This was the highlight of our recent backpack at Mt Rainier NP ... seeing a sow and her two cubs passing by our wilderness camp in the late afternoon. We had been relaxing in the tent when we saw them walking toward us across the meadow about 50 feet away. Since we were upwind she didn't know we were there which is always a bit scary. We didn't want to startle her with the cubs because you really can't tell what a sow's reaction will be. A few years ago we had a similar encounter when we were day hiking, and that sow with her two cubs just walked nonchalantly by (but she knew we were there). Anyhow, we scrambled to get out our cameras and watched her nervously, but then she suddenly turned and headed for a grove of trees just across the way. But, then she stopped. Again, if she suddenly heard us, would she just run off into the woods or would she turn and charge? Check out what happened next ..
Hint: she was probably looking for grubs or a small animal
Tech note: I have enlarged this footage in post production to better show the action. It was shot from distance with a short lens (42mm) on my Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera (BMPCC).
