How is the girl attacked by the bear in the bike race doing today? (Anchorage: hospital)

[lovesMountains]

We hardly heard any news about this down here in NC, so I was wondering what the latest is? It sounded like such a terrifying thing! Poor kid...

[RAMFEB31]

Since this news was reported by AP wire service, I cannot reprint w/o violating copyright. I understood the 14 yr old was on an organized 24 hr. marathon bike ride through a marked trail. She apparently was attacked, mauled badly by a sow bear about 1:30 am but was able to 911. She was later discovered by other bikers who called in the location. Rescuers hiked up and took her to the local hospital. The last news was she is still alive. What may have saved her life was her bike helmet.

May the Lord watch over her.

U should be able to find the news on the internet

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by RAMFEB31

Since this news was reported by AP wire service, I cannot reprint w/o violating copyright. I understood the 14 yr old was on an organized 24 hr. marathon bike ride through a marked trail. She apparently was attacked, mauled badly by a sow bear about 1:30 am but was able to 911. She was later discovered by other bikers who called in the location. Rescuers hiked up and took her to the local hospital. The last news was she is still alive. What may have saved her life was her bike helmet.

May the Lord watch over her.

U should be able to find the news on the internet

Yeah, I did see that much of a blurb on the internet. Guess what I was hoping for was more info from you guys in Alaska of a more local nature. For instance when hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans my family in Louisiana was able to tell me a whole lot more about it, than the national news

[emrome]

Terror on the trail: Bear attacks teen bike racer: Bear Attacks | adn.com
here's the story on the local newspaper...

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by emrome

Terror on the trail: Bear attacks teen bike racer: Bear Attacks | adn.com
here's the story on the local newspaper...

Thanks for the link - it certainly provides much more indepth info. I do not understand the choice of this route for this race at all. It seems that the presence of the bears near this very loud rushing salmon-filled stream would not be a good choice AT ALL for humans to be bike racing, hiking or just walking by. Wondering why her parents wouldn't have been concerned about the dangers either?

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Thanks for the link - it certainly provides much more indepth info. I do not understand the choice of this route for this race at all. It seems that the presence of the bears near this very loud rushing salmon-filled stream would not be a good choice AT ALL for humans to be bike racing, hiking or just walking by. Wondering why her parents wouldn't have been concerned about the dangers either?

No matter where you go in Alaska, there will be bears. Even within the city limits of Anchorage there are more than 40 grizzly bears, more than 400 black bears, and over 1,200 moose.

The only way to avoid the wildlife in Alaska, is to leave Alaska.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by Glitch

No matter where you go in Alaska, there will be bears. Even within the city limits of Anchorage there are more than 40 grizzly bears, more than 400 black bears, and over 1,200 moose.

The only way to avoid the wildlife in Alaska, is to leave Alaska.

Sad to admit (but I am admitting it so please don't flame me!) that is kind of the reason I do avoid Alaska! Seriously, would love to see Denali but the way my hubsand wants to "see" it and other nature in Alaska and the way I would want to see it would be two totally different ways! I am used to black bears in the mountains of NC - their 300 and 400 lb sizes don't intimidate me (THAT much, lol). But a grizzly?? They give me nightmares - I mean, real nightmares. It this poor kid survives I do hope she gets some of the best counseling available in the world for post traumatic stress, I am sure she will need it.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

Sad to admit (but I am admitting it so please don't flame me!) that is kind of the reason I do avoid Alaska! Seriously, would love to see Denali but the way my hubsand wants to "see" it and other nature in Alaska and the way I would want to see it would be two totally different ways! I am used to black bears in the mountains of NC - their 300 and 400 lb sizes don't intimidate me (THAT much, lol). But a grizzly?? They give me nightmares - I mean, real nightmares. It this poor kid survives I do hope she gets some of the best counseling available in the world for post traumatic stress, I am sure she will need it.

That's why one carries a good powerful gun in the wilderness, and why the current (but likely to be changed soon) no-guns rule in Denali NP is absurd. No reason to fear wildlife, respect it yes, fear it no. Just be prepared in case of bad encounters.

[RayinAK]

I believe that hunters in Anchorage have asked for years now for permits to hunt some of the bears within the city limits, but the bunny huggers will never allow that to happen. Now F&G will probably have to kill the saw. What will eventually happen is that somebody will bring a lawsuit against F&G or the city one of these days.

[Rance]

I've been riding mountain bikes on the mountain trails of the Kenai Mountains for years. Always wonder about rounding a corner at high speed and T-Boning a bear on the trail. But at this point I've never even seen one. Of course I'm not riding at 1:00 am either. As mentioned earlier...you can be anywhere in this state and encounter a bear. It's a 50-50 chance of seeing one...and a 50-50 chance of being attacked when you do see one. It's a terrible thing to have happened...but thats one particular reason why I live here. I'm willing to take the risk.
It would make no sense to come here and just hide in the house because your afraid of the bears. You can still see some beautiful country via cruise ship or train or automobile.