Lunsford

Beth Lunsford — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:57:00 +0000

Damn Carl, that was TOO CLOSE!! I just sent you an e-mail about the bears this year. They are EVERYWHERE & HUNGRY. And they seem to be totally unafraid of people. Please be careful!! That’s a beautiful bear, a great picture, too. Were you in camp when he came in? Maybe in Yakutat you will see the blue bear, the glacier bear, right in the russell fiord. Good Luck!!

By: Carl Donohue

Carl Donohue — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 18:40:17 +0000

Hey Mark,

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it. I like your version better though .. maybe that’s how I’ll modify it for the future - not, mind you, that I’d exaggerate things, Mr Ron N.

Cheers

Carl

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:35:47 +0000

Best damn story I have read in a long time Carl. Quite suspenseful! I am glad it was written as first person versus third. Seems you had the start of a beautiful relationship going there. It would have been classic if when you threw the rock, you then saw the boat fly out of the woods at you. ha!

By: Carl Donohue

Carl Donohue — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 07:12:05 +0000

Hey Pete,

Yeah, it’s probably my best bear story. It was pretty wild - bear encounters are always an education - it’s interesting to me that although it’s such a huge event, at the time, nothing actually happened other than some gear got trashed - yet it FEELS like so much happened. Kinda weird.

Hey Dad,

The bear probably is thinking about how unpredictable people can be. And don’t worry, I’m glad the photos are just of my gear, too. Really glad. And you’re right - I was trespassing, and I did park my boat on his beach. So he ate it.

Hey Dave,

Thanks man - Yeah, I was glad I got a decent photo of him too. I do wish I’d had more of a chance to get some others, but under the circumstances, I’m fine with this.

Hey Ron

Why on earth do you say ‘You obviously weren’t exaggerating’ - I never exaggerate. Never!

Hopefully my stories from the coming trip to the arctic will be a little milder. I hear it’s snowing up there about now.

Cheers

Carl

By: Ron Niebrugge

Ron Niebrugge — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:55:00 +0000

Hey Carl,

After hearing the story on the phone - it is fun to see the images. Fun, knowing it had a happy ending! You obviously weren’t exaggerating! Glad it worked out well - except for that shiny new red kayak.

Hey, at least you got of cool shot of a Wrangell-St. Elias brown bear!

Ron

By: Dave Taylor

Dave Taylor — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:26:25 +0000

Carl - what a story, and a killer shot to go with it. Seriously, bear walking through a field of lupine! wow.

By: Neil Donohue

Neil Donohue — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:33:57 +0000

Yes Carl, it certainly is an amazing story and a graphic reminder of the dangers and risks you face when you go out into wilderness on your own- its certainly not ‘all bear and skittles out there.’ Also a reminder of how unpredictable wild animals can be. Very glad that the story had a happy ending though and that the photos I was looking at were of damage to your property, and not of your remains.

But you were trespassing, you camped on his property and swam in his pool without asking his permission, so I guess he felt a little peeved.
Your (relieved) Father

By: Pete Zwiers

Pete Zwiers — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:53:37 +0000

Wow! That’s a bear story for the ages Carl!!! Hands down, beats anything we’ve ever had. HOOOOLLLLLYYYYYY CRAP!!!

Bummer about the trip being cut short. But, in a year the story you have will beat anything you might have had with ten more peaceful days up there. Makes for a good chapter, eh!

- Pete

PS. Good job getting a photo of him!