Alaska Hikers Encounter Grizzly Bear on Steep Trail, Stay Calm to Avoid Conflict

Hikers in Alaska experienced a tense close encounter with a grizzly bear while walking on a steep trail near Anan Creek. Video footage from the incident shows the bear passing very close to the group as they remain calm, repeatedly saying phrases like "Hey bear" and "Good bear" to signal they posed no threat. Michelle Lynn Thaler, who filmed the encounter, explained that the difficult terrain complicated the situation since the trail ran along a steep hillside, preventing the group from simply moving away. "The only thing we could do was step off the trail as much as possible and continue acting as if we were not afraid and the bear was no threat," she said.

The hikers had been prepared by local rangers who briefed them on how to behave if they encountered bears. The bear was identified by rangers as "Skuba Sue," a known Alaskan brown bear famous for its unique hunting behavior, including diving underwater to find food. The encounter ended without injuries, and the bear continued on its way.