I spent a week camping in Yellowstone this summer with my family. One of the most sobering events of the summer for me was the news that a hiker was killed by a grizzly bear. Just two-weeks after I hiked the same trail with my son.

We were tent-camping in Yellowstone for the week as a family. It was going to be the biggest camping trip ever for us. Both the longest trip (six nights) and the most remote (no electricity, no showers, surrounded by nature). We talked about the risks and we did our best to take precautions. I had bear spray with me at all times. We took care with our food, storing it in bear proof boxes. We did our best to follow the guidelines shared by the National Park Service and other experienced campers.

On our last full day in camp, we got up early and my son and I were joined by friend and his son and we hiked Elephant Back Trail. It was a moderate hike up a small mountain with a wonderful view. We stayed together, and we carried bear spray. We didn’t see any wildlife on that hike (although we saw bison, elk, moose, deer and bear during our trip). We enjoyed our backcountry experience very much.

Almost two weeks later to the day on that same trail, Lance Crosby was killed and eaten by a mother grizzly bear. Yellowstone is a very big park. There are hundreds of trails. And bear attacks are rare (especially when you consider how many visitors come to the park every year). The idea that someone was doing exactly the same hike that we did and was killed is very sobering.

From the reports, Mr. Crosby was a seasoned hiker. He worked in the park for many seasons. It’s very sad that both Mr. Crosby and the mother grizzly ended up losing their life as a result of this encounter. I suspect he understood the decision he was making by hiking alone. And I suspect he understood what could happen if he encountered a bear without any defenses.

This situation brings into stark relief for me that every day we make decisions that have consequences. We plan for the expected outcome. We must also be willing to accept the unexpected outcomes. We make choices in what we do. And we make choices in what we don’t do. Decisions we make - to either do or don’t do - have consequences for each of us.

I’m happy to have hiked Elephant Back Trail. I had a unforgettable experience with my son, Mike and Ethan. And we all enjoyed an unparalleled view of Lake Yellowstone.