Great points, Susan. You have a knack for cutting to the chase.

I wonder how mountainous the terrain is. Big difference between hoofing it on a level plain and going up and down and up and down hills. Especially with, as you point out -- the stress of the situation.

Most people couldn't run 10k in an hour if a grizzly was on their tail.

I will not presume to be able to imagine being in such a situation. Even with all the gear, food and water I always have in my SUV (thanks in no small part to the ETS community), it would be scary and daunting. Poor thing died alone and under duress.

Something to be said for taking my mountain bikes everywhere when out of the city, which is pretty much the case now since most road trips are camp trips these days. My car gear includes multiple redundancies for making fire, but the only backup for the car is my feet, unless the bikes are along.