In 30 years, Paul has had no serious problems with wildlife, other than a few tense moments with two separate grizzlies on the Nass Camp trip and a mountain goat on another trip.

Paul was climbing a rocky knife ridge with steep slopes on both sides. He looked up to see a mountain goat charging him, head down. There was no place to go, Paul could not back up so he quickly sat down and turned his shoulder toward the goat's horns in the hope that he could withstand the blow and brace against being knocked off the ridge.

The goat stopped his charge within a few feet of
Paul, turned and walked slowly up the ridge. Needless to say, Paul was grateful that this was a bluff charge.

On the Nass Camp trip, a grizzly was coming up a steep slope as Paul passed along the top of the same ridge. When the grizzly got to the ridge top, it sniffed Paul's tracks and turned to follow. Not wanting the grizzly to catch up, Paul picked up the pace and eventually the bear lost interest and turned off.

When asked about the hazards of hiking alone for days across mountains, Paul doesn't consider wildlife or getting lost a big risk. The true hazard is falling, spraining an ankle or any injury that would keep you from travelling and the best way to prevent injury is to stop and carefully consider any steep rock pitch or snow field before you start across.