Charged By Bear & Biking The Longest Road in The World
Imagine the eerie silence of an evening in the Yukon backcountry, broken only by the unmistakable huffs and heavy footsteps of a bear just outside your tent. This was the chilling reality for 28-year-old Reed Roffis on a July evening, as he unwound after a grueling day biking the Pan-American Highway — the longest road in the world.
While many of us speculate about how we might react in such a situation, few ever face it. Reed Roffis never imagined he'd be one of those few during his ambitious quest to bike this iconic route from top to bottom. This unexpected encounter turned a routine evening into one of the most harrowing experiences of his life.
I interviewed Reed via one shaky bar of signal, where he shared the heart-pounding details of that fateful night. We delve into all of the juicy details about why it happened, how he felt, and whether or not this will put a strain on the rest of his adventure.
But first, go watch the encounter here.
The Encounter:
Reed is learning photography, and sent me some of his recent photos from his trip. Go follow him on instagram for more.
It was a serene evening in the dense woods of the Yukon. Reed, exhausted from a long day of biking the Pan-American Highway, had just set up his tent a few yards off the side of the road. As darkness enveloped the forest, Reed settled into his tent, relishing the quiet and the solitude.
But that tranquility was shattered by the sound of footsteps crunching on the forest floor. Reed's heart skipped a beat as he strained to listen. Then, through the thin fabric of his tent, he saw it – the silhouette of a bear, lurking in the shadows of the trees. Reed shouted, hoping to scare it off, and to his relief, the bear retreated into the darkness. "I shouted at it and figured it was probably not going to come back because, you know, I thought they're generally pretty skittish," he recalled.
Assuming the danger had passed, Reed climbed back into his tent, trying to shake off the adrenaline rush. But his respite was short-lived. About thirty minutes later, he heard it again – the unmistakable sound of heavy breathing and sniffing, this time right outside his tent. Panic surged through him. The bear was back, and it was closer than ever. "I heard breathing and like sniffing and bear sounds right outside," Reed recounted, the tension in his voice still palpable.
Summoning his courage, Reed grabbed his bear spray and slowly unzipped the tent. There it was, a 200-pound black bear, mere feet away. The bear was not as large as some, but it was still a formidable and potentially deadly presence. Reed knew he had to act fast. "I got my bear spray and sort of walked out, um, outside my camp, and he was there," Reed described the intense moment.
As he stepped out of the tent, the bear advanced, taking a few tentative steps towards him. Reed shouted and waved his arms, but the bear seemed undeterred. Then, in a split second, the bear lunged. "He took a couple of steps towards me and then sort of lunged at me," Reed explained, the memory of the bear's charge etched in his mind. Reed's instincts kicked in, and he deployed the bear spray, a cloud of deterrent mist enveloping the animal. The bear recoiled, turned, and disappeared into the woods as quickly as it had appeared. "That's when I sprayed him," Reed said, relief evident in his words.
Breathing heavily, Reed stood there, the can of bear spray still clutched in his hand, his heart racing. He had narrowly escaped what could have been a deadly encounter, and the reality of what had just happened began to sink in.
The Aftermath: Reflecting on the Bear Encounter
After the adrenaline subsided, Reed was left to process the gravity of his encounter with the bear. "I was pretty shaken, I guess, for a couple of days," he admitted. The close call had reinforced the importance of caution and preparedness in the wild. Reed took the lesson to heart, resolving to be more vigilant with his food storage and campsite setup moving forward.
Bear Safety: What Reed Did Right and Wrong
Reed's experience serves as a crucial reminder of the dos and don'ts of bear safety. Here are some key takeaways from his encounter:
What Reed Did Right:
Had Bear Spray Ready: Reed had bear spray on hand, which ultimately saved him from a potentially deadly attack. "I got my bear spray and sort of walked out, um, outside my camp, and he was there."
Made Noise to Scare the Bear: Initially, Reed shouted to scare the bear away, which worked the first time. Making noise can often deter bears from approaching.
Stayed Calm Under Pressure: Despite the fear, Reed managed to stay calm enough to use his bear spray effectively when the bear charged. "That's when I sprayed him."
What Reed Did Wrong:
Improper Food Storage: Reed admitted to not properly storing his food, which likely attracted the bear. "I got lazy with doing proper like food maintenance in bear country."
Underestimated the Bear's Persistence: Reed assumed the bear wouldn't return after the first encounter, leading him to stay in the same campsite. "I thought they're generally pretty skittish."
Bear safety protocol asks that you keep food 200 feet away from your camp 15 feet off the ground and 10 feet away from the tree trunk. For a better picture of how far 200 feet is you can imagine:
Two-thirds of a Football Field: A standard football field (including end zones) is 300 feet long, so 200 feet is about two-thirds the length of a football field.
20 Cars in a Line: The average car is about 10 feet long, so imagine 20 cars lined up bumper to bumper.
7 School Buses: A standard school bus is about 30 feet long, so 200 feet is roughly the length of seven school buses parked end to end.
40 Adults Lying Down: If an average adult is about 5 feet 9 inches tall, you would need about 40 adults lying down head-to-toe to cover 200 feet.
A 20-story Building: If each story of a building is roughly 10 feet tall, then a 20-story building would be about 200 feet tall.
