Hiking in British Columbia

• Ann Quaterman, an outdoor enthusiast, and her friend Christine Bialkowski, planned a hike on a rainy morning of October 1, 1994, near Revelstoke, British Columbia.
• Ann, 28, wanted to hike to her cook's job interview at the Selkirk Mountain Experience lodge (2000m altitude), instead of taking a helicopter.
• Christine, 25, accompanied Ann on the hike.
• The hike was planned to be 15 km to the lodge, located on the other side of a glacier.
• Ann carried bear repellent, stating "Just in case," showing her awareness of potential bear presence.
• Ann and Christine had met and become friends a year prior while working in Rossland.
• The hike began as a casual uphill stroll through the coniferous mountain forest.
• Along the trail, Christine noticed a plastic bag.
• The trail narrowed, becoming steep and rocky.
• The pair maintained conversation to warn bears of their presence.
• Three hours into the hike, they reached an alpine meadow above the tree line (1800m altitude).
• Ann spotted a female grizzly bear with two cubs about 300m away in the valley below.
• The women were initially not frightened, assuming the bears would remain distant.
• The grizzly mother, leaving her cubs, began running towards them.
• Ann initially dismissed it as a false charge.
• Both women started yelling to intimidate the bear.
• Christine panicked and ran.
• Ann yelled at Christine not to run, fearing it would provoke the bear.
• They walked down a bank to get out of sight.
• Ann remembered the bear mace, and took it out of its holster.
• The grizzly appeared 5m away.
• Two metres away, the grizzly rose on its hind legs.
• Ann sprayed the bear's face with the repellent.
• The bear ran past her, and Ann realized Christine was unprotected.
• Christine was attacked, the grizzly clenched, and thrashed her left arm.
• Ann ran to mace the bear again, but the can was empty.
• The grizzly threw Christine into bushes and lunged at Ann.
• The bear bit Ann's arm and knocked her down, they rolled down an embankment.
• Ann played dead, remembering what she knew about bears.
• The grizzly bit and clawed at Ann's backpack.
• The grizzly scalped Ann.

Christine's Response

• Christine, witnessing the mauling, decided to fight back.
• Christine kicked the bear's head then was attacked herself by the grizzly.
• She kicked the bear on the nose, causing it to recoil.

The Aftermath

• The grizzly bit Christine's hip, then released its grip and ran away.
• Christine approached Ann, who was injured and bleeding and they bandaged each other up.
• The women decided to trek back to their truck before nightfall.
• Ann weakened and told Christine to relay a message to her family if she didn't make it.
• Christine motivated Ann, falsely claiming the truck was nearby.
• They reached the truck.
• Ann changed gears with her good arm as Christine drove down the mountain road.
• The women encountered a man cutting wood, and he led them to a road crew with a radio.
• Sandy Patterson called for an ambulance after seeing the women.
• Ann and Christine were taken to Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke.
• Each woman got approximately 50 stitches.
• They told a wildlife officer that the bear should not be put down, calling themselves intruders.
• Ann has a 5-cm scar and lost some muscle tissue.
• Christine recovered fully, aside from scars.
• A year later, Ann and Christine went on a ski holiday together.