Fact Or Fiction: Bacon Jam, Killer Bears On Ice, Tallest Redwood Falls

As another week rolls by, another boatload of wacky outdoor news washes up on the shores of BACKPACKER.com (along with the odd jellyfish and used syringe). It’s enough to make someone want to tell sweet little lies—which we did.

For your perusal, here’s some of the most bizarre adventure/wilderness updates we’ve encountered this week. See if you can spot the one that isn’t real. (And again, no Googlery! It’s cheating!)

Largest Redwood Falls

The coastal redwood Hyperion, at 379.3 ft the world’s tallest known tree, finally succumbed to an ongoing pine beetle infestation and toppled in the secret grove it inhabits in Redwoods National Park. Naturalists Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor, who discovered the tree in 2006, lamented at the loss but chose to keep the location secret to protect the local ecosystem, which harbors several trees that could potentially assume the title.

Ice Skating Bear Kills Circus Trainer

A bear on ice skates attacked two Russian trainers during rehearsals, killing one and mauling the other severely. Security shot and killed the bear on the scene, but not before he nearly severed the trainer’s leg and dragged him across the ice by the neck. The surviving circus hand remains in critical condition after attempting to rescue his coworker. Experts are unsure what caused the bear to attack.

Bacon Jam

An award-winning barbecue team, just announced the mass-market release of Bacon Jam, a preserves consisting of rendered and pureed high-quality bacon, onion, and spices. This perfect source of backpacking-friendly, gourmet protein sells for $17 for an 8-oz. jar.

And the big lie is… (CLICK HERE TO READ)

Could you call out the counterfeit story? How did you know? Which one fooled you? Tell us in the comments section below.

—Ted Alvarez