Hold fast fans—the next printing of the Aerial Observer will have the history of “No Grimace”.  This writing has priority—please read on.

Those of us who go camping or have gone camping have felt the anxiety of “something is out there!”  Skulking in the darkness waiting to pounce!  With that feeling in mind right now, picture yourself in APFO’s very own Directors shoes.

Deep in the Wind River Range of Wyoming we find Ron Dickson, his wife, another couple and their children.  They have a very pristine camp site away from all except hiking enthusiasts, next to a high country lake, surrounded by pines and the rocks that jut skyward above the tree-line.

During their first night’s sleep Ron is awakened by noise in the camp.  Armed with a hatchet and a flashlight he discovers a large black bear knocking over foodstuff and generally making himself a nuisance.  Ron yells and waves his hands until the bear runs off.

Ron is a hero now!  The bravest one!

As dawn breaks the night-time sky, Ron and his friends are on the lake canoeing.  They spotted a black bear lumbering the shore line and heading in the direction of their camp.  They rowed to the shore and intercepted the bear—in their attempt the bear took exception and charged them.  They easily out maneuvered the bruin in the water, but he continued his gait toward the camp when he reached the shore.  Once again they intercepted the animal and with the help of two dogs they had with them, were able to chase the bear back into the forest.

After a nice supper and the clean-up were done they were all sitting around the fire B.Sing, when Ron’s boy yelled—“There’s the bear!!”  On the outskirts of the flames light Ron was faced with the bruin coming head on into the camp.  Ron was facing the animal and backing away from it.  He finally realized the bear was coming on despite the dogs and all the yelling.  He grabbed a shovel that was sticking up in the ground.  Holding it by the handle like a baseball bat—Ron’s six foot plus frame totally tensed as his concentration was aimed at the head of that bear.  The shovel blade came swooping in as hard as Ron could make it go and struck that animal right on the side of the head.  “ROAR!!!”  went the beast—the dogs and all were terrified.  It made a sweep at Ron with its powerful paw and struck Ron’s leg and knee, bruising his leg, tearing his pants and scratching his knee.  Ron jumped back and the animal went to tearing the camp apart.  All of them scrambled into the rocks above the camp and watched as the bear proceeded to rip tents and eat all their food stuff.  The entire night was a grueling episode for them all.  As dawn began to break, the bear left the lantern light and they assumed it had gone.  Down out of the rocks they assessed the damage.  Two of their tents were torn apart.  Only beer left to drink—even a full bottle of Wesson oil had been drunk.

Very tired they all packed into the only tent left intact and tried to sleep.  None were quite asleep when the bruin returned and tried to get into the tent with them.  Ron had a very tempting moment to stab the bear in the nose with his hunting knife when it had its head under the edge of the tent.  Had he done that I speculate the bear would have gone totally crazy, maybe even hurting one or more of the tents occupants.

The sun found the camp visitor gone and all but a big mess and memories of the Dickson’s last trip to the Wind River area.

We are all grateful that none of them were seriously hurt, and that Ron has earned his Mountain Man name of “Bear Whacker!”

Bears Butt

Sept-Oct 1986