A Bear in the Smokies II
Steve got a bottle of water out of the car and we began the hike. We had already decided that since it was getting late in the afternoon we wouldn’t try to actually make it to the waterfall destination. That wasn’t as important to us as it is to some. We simply enjoy walking in the woods and finding the treasures of the forest such as an interesting looking tree or rock formation. It may sound corny but that’s how we are. The path was all downhill so it was easy going (going). We were walking along talking and pointing out things that caught our attention when Steve said, “What would we do if we saw a bear?”
I said, “Run!”
“No! That would be the worst thing you could do.”
“Why do you ask questions like that at times like this?”
He always asks me questions like this when there is a reasonable possibility that they could happen. For example, while on the scrambler at the county fair he says, “What would happen if that bolt came loose?” Talking about the bolt that holds the compartment we are sitting in to the main portion of the ride.
“Well I was just thinking how it’s possible and we should be prepared.”
I agree, that’s logical. Steve bends over and picks up a big stick and says, “I’ll keep it occupied while you get away with the baby.”
Problem solved. I’ve heard people say that they go to the mountains to see the bears and they would really like the opportunity to see one in the wild. I’m not one of those people.
Now my over-active imagination is really in gear so I do what works best for me to calm myself down, I start singing church hymns. My favorite is “Just the Same Today” because it tells of the miracles that God has done in the past and that he hasn’t changed. So my thinking is that he was so powerful then and he hasn’t changed that he can take care of my family even if we have to face a bear. This makes me less nervous as we continue the hike.
We walk on and we slip into silence. The woods are a wonderful place to let your mind wonder and allow thoughts to come. The baby has been so good she seems to be under the forest spell as well and she doesn’t fuss or grumble.
Suddenly, Steve who is walking in the lead position stops dead in his tracks. I almost run into him. He’s looking to the right of the trail and he whispers to me to be quiet and points to the BEAR. No joke a bear is sitting, watching us as we walk. We stand still and stare back at the bear. There is no doubt he is watching us.
Steve says, “Turn around and walk slowly back up the trail.” Remember since the beginning of this walk we have been going directly downhill and we have traveled a good mile and possibly further. I turn around and do as I have been told. I only look back to make sure Steve is following.
We climb and climb for what seems to me an eternity. The bear doesn’t appear to be following us and since I am tired of climbing while holding the baby, I hand her to Steve. Immediately my perfect little girl who is awestruck by the forest bursts into uncontrollable sobs and yells. Steve gives her back to me and she stops, she is happy again. As the mommy with the now aching back, I am not happy, but I would rather have an aching back and be carrying an extra 20 pounds in the form of a baby than to have to tangle with that bear.
When we get about a mile back toward the parking area and we’re sure the bear hasn’t followed us Steve gets back in his playful mood and says something like, “We didn’t have a thing to worry about. Why if that bear had made a move for us I would have slapped him on the head with this mighty stick.” With that he slammed the stick to the ground and it disintegrated at his feet.
“I don’t guess we did have anything to worry about,” I said straight faced, “We would have had plenty of time to get away because after you hit him with that mighty stick he would have been laughing too hard to notice us getting away.”
We finally got back to the parking area. As we headed for our car we watched another family preparing to follow the trail. A daddy, a mommy, a little boy (about 11), a little girl (about 7) and a grandma going toward the restrooms. The dad had a huge, survival (Rambo) knife attached to his belt.
As we walked passed them, I felt compelled to tell them the dangers of walking this trail so I said, “About 1 ½ miles down this trail is a brown bear so you might want to look for a more populated place.”
The dad said, “Did you hear that, there’s a bear? Hurry up or we might miss him.”
I like to avoid crowds. I like to go on vacation in the off-season. It’s more relaxing to me not to get into the middle of the hustle and bustle that some people prefer. That’s just my preference. I don’t go on vacation during the week of the fourth of July. And now, I don’t walk down deserted trails.
For information on
Ultra-light Backpacking Techniques written by an author who has been backpacking through 17 countries during 7 months in Europe!
Click Here!
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Ronald Hubbard
I said, “Run!”
“No! That would be the worst thing you could do.”
“Why do you ask questions like that at times like this?”
He always asks me questions like this when there is a reasonable possibility that they could happen. For example, while on the scrambler at the county fair he says, “What would happen if that bolt came loose?” Talking about the bolt that holds the compartment we are sitting in to the main portion of the ride.
“Well I was just thinking how it’s possible and we should be prepared.”
I agree, that’s logical. Steve bends over and picks up a big stick and says, “I’ll keep it occupied while you get away with the baby.”
Problem solved. I’ve heard people say that they go to the mountains to see the bears and they would really like the opportunity to see one in the wild. I’m not one of those people.
Now my over-active imagination is really in gear so I do what works best for me to calm myself down, I start singing church hymns. My favorite is “Just the Same Today” because it tells of the miracles that God has done in the past and that he hasn’t changed. So my thinking is that he was so powerful then and he hasn’t changed that he can take care of my family even if we have to face a bear. This makes me less nervous as we continue the hike.
We walk on and we slip into silence. The woods are a wonderful place to let your mind wonder and allow thoughts to come. The baby has been so good she seems to be under the forest spell as well and she doesn’t fuss or grumble.
Suddenly, Steve who is walking in the lead position stops dead in his tracks. I almost run into him. He’s looking to the right of the trail and he whispers to me to be quiet and points to the BEAR. No joke a bear is sitting, watching us as we walk. We stand still and stare back at the bear. There is no doubt he is watching us.
Steve says, “Turn around and walk slowly back up the trail.” Remember since the beginning of this walk we have been going directly downhill and we have traveled a good mile and possibly further. I turn around and do as I have been told. I only look back to make sure Steve is following.
We climb and climb for what seems to me an eternity. The bear doesn’t appear to be following us and since I am tired of climbing while holding the baby, I hand her to Steve. Immediately my perfect little girl who is awestruck by the forest bursts into uncontrollable sobs and yells. Steve gives her back to me and she stops, she is happy again. As the mommy with the now aching back, I am not happy, but I would rather have an aching back and be carrying an extra 20 pounds in the form of a baby than to have to tangle with that bear.
When we get about a mile back toward the parking area and we’re sure the bear hasn’t followed us Steve gets back in his playful mood and says something like, “We didn’t have a thing to worry about. Why if that bear had made a move for us I would have slapped him on the head with this mighty stick.” With that he slammed the stick to the ground and it disintegrated at his feet.
“I don’t guess we did have anything to worry about,” I said straight faced, “We would have had plenty of time to get away because after you hit him with that mighty stick he would have been laughing too hard to notice us getting away.”
We finally got back to the parking area. As we headed for our car we watched another family preparing to follow the trail. A daddy, a mommy, a little boy (about 11), a little girl (about 7) and a grandma going toward the restrooms. The dad had a huge, survival (Rambo) knife attached to his belt.
As we walked passed them, I felt compelled to tell them the dangers of walking this trail so I said, “About 1 ½ miles down this trail is a brown bear so you might want to look for a more populated place.”
The dad said, “Did you hear that, there’s a bear? Hurry up or we might miss him.”
I like to avoid crowds. I like to go on vacation in the off-season. It’s more relaxing to me not to get into the middle of the hustle and bustle that some people prefer. That’s just my preference. I don’t go on vacation during the week of the fourth of July. And now, I don’t walk down deserted trails.
For information on
Ultra-light Backpacking Techniques written by an author who has been backpacking through 17 countries during 7 months in Europe!
Click Here!
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Ronald Hubbard
posted by Tammy | 9:28 AM
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