Welcome to Awe Nice, where we highlight moments of wonder while working outdoors.

This week, we return to a conversation with Nina Hance, the backcountry guide from Montana.

Nina and her husband have had several encounters with grizzlies. Once they were mountain biking and were bluff-charged. She estimates the sow, who had cubs with her, was 500 pounds or so. While the incident was short, it had a lasting impact on her psyche, including regular nightmares.

Another time, she and Alex were hunting and were chased off while field dressing a deer.

Because of these events and others, she tends to flinch when she sees big dark objects, what might be a bear, but what might also be a stump or a rock. She’s become hyper vigilant and often avoids being in the backcountry at dawn and dusk, especially in the fall when bears go through hyperphagia, seemingly ravenous, in preparation for their winter hibernation.

You’d think that at 10,000 feet, in a bit of a spring blizzard, grizzly bears would be the least of your concerns.

Awe, Nice! welcomes interviewees. If you have a moment you experienced while working outside and would like to share it, contact us at awenice.com.

Our music is by my friend, Forrest Van Tuyl. You can find a link and a donate button on our about page.

Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Until next time.