Thar's Bars in them thar Mountains...

So much for the western drawl (that's bears... not bars)... Sandy is heading up the Icefields Parkway, between Banff and Jasper and the first sign warns of this...

 Bears are dangerous!! Sandy is a little offended by this sign as he wants all to know that he is most definitely not "dangerous"! And he is most definitely a bear! But then there are wild bears and there are tame bears...

 At a hiking spot there is another sign, warning yet again of bears... it is berry season after all, and the bears are apparently out in full force.

 The sign gives some specific advice regarding bears. Make lots of noise (Sandy will have to practice that). Watch for fresh bear sign (Sandy is good at spotting poop). Slowly back away if you see a bear (Sandy is good at moving slowly). But the second one is interesting - carry bear spray...

 Luckily, Mama does pack bear spray so... we have that one covered as well.

Mind you the bear spray canister is almost as big as a little bear. Sandy isn't sure how to use it... so he will leave that up to Mama. Not knowing how to use bear spray can be dangerous. There's the story of the Asian tourists who bought some bear spray and then used it inappropriately... they used it like you would use mosquito spray. Ouch!

 Anyhow - Sandy saw a bear almost right away - but this one didn't look all that dangerous...

 Nor did this one...

 Or this one...

 With these two, Sandy did feel compelled to climb a tree, but even these bears were no threat.

 And this one looks downright tame... all dressed up in a Mountie outfit. "Please Mr. Mountie Bear, can you tell me where the bears are?"

Ah, finally!!! A real... er... live... er... a wild black bear by the side of the road! (Sandy takes exception to calling it a real bear... or a live bear... implication being of course that Sandy is neither real nor live... shhhh). This bear was very intent on eating soapberries and had no interest in humans (and little bears) gawking out of a car.