The Bears are Out and Causing a Ruckus
It’s summertime, which means the bears are out in force, lounging by the hot springs, raiding the picnic baskets and, of course, playing some mean BINGO with a glittery-bearded Cyber Slut or two during the Utah Bear Alliance’s annual Bear Ruckus: three days of camping, feasting and fun for (typically) burly, hairy gay and bisexual guys and their admirers and friends.
Held each year at a llama ranch in scenic McCammon, Idaho (after the llamas have been cleared out, of course) the Ruckus is popular not just for Utah’s bears, but for their counterparts all over the West, including a few places in Canada.
“Other than California, our bear group is the most organized and largest in the Pacific northwest,” said Billy Day, the Utah Bear Alliance’s treasurer and membership chair. “There are [a lot] from other states. We have a couple members who live in Montana, and we get a lot of guys from Colorado because we’re talking about doing a shared event with the Front Range Bears, maybe going to Colorado in August for camping.” At present, Day said the alliance boasts 86 paid members and a database of about 200 members — though this number includes inactive members.
Day is hoping that at least 100 bears will show up to prowl through the campground from July 23–25, despite the sluggish economy that is keeping many Americans home this summer. While Ruckus veterans may have noticed that this year’s ticket prices have gone up a bit ($60 for members and $75 for nonmembers). The increase, said Day, happened because the alliance will be supplying the food this year, instead of leaving bears to scrounge for their own grub.
“The first day we’ll do sandwiches and it’ll be kind of a picnic type of lunch for people to eat as they come,” said Day, noting that campers typically arrive around 2 p.m. A “more formal camping dinner” will be provided at the first night’s “meet and greet,” and breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided Saturday, with breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
Along with the readily available food, Day said that the Ruckus’ activities will be a little different than they have been in the event’s seven years. Although the bears are welcome to visit the area’s famous hot springs and go river riding, most of the activities are going to be held at the camp site, including movies, Cyber Slut Bingo Night, game night, and plenty of free time for bears, cubs (younger or smaller bears) and their friends to just hang out.
“Last year we worried about people drinking and driving,” Day explained. He was quick to stress that the alliance’s decision was not prompted by any misbehavior, but by a desire to make sure everyone has a good time. “We want to keep people entertained, but we’re trying to keep them there at the ranch. We just want to make sure that people are safe and that the people who live up there are safe.”
The ranch itself, which is owned by a couple who are long-time alliance members, is scenic and secluded, making it ideal for, well, having a ruckus without having to go anywhere else.
“It’s private and we can do what we want; there aren’t any restrictions on noise or alcohol or anything,” said Day.
Naturally, the alliance will also provide alcohol for the event, including beer and what Day calls “jungle juice — a Long Island ice tea, but more fruity.” Bears who want something other than paper cups for their drinks can purchase a refillable mug for $10. T-shirts are also available for $15.
While the weekend is billed as being for bears and cubs, Day added that gay and bisexual men of all body types and identities were welcome, because the alliance welcomes men who admire bears as well.
“It really is personal,” he said of the bear identity. “[The Ruckus] is for people who think they’re bears or cubs, or who identify with that group, or they’re just lovers of that group. There are quite a few people at the Ruckus who, personally, I wouldn’t think are bears but they like bears or think of themselves as bears, so everybody’s welcome.”
Bears, cubs and admirers who want to come but can’t make it to Idaho this month are more than welcome to come to Bear Coffee, the alliance’s Wednesday night gathering at Raw Bean on the corner of 600 S. and West Temple. For more information about the alliance and its social events — including dinner nights and this autumn’s Mr. Utah Bear and Mr. Utah Cub contest — visit utahbearalliance.com.
The Ruckus is located at 3399 S Old Highway 91 in McCammon, Idaho.