Stephanie Heath
An ultramarathon in Canada had to be rerouted when a female grizzly bear intervened. The bear charged nearby campers and proceeded to follow them, prompting officials to alter the course of the race. Now, a trail runner is urging everyone to carry bear spray.
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The Details: Candian Trail Running shared details about the race. They wrote, “The race began Friday at Castle Mountain Resort in Pincher Creek Municipality, Alta., 216 km south of Calgary.” They also shared the following details.
- “The Divide 200 is a 200-mile (322-km) ultramarathon along the Great Divide trail, which straddles the Alberta/B.C. border.”
- The ultramarathon needed to be rerouted after a female grizzly bear and her two cubs got too close for comfort.
During the race, officials were notified of a potential bear attack in the vicinity. Although they confirmed that none of their runners were near the area of the bear sighting, they opted for safety. Sinister Sports co-founder Brian Gallant spoke with Canadian Trail Running. He claimed, “Out of an abundance of caution, we halted all runners approaching Checkpoint 8, which is located north of the reported area. A course diversion was implemented to fully avoid the affected zone.”
Trail Runner Urges Everyone To Carry Bear Spray
Despite none of the runners being hurt by the bear, one ultramarathon runner took the opportunity to remind everyone to carry bear spray with them at all times. Competitive trail runner and Goshen County resident Joe Wilson spoke to Cowboy State Daily about the importance of the issue.
Always Carry Spray: Wilson shares that while runners often joke about “making sure you can outrun any nearby competitors if a grizzly shows up,” it is a very serious matter. Oftentimes, trails are located in grizzly country, and things can go bad quickly if you are not prepared. That is why this trail runner always carries bear spray.
- “And it can’t be in a pack where you can’t reach it. It’s got to be in a holster where you can get to it right away,” Wilson said. The bear spray will be ineffective if the bear mauls you while you are trying to dig it out of your pack.
- Wilson also argues it is essential to stay alert in grizzly country. While he admits that trail running can put you in a bit of a “brain fog,” you cannot allow that to happen when in bear country. Otherwise, you become “a sitting duck.”
