NJDiverDan
WKR
Not sure if I saw this posted or not:
idfg.idaho.gov
Here is the guys account on Facebook:
Gregory Godar
May 30 at 1:24 PM ·
I want all my Facebook buds to know that I am the poor bastard who was attacked by a grizzly bear while hiking at Henry's Lake State Park in Idaho. I am very glad to be alive. I post it all so I don't have repeat myself to everyone. Sherry and were cruising along the Aspen Loop trail in the hills above the lake, about a mile and a half from the parking lot. We were doing everything right. Bear bells, bear spray on my chest strap of my pack, first aid kit, poles, talking loudly, etc. Suddenly, I heard noise on the right side of the trail and saw two cubs cross the trail behind me. Probably year olds. Mama bear is staring at me from 20 feet away in the aspens and brush. About 450 pounds? She charges straight at me. Pauses for a split second, deciding how to attack. I tried to get my spray out and toreador around her, but she whacked me on the back sending me down hard. I had yelled to Sherry to look out. The bear jumped on my back and bit my belly. I lay still, expecting her to chomp on my neck and kill me. I was pretty sure I was going to die. My last thought was that at least I was being killed by a pretty bear. She was clean and beautiful, as were her big babies. She got off of me and went back up the trail and a hill, where she sat with the cubs and watched us. Sherry, meanwhile, reached for spray but got her water bottle and threw it at them. Then sprayed at them but they were too far away. I managed to get up and we backed away, bear spray in hand, headed the way we had been going. Terrified we would be attacked again, it was a long trek back through the rest of the loop. I was bleeding pretty good from the stomach wound and a few minor spots. Sherry was very upset while I seemed oddly happy---glad to be alive. We notified the park folks and asked for some first aid. I intended to rinse the wound with water and drive home to see the EMTs in West Yellowstone. There was to be none of that. Dozens descended on me and asked many questions. Ambulance, fish and game, park management, the area grizzly bear specialist, bear DNA researchers, etc. I had to repeat my story many times. The ambulance folk started poking holes and tubes in me and said I had to be helicoptered by air rescue to the hospital in Idaho Falls. I said I couldn't afford a helicopter and didn't want to go to Idaho Falls. They didn't care. I enjoyed the flight, strapped in a gurney next to the pilot, seeing lands to the south from a new perspective. The trauma center in the ER at EIRMC hustled me in from the heliopad. They did fine work. The concern was that the puncture wound may have been deep enough to tear up my innards. More needles, tubes, probes, questions, sonojobs, cleanings, anti bacterial stabbings, etc. Innards pronounced safe. The wound was not sewed up for fear the bear tooth can cause infection if sealed in. So it is open with a little ooze and a special pad over it. Neosporin. Frequent dressing changes. Was allowed to go home and have the dressing changes done in Montana. Special thanks to Dr Rosenberg and Taylor the Nurse. Sherry tried to get to me quickly but was given the runaround by several and even sent to the wrong hospital. Arrived around 11:00 pm just as they were ready to release me. Stopped at Walgreen all night pharmacy and made it home at one in the morning. Slept OK. Found more minor claw gashes today and I am bruised and sore. Won't be going out much until this heals. Hope I can return to work june 14th. Will keep folks posted. So what did I learn? Carry bear spray in my hand. Wear a loud cowbell in front of you, not on the back. Hike with heroes like Sherry. Consider moving to Kansas. Oh, the park folks at Henry's still aren't sure it was a grizzly. How stupid do they think I am? Thanks to all for your support! Just glad to be alive.
Hiker attacked by bear near Henrys Lake Outlet
Here is the guys account on Facebook:
Gregory Godar
May 30 at 1:24 PM ·
I want all my Facebook buds to know that I am the poor bastard who was attacked by a grizzly bear while hiking at Henry's Lake State Park in Idaho. I am very glad to be alive. I post it all so I don't have repeat myself to everyone. Sherry and were cruising along the Aspen Loop trail in the hills above the lake, about a mile and a half from the parking lot. We were doing everything right. Bear bells, bear spray on my chest strap of my pack, first aid kit, poles, talking loudly, etc. Suddenly, I heard noise on the right side of the trail and saw two cubs cross the trail behind me. Probably year olds. Mama bear is staring at me from 20 feet away in the aspens and brush. About 450 pounds? She charges straight at me. Pauses for a split second, deciding how to attack. I tried to get my spray out and toreador around her, but she whacked me on the back sending me down hard. I had yelled to Sherry to look out. The bear jumped on my back and bit my belly. I lay still, expecting her to chomp on my neck and kill me. I was pretty sure I was going to die. My last thought was that at least I was being killed by a pretty bear. She was clean and beautiful, as were her big babies. She got off of me and went back up the trail and a hill, where she sat with the cubs and watched us. Sherry, meanwhile, reached for spray but got her water bottle and threw it at them. Then sprayed at them but they were too far away. I managed to get up and we backed away, bear spray in hand, headed the way we had been going. Terrified we would be attacked again, it was a long trek back through the rest of the loop. I was bleeding pretty good from the stomach wound and a few minor spots. Sherry was very upset while I seemed oddly happy---glad to be alive. We notified the park folks and asked for some first aid. I intended to rinse the wound with water and drive home to see the EMTs in West Yellowstone. There was to be none of that. Dozens descended on me and asked many questions. Ambulance, fish and game, park management, the area grizzly bear specialist, bear DNA researchers, etc. I had to repeat my story many times. The ambulance folk started poking holes and tubes in me and said I had to be helicoptered by air rescue to the hospital in Idaho Falls. I said I couldn't afford a helicopter and didn't want to go to Idaho Falls. They didn't care. I enjoyed the flight, strapped in a gurney next to the pilot, seeing lands to the south from a new perspective. The trauma center in the ER at EIRMC hustled me in from the heliopad. They did fine work. The concern was that the puncture wound may have been deep enough to tear up my innards. More needles, tubes, probes, questions, sonojobs, cleanings, anti bacterial stabbings, etc. Innards pronounced safe. The wound was not sewed up for fear the bear tooth can cause infection if sealed in. So it is open with a little ooze and a special pad over it. Neosporin. Frequent dressing changes. Was allowed to go home and have the dressing changes done in Montana. Special thanks to Dr Rosenberg and Taylor the Nurse. Sherry tried to get to me quickly but was given the runaround by several and even sent to the wrong hospital. Arrived around 11:00 pm just as they were ready to release me. Stopped at Walgreen all night pharmacy and made it home at one in the morning. Slept OK. Found more minor claw gashes today and I am bruised and sore. Won't be going out much until this heals. Hope I can return to work june 14th. Will keep folks posted. So what did I learn? Carry bear spray in my hand. Wear a loud cowbell in front of you, not on the back. Hike with heroes like Sherry. Consider moving to Kansas. Oh, the park folks at Henry's still aren't sure it was a grizzly. How stupid do they think I am? Thanks to all for your support! Just glad to be alive.
