How to not get mauled by a bear

As students living in the ‘last best place,’ we all share a mutual love for the outdoors, whether that’s skiing, hiking, mountain biking, rafting or simply just enjoying the spectacular views. 

Unfortunately, there is a downside to this love and sometimes it can hurt us, especially when we are not prepared for all the possible outcomes. It’s no joke that the outdoors can be dangerous. Have you ever seen “Naked and Afraid”? There are precautions everyone should be taking when participating in your favorite outdoor activity. 

A great way to learn about some of these safety protocols and even take up some new outdoor oriented hobbies is by attending MSU’s outdoor clinics. The final clinics of the semester meet at the Outdoor Recreation Center, from 4-5 p.m. on Oct. 11, and at 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 5. 

Zoe Peterson, student instructor, trip leader, SAL mentor and rental shop staff for the Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP) encourages all students to attend these clinics. “All of these free clinics are meant to bring more people into the beautiful Montana outdoor spaces while creating a welcoming and inclusive community,” Peterson said. “No prior outdoor experience is necessary and our student instructors are stoked to be teaching fellow peers and staff outdoor techniques that are applicable to living in Bozeman.” 

ORP offers four clinics overall, two during the fall semester and two during the spring semester. The first two clinics are bear safety and bike tech workshops and the second two are avalanche rescue and cross-country skiing clinics. All clinics are free of cost and offer participants coupons like 25% off a season long rental of bear spray or rental of an avalanche safety package.

The bear safety clinic teaches students about different types of bears and the behavior that those bears will exhibit. It also discusses how to avoid bear encounters with multiple types of tactics like bear food storage and bear spray use. “The bear safety clinic is a great crash course on learning the basics of bear behavior, preventing bear encounters and staying safe in the backcountry,” Peterson said.  

The bike tech workshops are great for students who are interested in learning about bike fixes. Student instructors will work on how to identify and repair flat tires as well as bike chain maintenance with attendees. “This clinic is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about fixing their own bikes and allows for a welcoming space to ask questions and hands-on learning,” Peterson said. “Also, our rental shop has bike tech hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m., where students and faculty can come in and work on their bike with assistance from our student bike techs.” 

The avalanche rescue clinics educates students how to properly use an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel and focused coaching with ORP staff. “Students can rent the gear needed for free or bring their own to get familiar with it,” Peterson said. It's also recommended, but not mandatory, to bring gloves and a coat for a more realistic practice.

Lastly, the cross-country ski clinics will consist of a beginner cross-country ski lesson. All necessary gear is provided for free. “ Our instructors teach participants the fundamentals of classic cross-country skiing and give people the opportunity to ski around the ski loop on campus,” Peterson said. 

Whether it's taking up a new hobby you may end up loving or being prepared for some of the unexpected challenges nature throws our way, MSU’s outdoor recreation clinics are beneficial to anyone who takes the time to attend them.