Son of champion Holly, survivor of an early leg injury, master of quiet strength.

Every heavyweight division needs a quiet one. Backpack's story starts in 2006, when his mother, former Fat Bear Week champion Holly, introduced him to Brooks River as a first-year cub. He often climbed onto her back when they swam, and a nickname was born. In 2007 he returned with a significant leg injury. No one saw how it happened, he didn't put weight on the leg for much of the summer, and staff and visitors openly wondered whether he'd survive. The leg healed, and he separated from Holly in 2008.

Since then he's grown into a large adult and a consistent presence at Brooks Falls, especially in early summer. Unlike many big males, Backpack hasn't shown much aggression. He'll stand up for himself when necessary, but he prefers quiet strength to gain access to preferred fishing spots, and his body size suggests it works. Look for blond ears and relatively few visible scars. Some bears are brawlers. Backpack is proof that quiet toughness can hold its own among the river's biggest. Can it carry him to the salmon wreath?