Hiker Mistaken for Bear, Shot and Killed

A 54-year-old avid hiker from Snohomish County was killed this weekend, when an inexperienced hunter mistook her for a bear and fired a single fatal shot. Pam Almli was hiking with a friend on Sauk Mountain in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on Saturday morning. Reportedly, Almli was bending down and putting something in her backpack when she was shot. The name of the tragically mistaken hunter has not been released, as he is under 18 years old. Turns out, the Vice President mistaking an old huntin' buddy for a quail is funny, while this hunting-mishap story just strikes us as tragic and sad, for everyone involved.

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By Abbey in News on August 4, 2008 1:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Abbey

Turns out the 14 year-old gun-toting hunter was alone and not with an adult. He was with his 16-year-old brother when he shot a hiker, thinking she was a bear.

Can we just say, sorry gun rights advocates, but WTF?!?!

MvB

@3, @5: Davy Crockett kilt a b'ar when he was only three. I have that on good authority.

Jeremy

I'll add to comment #3 that not just was he hunting, but he was hunting a bear, apparently. You'd think a parent would be paying closer attention to what he was doing, given that a bear has a reasonably good chance of turning around and catching whatever just shot him.

ruffhauser

Any other rights you want to give up?

jdavin

It's always struck me as odd that we allow children to wield guns, but not drive a car or drink. All three are dangerous, and require mature judgment and experience. I'm no anti-gun advocate, but we seem to be incredibly permissive towards children using guns for hunting.

Saxtor

The one time I hiked at Sauk Mt. I almost witnessed a fatality. The switch-back trail on the face of Sauk is highly exposed, and both descending and ascending hiker traffic must pass each other on this narrow trail. As I was descending, and group of likely inexperienced hikers were ascending. Wanting to get out of our way to let us pass, one youngin' stepped downhill off the trail. As he did so, he lost his footing and was fortunately caught by another member of his group. However, as he did so, he dislodged a football-sized rock which proceeded to tumble down hill. The rock crossed several switchbacks until it met another group of ascending hikers, nearly skulling the trailing member. *shudder*