Woman killed by grizzly bear in Montana

“When I saw that United states Cycling was offering women of all ages 50+ and 60+ an opportunity to race this caliber of an function in their age teams, I could not go it up,” Lokan said after her victory, in accordance to a Fb submit by Hammer Diet, which sponsored the occasion.

Her successes on the qualified circuit ended up unequaled by a penchant for personalized adventures that didn’t supply trophies or titles, friends say.

“I feel she was competitive, but that was secondary to the journey or the journey she was on that specific day,” said Mike Castaldo, president of the Chico Cycling Club, according to CBS.

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By all accounts, Lokan was an seasoned outdoorswoman who would frequently make extended-length journeys like the just one she was on Tuesday together the Excellent Divide Mountain Bike Route — explained as “the most acknowledged and significant off-pavement biking route in the United States, if not the world,” by the site bikepacking.com.

The route crisscrosses the Continental Divide from north to south starting up in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and finishing at the U.S.-Mexico border in Antelope Wells, New Mexico. As a result of Montana, the route traverses mountain passes, open up meadows and rugged terrain, like gravel trails and dirt streets.

This April 2006 file photo shows Jacobsen Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Blackfoot River near Ovando, Montana. Authorities say a grizzly bear attacked and killed a person who was camping in the Ovando area early Tuesday.
Caption

This April 2006 file photo demonstrates Jacobsen Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Blackfoot River close to Ovando, Montana. Authorities say a grizzly bear attacked and killed a individual who was camping in the Ovando spot early Tuesday.

Credit history: JENNIFER MICHAELIS

Credit: JENNIFER MICHAELIS

“A lot of the cities on the route, small cities in the center of the mountains, are likely to be actually welcoming to divide riders coming by means of,” said Dillon Important, who works at Excellent Divide Cyclery in Helena, in accordance to CBS. “There’s a pair farms and ranches together the way that enable riders to arrive continue to be with them. It’s kind of a communal experience to it. Everyone’s really welcoming.”

Lokan and her fellow cyclists ended up sleeping around 3 in the early morning when a 400-pound grizzly bear roamed onto their campsite around the submit place of work and museum in Ovando, east of Missoula, in accordance to Montana wildlife officers.

Lokan was “well versed in what she was executing. She knew the potential risks,” Castaldo explained, suggesting she may possibly have enable her guard down for the reason that she was camping in the vicinity of city, fairly than in a remote spot.

Soon after the shut face, Lokan and the other cyclists eliminated the meals from their tents and went again to rest.

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But an hour afterwards, the bear returned, pulling Lokan out of her tent. The other campers employed bear spray to last but not least scare the animal absent. Powell County Sheriff’s officers arrived on the scene shortly after 4:15 a.m.

An undated photo provided by Montana Fish, WIldlife and Parks shows a grizzly bear in the northwestern part of the state. A bear fatally attacked a camper in western Montana on Tuesday, the latest in a handful of serious incidents between humans and bears in the state.
Caption

An undated picture furnished by Montana Fish, WIldlife and Parks shows a grizzly bear in the northwestern aspect of the condition. A bear fatally attacked a camper in western Montana on Tuesday, the newest in a handful of critical incidents among human beings and bears in the condition.

Wildlife officers have been making an attempt to lure and get rid of the bear but have been not able to come across it.

A helicopter from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks flies around the Ovando, Montana, area on Tuesday in search of a bear that killed a camper early that morning. The search for the bear has continued for more than three days with no success.
Caption

A helicopter from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks flies about the Ovando, Montana, location on Tuesday in look for of a bear that killed a camper early that early morning. The look for for the bear has continued for more than 3 days with no achievement.

Credit history: Tom Bauer

Credit score: Tom Bauer

Lokan’s good friends, in the meantime, said they’ll overlook her real friendship.

“She always greeted you with a smile. She was 1 of people people that was often up for an journey and generally produced you to really feel like you ended up the middle of her consideration at all instances,” mentioned Leesa Stefano, who remembers Lokan in 2006 when they both of those joined a bicycling club in Sandpoint, Idaho.

“We were all really energized for her, due to the fact we know what it meant,” Stefano reported about Lokan’s hottest journey. “We could not wait around to listen to the stories. It is considered an epic ride.”