The grizzly bear pictured above came in hard and fast from behind as we BBQ'd steaks at a wide spot on the main gravel road that passes through the heart of Alaska's Denali National Park. Without barks, growls or hesitation, Tank, our then 12-month old Mastiff puppy charged forward, stopping less then ten feet from the bear and held his ground. The bear stopped dead in his tracks and didn't come any closer. We called Tank back and ordered him into the Jeep. It must have taken my wife Ronda 30-seconds to load everything back into the rig as I dug for my camera. We yelled some more at the grizz and climbed into the Jeep. It finely walked off stiff legged only to turn a couple more times before we moved him on down the road with the Jeep. I now can confirm that fear tastes like copper for it tasted like I had a mouth full of pennies. This all took place within 30-feet of where we were both standing. The bears first stop after charging us was at a rest area just up the road where it playfully scratched it's back on one of the columns at the door of the outhouse. After viewing the pictures, it's hard to believe that this bear could hurt a fly. We all guessed it to be a three year old with not much experience with dogs. An older wiser bear? Who knows for sure what the outcome might have been. Tank was later rewarded with a T-Bone steak and allowed to sleep on the couch that night back at the lodge. The BBQ "was" a tradition of ours, a treat for making the first trip of the year back into the Park. Next year it's Granola and Milk, the BBQ stays home!

;O)