Reed, We’re with your mother on this one ☝️ #bearspray
The Aftermath: A Hilarious and Harrowing Escape
Reed and the woman, Taylor, who picked him up
After narrowly escaping the bear attack, Reed was still shaken and filled with adrenaline. A couple of nights later, while trying to relax, he thought he heard another bear outside his tent. The fear and stress from the previous encounter surged back, prompting him to take immediate action.
Clad only in his underwear, as he was preparing to sleep, Reed heard what he thought was another bear and instinctively bolted from his tent, running up onto the road to escape the perceived threat. "I was just literally only in my boxers and so I ran up onto the road," he recounted, laughing at the absurdity of the situation. As he stood there, a car approached, and Reed flagged it down for help.
The woman driving the car was understandably startled by the sight of a man running out of the woods in his underwear, yelling for help. "I think I scared her because just this crazy guy coming out of the woods in his underwear yelling," Reed explained.
Reed quickly clarified his predicament. "Hey, I just got charged by a bear a couple of nights ago, and I think there's another one. Can you give me a ride to the next town?" he asked. The woman's initial response was one of pure shock and fear. "The first thing she said to me is, 'Are you gonna kill me?' And I was like, um, I wasn't planning on it but that's, you know, I think I scared her as much as the bear scared me."
Despite the initial confusion, Taylor agreed to help Reed, driving him to the nearest town where he could regroup and process the terrifying encounter. This unexpected and somewhat humorous turn of events added another layer to Reed's incredible story.
Growing up in Boulder, Colorado, Reed was no stranger to outdoor adventures, but bear encounters were not part of his usual experience. "I’m from Boulder, which isn’t exactly bear country," he admitted. This encounter in the Yukon was a stark reminder of the unpredictability and raw power of nature, reinforcing the importance of preparedness and respect for the wild.
The Journey: Biking the Longest Road in the World
Reed’s encounter with the bear was just one chapter in his epic adventure along the Pan-American Highway. His journey, which spans from the Arctic Ocean in Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina, is an ambitious quest that few dare to undertake.
What Inspired The Journey?
Reed's inspiration to embark on this monumental journey came from a combination of restlessness and a desire for a grand adventure. "I was living at home in Boulder, feeling lost after COVID shut down my usual activities in acting and comedy," Reed explained. "I stumbled upon a podcast featuring a guy who had biked 45,000 miles over four years. It sparked my imagination, and I thought, maybe that's something I could do."
The idea of traversing the longest road in the world, covering over 19,000 miles through diverse terrains and climates, was too enticing to resist. Reed saw it as an opportunity to push his limits, experience new cultures, and see parts of the world few people ever visit.
Searching for Meaning
Reed's journey is not just about the physical challenge of biking the longest road in the world. It's also a deeply personal quest for meaning and purpose. "I started this journey because I was looking for something, but I wasn't entirely sure what it was," he admitted. "I hoped that by pushing myself to my limits and exploring new places, I might find some clarity."
Along the way, Reed has discovered that the journey itself can be more important than the destination. "I'm learning that it's okay not to have all the answers right away. Sometimes, you just have to keep moving forward and trust that you'll find what you're looking for along the way."
The Financial Challenge
One significant challenge Reed faces is funding his journey. While he's made it this far through a combination of savings, the costs of such an extensive trip are mounting. "I'm limited by money, not necessarily by time," Reed shared. "I've thought about making a GoFundMe to try to raise money for myself to keep doing this trip, but it's been a tough decision."
To turn this challenge into an opportunity to help others, Reed has decided to create a GoFundMe campaign, not for himself, but also to support a charitable cause. "Instead of just raising money for my trip, I want to make it mean something bigger than just me," Reed explained. "I'm planning to set up a GoFundMe for charity at my next city."
We commend Reed for wanting to give back instead of just focus on his needs, but in his honour — The Nomad Diaries set up a GoFundMe to help Reed fund a portion of this trek. If you’d like to donate, click here. Your support will help Reed continue his trek and make a positive impact along the way.
Support Reed's Journey on GoFundMe
Future Challenges and Goals
As Reed continues his trek southward, he is acutely aware of the challenges that still lie ahead. "I'm heading into areas where I'll encounter more extreme weather and tougher terrain," he noted. "But I'm ready for it. Each challenge is just another part of the adventure."
Reed's ultimate goal is to complete the entire Pan-American Highway, from Alaska to Argentina, and document his journey through social media and a potential book. "I want to share this incredible experience with as many people as possible," he said. "And maybe, just maybe, inspire them to embark on their own journeys."
Conclusion: A Journey of Survival and Adventure
Reed’s journey along the Pan-American Highway is a testament to resilience and adventure. From his harrowing bear encounter in the Yukon to the daily challenges of biking the longest road in the world, Reed's experiences showcase the unpredictability and beauty of the wild.
Inspired by a desire for discovery and a need to find meaning, Reed set out on this monumental trek. However, the financial burden of such an extensive trip is significant. We’ve created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his journey and support a fellow nomad. If you're inspired by his story, consider contributing to his campaign.
Follow Reed's journey on social media for updates and support his adventure as he pedals from the Arctic to South America.
