[OGRipper]

Fun. Came around a corner pretty hot a couple years ago in Quincy, CA to find a large bear in the middle of the trail. Hit the brakes and managed to stop about two feet from impact, each staring into the other's eyes the whole time. (Yeah, we had a moment.) Scared us both pretty good, it scooted up a tree faster than I've seen any bear move.

Could have been a lot different if it was a grizzly.

And not quite as cool as the time an owl landed on my back and pack and tried to fly away with me on a night ride.

/coolstorybro

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Heard what I believe to have been a Bobcat just after it got dark on my Mt. Mitchell hike yesterday. At first I thought it was a female camper somewhere starting to scream then it turned into something completely different. Spooky man...