A Hummer, a Hill, and Twenty Bears

by Jonathan van Bilsen

I had only been to Whistler once before, many years earlier, so when my friend Jim suggested we head into the wilderness, while we were in Vancouver, I jumped at the idea.

It was early September, about eight years ago, when I flew west with a few days to spare for exploring. Whistler, with its small shops, inviting restaurants, and lively bars, seemed like the perfect base.

Jim and I had been friends since the late eighties, and he proposed we rent a Hummer for the trip up the mountain. I had never driven such a massive vehicle, but the prospect was too good to pass up. We met in Whistler, signed the paperwork, and soon were winding our way into the backcountry.

Neither of us had any real experience handling a machine of that size, but it responded well over the rugged terrain. After a couple of hours, we spotted our first black bear. Then another. Before long, the count had climbed to fifteen. They lingered along the trail, watching us with the kind of casual curiosity which makes one uneasy.

Inside the Hummer, we felt secure, until the steering wheel suddenly jolted, and we came to a dead stop. Jim had managed to wedge two wheels onto a pair of rocks, leaving the other two hanging in the air. The Hummer sat motionless, and now the bear count was up to twenty.

We climbed out to survey the problem. I tried to recall the rules about bear encounters: with grizzlies, stay quiet; with black bears, make noise… or was it the other way around? Either way, we assumed they would be more afraid of us, then us of them. That assumption dissolved when they began walking toward us. Shouting seemed like the right move, but it only made them more interested.

We retreated to the Hummer and waited. An hour later, the bears drifted back into the trees. That was our chance. We dropped the Hummer into neutral, leapt out, and bounced on one of the elevated corners until it rolled free. Unfortunately, it kept rolling, coming to rest twenty metres down the slope.

Jim’s expression froze. I followed his gaze and saw several bears returning. We abandoned all safety advice and sprinted to the Hummer. My pulse was racing, but once inside, I took the driver’s seat. No way was Jim getting another turn behind the wheel.

We returned to Whistler, late and lighter in the wallet after the rental penalty. When the attendant asked if everything had gone smoothly, Jim and I answered together: “Absolutely. No problem at all.” It was a great adventure, though it had never been part of the plan.

Jonathan van Bilsen is a television host, award winning photographer, published author, columnist and keynote speaker. Follow his escapades at photosNtravel.com