Looking back, Diana Mathisen can laugh about it now.

But on a summer day near Hidden Lake in 1978, holed up in a tree as she stared down a hungry bear determined to scurry up the very branches she stood quivering on, the new-to-the-North southerner was doing anything but laughing.

It was a SA国际影视传媒渓ife and death situation,SA国际影视传媒� Mathisen later told News of the North (a precursor to News/North, where she was working) following the harrowing weekend ordeal, which unfolded on her first outdoor excursion in the NWT after travelling North of 60 from Ontario.

SheSA国际影视传媒檇 just started her summer job at the paper as a typesetter and proofreader.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was my first summer here,SA国际影视传媒� Mathisen recalled earlier this week in an interview with Yellowknifer.

The day-trip, which Mathisen embarked on with resident Bill Stirling, turned out to be a day of many firsts for the newcomer SA国际影视传媒� some more enjoyable than others.

She caught her first fish ever after hiking through the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 rugged wilderness for the very first time. Then, in another first SA国际影视传媒� and what she soon hoped would be her last SA国际影视传媒� Mathisen, about to call Stirling over to serve up the fish sheSA国际影视传媒檇 caught for supper, encountered an unexpected, and uninvited, four-legged dinner guest.

SA国际影视传媒淚 looked over and there was a bear in the distance,SA国际影视传媒� she said, recalling that only moments before the sighting sheSA国际影视传媒檇 been reassured by her travel companion the pair likely wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 run into any bears during the hike.

SA国际影视传媒淚t got closer and closer and we started pounding pots and stuff,SA国际影视传媒� said Mathisen.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut it kept coming.SA国际影视传媒�

So the two SA国际影视传媒渧ery quietlySA国际影视传媒� made their way over to a copse of tall trees near where they had set up camp. Stirling was the first to scale a nearby trunk SA国际影视传媒� soon realizing he may have barked up the wrong tree as the bear soon followed him up the same one.

But the bear decided to climb down from StirlingSA国际影视传媒檚 place of refuge, instead, to MathisenSA国际影视传媒檚 shock, turning its sights on her.

SA国际影视传媒淏illSA国际影视传媒檚 going SA国际影视传媒楧iana, you have to climb a tree!SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� she remembered.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd ISA国际影视传媒檓 saying SA国际影视传媒業 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how to climb a tree!,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� recalled Mathisen.

With Stirling still hanging on for dear life, she was on her own. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 when the novice climber took matters into her own hands.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll of a sudden, I was on the top of tree. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 even know to this day how I got there,SA国际影视传媒� said Mathisen, pantomiming the still-vivid quivering that followed. SA国际影视传媒淚 have no control over my shaking and the bear was climbing up my tree,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Armed with only a pocket camera, Mathisen considered SA国际影视传媒渢empting fate,SA国际影视传媒� by snapping a photo of the encroaching animal.

She didnSA国际影视传媒檛. SA国际影视传媒淚 always joked then youSA国际影视传媒檇 see this bear wearing my baseball cap somewhere,SA国际影视传媒� laughed Mathisen.

The bear soon lost interest in the pair of suspended and scared hikers, turning its focus to the smorgasbord of camp food on the ground below (SA国际影视传媒淏ear eats everything but campers,SA国际影视传媒� read the July 1978 News of the North headline).

Mathisen and Stirling werenSA国际影视传媒檛 about to leave their protected perches anytime soon. Mathisen reckons she stayed up in the tree SA国际影视传媒� as the bear would leave the site and then return, over and over SA国际影视传媒� for more than three hours, as the NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 notoriously unforgiving bugs moved on her, leaving her with many-a-war-wound.SA国际影视传媒淚 kept saying do you think anyone will come and get us?SA国际影视传媒� she recalled.

Finally, Stirling suggested they climb down and head for the hills - but Mathisen only agreed if they left everything behind. They did. And a mad dash to safety ensued.

In what felt like a SA国际影视传媒渧ery long time,SA国际影视传媒� the two SA国际影视传媒渞an through the woods, up and down like Tarzan and Jane, through the swamp and over the rocks,SA国际影视传媒� finally reaching the vehicle theySA国际影视传媒檇 travelled in, breathing a big sigh of relief.

Mathisen said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 no expert on bear encounters by any stretch, but she credits escaping the close call with the pairSA国际影视传媒檚 instinctive call  to remain calm in the face of danger SA国际影视传媒� after the banging of pots and pans didnSA国际影视传媒檛 do the trick.

SA国际影视传媒淥f course we were freak out on the inside SA国际影视传媒� but my gut feel is that it was because we were just talking calmly to each other,SA国际影视传媒� said Mathisen.

Mathisen said it took her awhile to SA国际影视传媒済et overSA国际影视传媒� her brush with the bear SA国际影视传媒� an encounter that is still in the back of her mind.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were just lucky I think. We were lucky.SA国际影视传媒�

FACT FILE

How to Stay SA国际影视传媒淏ear AwareSA国际影视传媒�

When camping, always make sure to:

• Avoid areas known to be frequented by bears
• Store food in a secure place and always keep a tidy campsite; wash plates after meals
• Never leave food inside tents. Tents are for sleeping, not snacking!

So youSA国际影视传媒檝e encountered a bear. Now what?:

• Always remember the Three SSA国际影视传媒檚: Stop, Stand still, Stay calm
• DonSA国际影视传媒檛 run away
• If the bear at a distance, let your presence be know by slowing waving your arms and speaking in low tones
• Quietly back away from the direction of the bear or make a wide detour
• Maintain a visual on the bear
• Consider using warning shots or noisemakers
• If the bear is nearby, do not shout or make sudden movements
• Avoid eye contact and slowly back away