Doug Peacock

[steve hiker]

For those of you who haven't read Grizzly Years, you're really missing something.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...206211-0169412

It's a book about his years wandering the wild places of Montana and Wyoming after three tours of duty in Vietnam, getting his head together. In the process he got to know grizzlies pretty well. Here's a bit:

The big bear stopped thirty feet in front of me. I slowly worked my hand into my bag and gradually pulled out the Magnum. I peered down the gun barrel into the dull red eyes of the huge grizzly. He gnashed his jaws and lowered his ears. The hair on his hump stood up. We stared at each other for what might have been seconds but seemed like hours. I knew once again that I was not going to pull the trigger. My shooting days were over. I lowered the pistol. The giant bear flicked his ears and looked off to the side. I took a step backward and turned my head toward the trees. I felt something pass between us. The grizzly slowly turned away from me with grace and dignity and swung into the timber at the end of the meadow ... I felt my life had been touched by enormous power and mystery.

Wondering what Doug Peacock is doing today, I found this article.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ad...007/q_n_a.html

[The Hog]

Steve is right. Grizzly Years is a great read about a great character. If you're a Doug Peacock fan, I'd also like to highly recommend The Lost Grizzlies, by Rick Bass. It details the search for grizzly bears in the San Juan range in Colorado - but, even more than that, it is a fascinating look at Doug Peacock.