Mt. Isolation, June 27-28 '09 (Lightning and rivers and grouse, oh my!)

[arghman]

LRiz bravely set out ahead of us...and was attacked! The thing went for her boots, then flew at her back as she jogged down the trail. It followed her for about 30 yards. It then fluttered back off into the trees...Alex and I passed it quickly and were not bothered...guess it thought it had done its job for the moment. I thought that LRiz was going to have some peck-marks on her, but it turns out the grouse hadn't touched her. I thanked her profusely for taking the hit for us, and apologized for making her go first. LRiz was a very good sport about it.

the same thing happened to me out in Montana last year! All I can think of is that it had a nest right near the trail.

 

[B the Hiker]

I too was "attacked" by a Spruce Grouse last winter. Rather funny. Came right up and pecked my gaitor, which of course did nothing. It came at me two more times, and on the third I simply bent down and picked it up!

I was told the Spruce Grouse is also called a Fool's Hen, which certainly explains its attraction to me!

Also was told that native Americans never hunted Spruce Grouses, since they were left as emergency food if things really went bad.