Beyond the Bear

I know this book’s journalist co-author, so I may be a bit biased. But I’ve also had scary grizzly encounters—many during my arctic traverse—and few books capture the terror as does this account of a twenty-five-year-old blinded permanently in a bear attack.

Dan Bigley had not embarked on a grand adventure; he was on a trail through the woods, returning from a day of salmon fishing. Like me, Dan used to take troubled kids into the outdoors, so I easily identify with him. His true adventure, and true courage, shows in how he mended his life and even gave it… show more.

This book is not for the faint of heart or for those with a phobia about bears. This is the story of Dan Bigley, a man whose young, idyllic life had seemingly and completely fallen into place. His fortunes, however, would take a drastic turn one evening while casually walking back from a fishing trip on the Kenai Peninsula. This is one of the most harrowing accounts of a bear attack I have ever encountered and the author’s subsequent story, of dealing with blindness and multiple surgeries and the altering of every relationship within his life, is difficult to digest.… show more.