FWIW bear encounters seem up on trails in the PNW this year, not sure where your encounter was. The news as usual is full of urban and suburban encounters, as if building houses out in the woods is any kind of news. I thought last year was a pretty good one for encounters on trails, I had at least 3 close encounters with bears where in an average year I have none or maybe one. Anyway, a good year for safe practices with food while hiking and teaching your kids how to hang a bear bag.