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Active Fans and Grizzly Bears:Balancing Risks for
Wilderness Campers
Dave WilfordMatt Sakals
Deb Wellwood
Overview
• Blending of geoscience and wildlife biology
• Campsites - geomorphically and bear-human interaction safe
• Looking for bare sediment…• Risk assessment• Most people are happy…
Risk Assessment – Flood Fan• 154 km2 and Melton 0.16• Major peaks in June, July, August –
snowmelt• Diurnal variation – 8pm – 6am• Snowmelt peaks augmented by 2 to 4
days of rain• Predictable• “Policy” of no camping on Bullion Fan
Site Features on Flood Fans
• Elevated sites with escape access• Sites >50 m from forest edge• Access to cooking water• Some cover from main valley wind
Risk Assessment –Colluvial Fans
• 1.2 – 7.4 km2 and Melton 1.4 – 0.6• Difficult to differentiate processes• Events occur after 2 to 4 days of
rain – with or without snowmelt• Weather history and forecasts are
available
Site Features – Colluvial Fans
• Exposed to valley wind and blowing silt• 6 to 8 degree slopes• Coarse or compact sediment• Lack of fresh water• Gentle slopes are on distal areas, as are
escape routes, but…• These areas are close to bear routes
Conclusions
• Camping on fans in the Slims River Valley is possible with limited hydrogeomorphic and bear risk
• Key site and weather features• “No camping on Bullion Creek”• But, with the wind, campers may seek
refuge in the forest…amongst bears
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