A Ten-Foot Grizzly in the Rocky Mountains?

In the history of the Rocky Mountains, there have been many bears that roamed the mountains and fields. There was one such grizzly whose story has been told at campfires to anxious young scouts who wanted to know about Old Ephraim, the ten-foot grizzly. He was commonly known as “Old Three Toes” because of a deformity on one foot. He roamed the mountains from Soda Springs, Idaho to the Logan Canyon in northern Utah from 1911 to 1923.

The evidence of the strength and power of this bear was frightening. At one point, he bit a thirteen-foot log, twelve inches in diameter, into eleven lengths as though they had been chopped. He also bit off a six-inch aspen limb in just one bite, which was nine feet and eleven inches above the ground. He even broke the back of a cow with just one blow of his gigantic paw.

For twelve years, he had been wreaking havoc in the communities. Old Three Toes did some major damage to the flocks, crippling the sheep owners financially. He was becoming a bolder and more ruthless killer as the years passed. Because of this one grizzly, sheep owners had a tough time hiring men to tend their sheep. Many of the sheepherders refused to stay on the job. At last, the community decided it was time to stop Old Three Toes and put an end to his killing. They set trap after trap at all his lairs and wallows. But it was all for naught. Many times his distinctive tracks were all around the trap as if avoiding it. Other times the bear trap was flung many yards away. He was the smartest grizzly anyone had ever encountered.

Frank Clark from Malad, Idaho had had enough and decided to stop Old Ephraim himself. When he saw how many sheep and other animals were being slaughtered, he made it his goal to stop the old grizzly. After a long and steady search for several years, he set a trap at the bottom of a pond where Old Three Toes bathed. He swished the water around to create a cloud of dirt. When it finally settled upon the trap, he took a branch and wiped away his tracks as he backed away from the pond and then headed for camp.

One evening, he heard an ear-piercing roar of the grizzly. When he went to the pond, the sight of the gigantic bear took his breath away. He had never imagined Old Three Toes would be so massive and enormous. Not only that, but he had broken the bear trap. He was angry and when he saw Frank, he rose on his hind legs—all ten feet of him—and headed for his next victim…Frank Clark.

At that instant, Frank froze where he stood. Fear wedged in his chest and he could not move an inch. When the bear was six feet from him, Frank quickly got his wits about him and did the only thing he could. Frank pulled his trigger and shot the grizzly, but it didn’t faze him one bit. Old Three Toes continued toward him. So Frank turned around and ran as fast as he could. When he realized the bear was catching up to him and there was no escape, he turned around and shot Old Ephraim once again but this time in a vital area. The bear fell to the ground with a thud on August 21, 1923. It measured at exactly nine feet and eleven inches tall, and weighed 1100 pounds. Below is Old Ephraim's grave. It is 5'11" tall, representing how large the grizzly was.

The story of Old Ephraim still lives on, being retold at campfires today. The story of Old Ephraim is found in a small pamphlet called “Old Ephraim” written by Newell J. Crookston. Since I am from southern Idaho, I decided to write a historical novel with Old Ephraim as part of the story.

Jenny’s Dream is the story of a young girl’s desire to become a writer and how she finds love in her own backyard. The only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant memory, which has haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before she can follow her dream. This story is about forgiveness and being thankful for our blessings. Meanwhile, the legendary ten-foot grizzly is seen in the area and its boldness has frightened the community.

Paige Lovitt, from Reader Views, wrote: “Jenny’s Dream tells a beautiful story that incorporates the value of loyalty, love, family and forgiveness into it. I enjoyed how the author put real experiences taken from her family into the plot. This is a great touch because it makes the story seem real. Jenny’s Dream is a wonderful story. It is a wholesome novel that will be enjoyed by family members of all ages. I think this series is destined to be a classic.”

Allison King, from Rebecca’s Reads, wrote: “Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there. Jenny’s Dream is a book for all ages that can wrap you up and make you feel all warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough.”

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