Bears Go Rock Climbing, No Harnesses Required

1 minute read

Unless you’re the Dread Pirate Robert, if you want to rock climb up the Cliffs of Insanity — or similar vertical incline — you’re going to need some gear.

That is, if you’re not a bear.

An eagle-eyed kayaker was paddling down Santa Elena Canyon when she spotted two bears shimmying up a rock wall without harnesses, helmets or ropes, proving that for the ursine set, it is possible to hit the mountain without stopping at REI first.

The YouTube poster identified the climbers as “endangered Mexican Black Bears (momma and cub)”. The mother bear managed the vertical climb with ease, but the cub had to make some impressive and daring spread eagle moves to scale the steep rock face. Give him a few years, though, and he will undoubtedly be able to make the climb with a picnic basket in one hand.

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