I have a deal with God. I leave him alone and he leaves me alone. The same goes for bears.
I’ve told this tale before, but it bears repeating. Long ago, and far away I was on a hike with my 10 year-old son, Brian. We were hiking up Arch Rock, to Alum Cave Bluff, and ultimately to Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mt. Nat. Park.
At the top, we encountered BEARS. It was like it was Bear Pride Day™...or something. The family that had passed us on the way up was picnicking, but the bears had other ideas. Every see a bear eat a can of Pringles, can and all? We did.
Anyway, I’m not ashamed to say that I’m scared shitless of bears. We were trying to just get away, and after leaving the top we encountered a bear right in the middle of the trail. His trail, not ours. ‘Stand your ground’ is good as a concept, but not if you are facing a 600 lb. wild animal with big teeth.
O.K. I knew I was going to die. I knew that I had to protect my son from this beast. What was I to do? Suddenly, from behind me came this teen-aged girl wearing a headband. She looked like Wonder Woman. Without hesitation, she picked up a large rock and hurled it at the beast, yelling at it to GTF out of the way.
The bear scarpered off into the underbrush, not to be seen again.
I was stuck with awe. This girl was, and forever will be my HERO. It didn’t matter that it poured down rain on us the 3 miles back to The Boulevard Trail which met up with the AT. We were saved by Wonder Woman. Never forget the heroes.
You can never be too careful
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