my heart pounding encounter: Face to face with an enormous bear
I am a regular hiker in Southern California’s Angeles National Forest. Last Monday, I noticed that there were very few hikers on the usually packed Mount Wilson trail. It is one trail I have always felt comfortable hiking alone on. I suspected the decrease in numbers was because of the rains had just finished and it was April 15th, tax day.
I hiked 2,100 feet up to Orchard Camp, which is about the halfway point to Mount Wilson. Orchard Camp was a destination resort in the early 1900s. A flood in 1938 caused it to be abandoned, and today only the foundation remains standing. I took a few photos and began making my way down the Mountain, listening to music, and thanking God for a wonderful hike. I moved past familiar spots like the Bailey canyon turnoff and First Water. After making the brief climb out of First Water, I began coming down the mountain. Suddenly, amidst the serenade of chirping birds and running water, I caught sight of him - a majestic bear, his fur a rich cinnamon hue against the bright green mountainside. He was about 200 yards away on another ridge, but was enormous and walking on the same trail in my direction. I have seen many black bears in National parks (usually from the safety of a car or watching from a distance) and he looked bigger than all of them.
My pulse raced. I experienced a mix of awe and fear as I realized the magnitude of the encounter unfolding before me. I looked for others, but I was alone and getting a sinking feeling of isolation. Fumbling for my cellphone, I was met with dismay as I realized it had died at the worst possible time. I accessed my situation; it wasn’t great. You see, they carved out this trail from the mountain ridge. It is steep and mountainous on one side and has a cliff on the other. There were no places to move off the trail to escape. Surprisingly, I did not panic. I was nervous but resolute. Simultaneously praying for wisdom as I attempted to consider my few options. All of my previous wildlife lessons kicked in. (Thanks to my parents for insisting I attend Junior Ranger programs and thanks to the NPS for having them)
As he meandered towards where I was, I slowly backed up, staying several ridges away from him. The trail offered no opportunity to move off and make room for him to pass. My biggest concern was the looming sunset. If I continued to back up deeper into the Angeles National Forest, night would fall. I calmy yelled “Hey Bear” to let him know I was there. At some point, I killed two birds with one stone and switched out to “Help!” I watched him as I backed up for 20 minutes, but when he got to the next ridge over, I must have been evaluating my options because I didn’t see him.
I still thought he was on the next ridge when he came around the last bend. He was only a few feet away, and I couldn’t believe it. While surprised, I held my ground. I shouted at him, “No!”, then to look larger, I raised my hiking poles over my head. He paused and then kept walking toward me. I smashed the poles together, and they clanged loudly. We made eye contact, and I could tell he was trying to decide what to do. When he was three feet away, he took a leap that defied gravity and jumped towards the mountain next to me. The terrain was so steep I didn’t think he could hold on and, for a split second, I thought he was going to fall on top of me. But his long sharp claws grabbed onto the mountainside and while he pulled his legs up, I walked past him, his giant backside just inches from my face. I hurried down the mountain, keeping an eye on him until he disappeared into the forest.
Shaken and full of adrenaline, I was unharmed and grateful. A quarter mile further, I ran into Chris and Mary Ann. They asked if I had yelled for help and when I said yes; they acknowledged they had heard and felt compelled to investigate. These two angels walked alongside me as we quickly made our way down the trail towards the City of Sierra Madre.
When I got into my car, I sat there for a moment, stunned and recounting the events that had just transpired. I kicked myself for breaking some basic hiking rules, like don’t hike alone and avoid dusk. But mostly I sat there in utter disbelief. I had just come face to face with a bear.
Ten reflections from my bear encounter:
That voice in our head, it’s the Spirit of God. As I walked out of the house last Monday, I felt an urge to take my hiking poles. It was the first time I had taken them.
Be prepared for unexpected challenges and allow yourself enough time-even if your task or activity seems routine.
In stressful situations, don’t panic. Stay grounded and ask God for wisdom. (See James 1:5)
Be observant. Even though he surprised me, I was on alert because I had seen him from far away.
Be courageous. I can think of times where I have had to summon courage to have difficult conversations. It can be hard, but surprisingly, it’s not much different from summoning the courage to confront a bear. Dig deep, you can do it!
In dynamic environments or situations, be ready to assess and adjust your approach. Adaptation is key.
Get out in nature! I never feel closer or more in awe of God than when I am in the wilderness.
Be humble. I was fully aware that I did not have the upper hand in this situation. Sometimes, we need that reminder.
Things can go wrong quickly. Follow all hiking rules and make sure you know the nuances of the area you are exploring. Know what to do if you encounter wildlife. While this encounter has not deterred me from hiking, I will be wiser in my decisions.
Whether in the office, in the home or on the trail, reflect on your experiences, and recognize them as opportunities to learn and grow.
