REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Vicious Attack @ Crev. Mo.

1921 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by tscheezy, Jul 3, 2006

bones get broke

Discussion Starter · Jun 28, 2006 (Edited)

So there I was, on an evening ride on my local trail system when out of nowhere I was nearly mauled by a vicious animal. I have never used my Ipod in conjunction with my bike and I thought today would be a nice day to try out the pair. Things were going great, the weather was awsome, I was feeling great, and my Ipod was kickin' out the jams so needless to say the chicks were diggin' me. I was headed over to the Long Lake trail, hauling arse down one of the many quick descents, when out of the brush a snarling Ptarmigan with razor sharp talons and a massive gnashing beak charged my face with ferocity that is probably unmatched in the wild. I am lucky that I have serious mishap skills or I could have very well wound up becoming part of a birch tree.
On a serious note, has anyone ever wiped out due to one of these terrible raptors? I'm still not really sure how I kept the wheels pointed at the ground.

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1 - 11 of 11 Posts

Bearbait

· #2 · Jun 28, 2006

Those tundra chickens can pack a punch...

I've never been attacked by one, but I've never tried to attack them either...

Next time, use the holy hand grenade.

any cool scars?

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Valhalla

· #3 · Jun 28, 2006

The trick is to grab them with your mouth and shake vigorously as they fly by. Then ever so delicately place them in your Camelbak for dinner.

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BigLaker

· #4 · Jun 28, 2006

Yeah right

Are you sure it was a tundra chicken or was it a cute little butterfly?
I'm riding Hatchers today but lets hookup tomorrow for some Crev. Mo. action!

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bones get broke

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 28, 2006

BigLaker said:
Are you sure it was a tundra chicken or was it a cute little butterfly?
I'm riding Hatchers today but lets hookup tomorrow for some Crev. Mo. action!

Dude, the thing was YOUUUUUUGE! or maybe it just looked big because it was inside my facial area.

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Wildfire

· #6 · Jun 28, 2006

Those are rough grouse

The whirring of your freehub obviously simulates their fighting call. Please be careful, those things are not to be taken lightly. Sure they look innocent but watch out. I'm off tomorrow, when are you riding CrevMo?

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BigLaker

· #7 · Jun 29, 2006

ride time

Hey Mark, bones and I will be at the parking lot around 10:15 a.m.
Anybody else want to join us?

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Wildfire

· #8 · Jun 29, 2006

Be there with bells on (grouse bells, that is)

BigLaker said:
Hey Mark, bones and I will be at the parking lot around 10:15 a.m.
Anybody else want to join us?

I'll bring the ptarmigan spray too. See you there.

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damion

· #9 · Jun 29, 2006

You are not alone.

My friend JP was attacked by a Gosshawk in Anchorage, near the UAA trails. He was wearing headphones and no helmet. He has scars in his scalp, and Sennott did NOTHING. (something about the bird on the endangered list)

THat bird was taken a few weeks later by someone tired of all the attacks. It was all over the paper.

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crsouser

· #10 · Jul 2, 2006

Ptarmigan Hearding..

bones get broke said:
.
On a serious note, has anyone ever wiped out due to one of these terrible raptors? I'm still not really sure how I kept the wheels pointed at the ground.

I know when I rode the Denali Park Road and the Denali Hwy last year I seemed like I was riding along with a flock of 20 or 30 of them. I was impressed they could go 10-15mph for a few minutes.. as I went down the road I felt like I was hearding them together and was afraid of hitting one as they flock V'd and I went through the middle of them. So I would say that is the closest I have come to wiping out..

Christopher

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tscheezy

· #11 · Jul 3, 2006

I have gotten mauled by a ptarmigan out here on the Alaska Peninsula, and had a few other close calls. I was hiking along one day in late June, minding my own business, when all of a sudden there was a chorus of "peep"'s to be heard at my feet. What did I behold but a bunch of chicks scattering across the tundra. " Well, isn't that cute" I thought when all of a sudden the world went all feathery as the momma did her best impersonation of a bunker-buster bomb straight into my temple. Once was apparently not enough and after ricocheting off my face she circled around for another assault. I fended her off with my hiking poles.

I've been charged by a momma bear, and this was worse. Let's be careful out there. Don't get between a hen and her chicks.

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