Camper Fights Off Bear Attack

A man fights off a bear after it ripped into his tent while he was sleeping at a backcountry campsite near Aspen.

A group of three hikers were camping in the Minnehaha Gulch area above Crater Lake, about 14 miles southwest of Aspen.

The bear bit the 51-year-old man in his lower leg, through his sleeping bag around 1 a.m. Saturday. Pitkin County officials said the man was able to get away from the bear and call nearby members of his camping group for help.

Officials said the bear lingered around the campsite after the attack, despite many efforts to scare it away.

Campers used first aid supplies they had on-hand to control the bleeding and the group descended down to the trailhead at Maroon Lake.

Members of Mountain Rescue Aspen met the group along the trail and escorted them back. The victim was taken to Aspen Valley Hospital.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife and United States Forest Service are investigating.