Date: 2004-04-24
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

THE BACKPACKER AND THE BLACK BEAROne day, deep in the woods, there was a backpaker out for a walk. The backpacker was a serious young man who had a great deal of respect towards nature since nature was this young man's greatest source of pleasure. This young backpacker happened to be hiking alone on this particular day and, in fact, hikes alone on most days since there are few other people he knows who share his love for the outdoor world. The young man was also hiking rather slow as he found that rushing things, not only in the outdoors but in all of life, typically takes away from one's experience (not to mention making experiences more dangerous).So then our story starts as the young backpacker leisurely strolls through the woods soaking up the good feelings produced in him by the natural world around him. As the hiker lolled slowly and quietly along, he became aware of another natual creature strolling along slowly and quietly not too far away from him. Without breaking stride or hurrying or slowing, (and consequently, without weakening or endangering his experience), he turned to see that the creature matching his pace was a large black bear. The black bear was moving along a path parallel to that of the young backpacker and seemed to be completely indifferent to, if not unaware of, the young man and since the bear's path was a comfortable distance from the trail the backpacker followed, the young man resolved to continue on with an equal degree of indifference. So the backpacker and the black bear continued on at their leisurely walks on parallel paths through the woods.The young man was doing such a good job treating the black bear with indifference and taking in the rich influence of nature, that he forgot about the black bear altogether. The backpacker was so indifferent towards the black bear and so in tune with the rest of nature that he failed to observe that the two paths the different creatures followed weren't parallel at all, but were slowly converging. In fact, the young man was so absorbed in his experience, had let the natural world penetrate himself so deeply, that he did not realize the gravity of his situation until he was only a few steps away from where his path would meet with the path of the black bear.Having come to the realization that his path was about to bring him face-to-face with the black bear, who had been strolling along with him for some time now, the young backpaker was very careful not to change speed or direction, for to react now might upset the bear who was still as indifferent or ignorant of the young man's presence as he had been before (besides, any change in speed or direction might adversely affect the richness of the hiker's experience, not to mention the fact that hurrying anything can be dangerous). So, the young man and the black bear continued on, the one totally engrossed in his experience and busily trying to take everything in and the other as indifferent or ignorant as ever until the two paths crossed and both creatures stood, stopped face-to-face.Now the young man stood still and was hit with the full seriousness of his situation. He did not run and did not call out, as this was not in keeping with one being closely in tune with nature. Stillness and silence came much more naturally. Instead, he simply stood and waited and prepared for the experience of dying. He prepared to truly become one with the natural world around him; to take his rightful place in the food chain, to come to his end in a peaceful and natural manner and as he did so he became drunk with experience. So intoxicated was he that he didn't even notice the bear as it raised both paws high over its head. The black bear roared, turned and fled, hooting and hollering, over the ridgeline.