Teenager Recounts 30-Minute Standoff With Bear That Attacked Him on Mount Si
NORTH BEND, WASHINGTON – A teenager who was attacked by a black bear on Mount Si Tuesday is sharing the harrowing details of how he survived a face-to-face encounter that lasted more than half an hour. Nolely Pina was hiking with friends to celebrate the end of the school year when the outing turned into a fight for survival deep in the wilderness.
According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, three hikers were about 2.7 miles up the Mount Si trail around 1 p.m. when a black bear charged the group and swiped at one of them. Pina said the bear kept advancing toward him and a friend, forcing the pair to split up and run in opposite directions.
Tactics Shifted as Bear Continued to Follow
Pina said his first instinct was to make himself look big and loud, a tactic that did not work as the bear kept closing in. While fleeing down the slope, he fell and rolled through brush, losing his shoes and pants along the way. When he finally reached flat ground, he discovered the bear had followed him down the mountain.
For roughly 30 minutes, Pina remained locked in a standoff with the animal, which scratched his leg twice and refused to back off. He cycled through several tactics, including playing dead and trying to scare the bear away, before attempting one more option. A loud whistle finally startled the bear enough to send it running off.
No Hard Feelings Toward the Bear
Wildlife officials said black bear attacks are uncommon in the area. Crews searched for the animal afterward but called off the effort due to difficult terrain, noting the bear had likely moved on. A separate group of hikers reported seeing a black bear with a smaller cub in the same area around the same time, though Pina said his group did not see any cubs and did not provoke the bear.
Despite the ordeal, Pina said he holds no resentment toward the animal and is relieved it will survive. The Mount Si trail reopened to hikers Thursday morning, though Pina says he does not plan on returning anytime soon.
Stay updated for the latest news as this story develops.
