Beetle - HAHAHA! Nice.

I ran smack into a black bear while hiking/camping in the cascades of WA state about 3-4 years ago in the fall. Was wild huckleberry picking up on the ridgeline and apparently so was the bear. I don't know which of us freaked out more, me or the bear.

I rounded a bluff corner and there he was chewing on a huckleberry bush. Was a small guy, he stood up and probably came up to my nose, he was only about 15-20 ft away. I could have under hand tossed my baggie of berries and hit him he was so close.

I froze and held my spot, he gave a startled hop, turn away, stood up after just a step or two and looked back, then ran.

I had no idea bears could run so fast. Thank God he ran away, because I know for a fact there's no way in hell I ever could have out sprinted him for safety. Ran like a horse and sounded like one too.

After my pulse dropped to under 200 and the adrenaline surge passed I gatherd up my gear and headed back to camp. That moment in time is absolutely burned into my memory.