Ep. 09: Now you‘re bleeding too bear!

Silvercore has been providing bear safety training to industry professionals, both in person as well as online, for many years, but this marks the first time that  I have had the opportunity to sit down and speak with someone who survived a horrific grizzly bear attack by using his pocket knife.     For those of you who are following #silvercorepodcast on social media, you will know that I have been steadily building a custom podcast studio.   If the audio sounds a bit different its because it was recorded on location as I travelled to meet Colin Dowler who was gracious enough to have me in his home and to share with you his harrowing experience of grit and tenacity.     Colin wants to share his story to add to the knowledge base of bear behaviour and encounters so that you are better aware of potential dangers and to motivate you to become properly prepared and educated prior to entering into bear country.    I should warn that there are sections of this podcast that will be intense and graphic and listener discretion is advised.    Finally, if you are enjoying the Silvercore Podcast, it would sure help us out if you like, subscribe, write a review or comment and share with your friends.      

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Intro [00:00:00 – 00:02:02] 
• Colin’s upbringing on the Island [00:02:02 – 00:04:37]
• Working as a fishing guide [00:04:37 – 00:05:12]
• What brought Colin outdoors on the day of the attack [00:05:12 – 00:06:56]
• Climbing Mount Doogie Dowler & it’s history [00:06:56 – 00:10:03]
• Equipment for the trip [00:10:03 – 00:12:26]
• Where Colin went in his trip [00:12:26 – 00:16:09]
• Bear sign, awareness levels & making noises [00:16:09 – 00:19:29]
• Camping spot for the night & food [00:19:29 – 00:21:18]
• Thoughts of protection from a bear [00:21:18 – 00:23:07]
• The next morning [00:23:07 – 00:24:58]
• Bear spotting, thoughts & training [00:24:58 – 00:30:03]
• Lost bear spray, an approaching bear & readying defences [00:30:03 – 00:40:13]
• Close enough I could have touched him & biting into poles [00:40:13 – 00:45:30]
• Lunging bear & pain from inflicted wounds [00:45:30 – 00:55:22]
• Remembering the knife & now your bleeding too bear [00:55:22 – 01:07:44]
• Putting on a tourniquet & disappearing bear [01:07:44 – 01:11:01]
• Riding back for help & finding motivation to get there [01:11:01 – 01:24:11]
• Mentally preparing & planning the rescue [01:24:11 – 01:27:08]
• Arriving into the mess hall & getting help [01:27:08 – 01:33:41]
• Making calls, playing rap music & waiting for the helicopter [01:33:41 – 01:38:16]
• Confident I was going to live & recovery [01:38:16 – 01:40:15]
• Size, age and health of the bear [01:40:15 – 01:43:38]
• Topic of Grizzly bear hunting in BC [01:43:38 – 01:45:25]
• Bear awareness & training [01:45:25 – 01:47:45]
• Outro [01:47:45 – 01:48:14] 

Explore these Resources

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources which may be beneficial to you:

• Silvercore [00:00:10] [00:00:21] [00:00:24] [00:00:31] [00:00:43] [00:01:02] [00:01:45] [00:33:37]
• Quadra Island [00:02:12] [00:02:20] [00:03:18] [00:07:51]
• April Point Lodge [00:04:40]
• Painter’s Lodge [00:04:42]
• Whaler [00:04:48] [00:04:51] [00:05:00]
• Mount Doogie Dowler [00:06:03] [00:06:37] [00:06:57] [00:07:13] [00:07:47] [00:08:45]
• Heriot Bay [00:09:24]
• Bivvy Sack [00:10:13] [00:10:22] [00:19:36] [00:22:34] [00:22:38]
• Colonel Jeff Cooper [00:17:13]
• Colour Code System of Awareness (Cooper Color Code) [00:17:14]
• Stephen Herrero [00:27:02] [00:33:27] [00:33:50] [00:33:52]
• James Gary Shelton [00:27:08] [00:33:23] [00:33:51] [00:34:28] [00:34:43] [00:35:04] [00:35:40] [00:35:57] [00:37:15]

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What is The Silvercore Podcast with Travis Bader?

The Silvercore Podcast explores the mindset and skills that build capable people. Host Travis Bader speaks with hunters, adventurers, soldiers, athletes, craftsmen, and founders about competence, integrity, and the pursuit of mastery, in the wild and in daily life. Hit follow and step into conversations that sharpen your edge.