I have hiked a popular ridgeline hike in the Jasper National Park area every year for the last 3 years, and I am 3/3 for grizzly sightings while on trail. The first was the scariest, we came around a bend and startled a cub with momma bear a ways off behind. Thankfully cub scurried off, so mom followed. Had we been more diligent with making noise, I’m sure the encounter wouldn’t have even happened.
The other 2 times, the bears were feeding on berries in fields near the trail. We made lots of noise, had spray on hand, but the bear just looked at us then kept eating; we made a wide arc around and carried on.
Definitely hair-raising, but not so terrifying that I’m scared away from hiking the area. They’re less skittish than black bears but don’t like people any less.
The other 2 times, the bears were feeding on berries in fields near the trail. We made lots of noise, had spray on hand, but the bear just looked at us then kept eating; we made a wide arc around and carried on.
Definitely hair-raising, but not so terrifying that I’m scared away from hiking the area. They’re less skittish than black bears but don’t like people any less.