It\u2019s been less than three months since University of Alaska Southeast assistant professor Forest Wagner was mauled by a bear, and he\u2019s already back to hiking mountains.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter ten surgeries and ongoing physical rehabilitation, Wagner is now walking around and has even climbed peaks on the weekends in Anchorage where he is residing as an outpatient,\u201d according to a Wednesday afternoon news release by UAS.<\/p>\n
The release came with a photo of Wagner, 35, on top of Flattop Mountain near Anchorage on June 25.<\/p>\n
Wagner was mauled by a brown bear April 18 while leading a group of students on a six-day mountaineering course on the northeastern side of Mount Emmerich, near Haines. The trip was part of a University of Alaska Southeast field mountaineering course.<\/p>\n
[Condition of assistant UAS professor improves after bear attack<\/a>]<\/p>\n \u201cWagner was on skis and apparently surprised the bear, which charged and attacked him. In retrospect, Wagner suspects the bear was not hibernating due to an unusually warm spring, and that his ski track likely landed too close to the bear\u2019s den. A bear cub was seen nearby. The sow was undoubtedly being protective of her cub,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n After the bear attack, Wagner was medevaced to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, where he was originally listed in \u201ccritical\u201d condition. After being released, Wagner stayed in Anchorage for outpatient physical therapy and wound care.<\/p>\n