In Your Words: I Was Attacked by a Bear
‘In Your Words’ explores the incredible stories we’ve received from Filson fans across the globe. Send us your own experiences with our clothing or product here for a chance to be featured on the Filson Life blog. Greg survived a bear attack in part due to his loyal dogs and his Filson Tin Cloth. Read his story below.
I was up in the Kashwitna Mountains outside of Talkeetna, Alaska with my two dogs. We were high up on a ridge looking for rocks. I had on my Filson Tin Cloth Coat and my Packer Hat. Anyway, the dogs started running up and down sniffing the air. I knew something big was close by. A few minutes later a big grizzly comes busting out of the tree line. The dogs go wild and after the bear. I pull my pistol but then think better of shooting it. I just start to run as fast as I can.
The griz was so close I could smell the stench of its horrible breath. Then it took a swipe at me and knocked me for a loop. I felt the bears claws, just then the dogs arrived and tore into the bear. The bear hightailed back into the trees. I just lay there, and then draggin’ myself to my feet I took off my coat. It had several tears in it. But for the size of the bear and taking into account how hard I was whacked I thought the coat did pretty well. Best thing, the bear’s claws did not tear into my skin. So I do believe my dogs for sure as well as Filson’s Tin Cloth saved me from serious injury. I can’t wear the coat anymore but oh well it did its job.
Greg
