It's clear Momma bear did not think of him as a threat, even though she knew he was there (especially after she pulled the lion off of him). This makes me wonder. . .

Is it possible her protective instinct was covering him as well as her cubs? Or was she just not interested because he was not seen as a threat? Yet, as I understand it, Momma bears can get pretty aggressive if a human even starts to get too close to her cubs.

He came back alive, not hurt (or at least not badly hurt) and with a heck of story to tell. Is this really a bad hike?