Ok Frenchy
I give. What the heck is a "marked trail"?

Was wondering the same thing.

Sorry. This particular one was about a 12ft long (approx. 2 1/2' wide) stretch that had been completely raked to the ground like a scrape. The bear had definely pressed and turned it's paws into the trail so the print was very visible. A ritual trail is kind of like this (can sometimes be very long), and is used by many bears that walk through the area. On a ritual trail, the bears will place there paws into the same spot as the last bear every time they walk through. I think I read somewhere that a ritual trail can be very old (many generations?). The marked trail is the same thing (I believe), but is used by a dominant bear and I believe is only meant for the one. I've heard that marked trails are shorter 10-15ft or so. Biologist don't understand why bears do either of these activities, but believe that a marked trail is a way of expressing aggression or dominancy. (That last part I had read the other night while doing some research). The marked area I ran into had a tree next to it that had been back rubbed, and the trail was urinated on (which I read are done on a marked trail). Just some quick observations I made before the bruin broke the first branch letting me know he was next to me. I think it is amazing how bears have such unique social behaviors. I'm very glad that he was just passive aggressive, but I think I'll carry some bear spray and more than one slug for now on. Just in case I ever run into one with a meaner disposition.

Anyways, I hope this made sense, and I answered my own question by reading the other night. The two trails are simular, but used for different purposes and in different ways.

Made lots of sense. I have never come across the term or the sign either in life or in print. Never too old to learn.

I guess it's a rare thing to come across, so I'm lucky. Though I'm starting to think it is not rare, just something you really need to look for.

I've heard about the ritual trails, but never found one.
I usually hunt timberland in Washington state so I figured that if an area is logged every 60 years the bears' trails would be destroyed and they'd have to form new ones. So no ritual trails.

Hey! Welcome to the site.