Bear Sightings

While slowly wandering the Pacific Northwest this summer and autumn, we encountered multiple bear sightings—the most bear sightings I’ve ever come across.

My only other real bear sighting was years ago while driving the Alaska-Canadian Highway (the Alcan). A grizzly was next to my auto. I was inside my auto (with my window rolled down).

On this current trip, while traveling from Idaho to Montana, a black bear lumbered across the road in front of us—so quickly that I didn’t have time to lift my cell phone and shoot a photo. And my cell phone was directly in front of me.

Next, while on a sandy beach along the Oregon coast, I was told that a bear was seen just down the way. It was out and about.

Then, at an Oregon campground, the sign above greeted me directly outside my private shower door—a sign warning me of a bear sighting.

This sign was not at the entrance to the park. This sign was not at the communal gathering spots. This sign was not near the trash cans. This sign was specifically only outside my shower door.

This meant, I assumed, that the bear must have been spotted outside my shower door.

What has been so interesting is that every time I tell my partner that I’m afraid of running into a bear, he keeps reassuring me that bears will not cross our path—that I needn’t worry.

After we watched a bear cross our path. After we were told of a bear nearby. After we saw a bear sighting posted outside my shower door.

I eventually found this humorous. I’m thinking humor is the wisest choice for one’s mental health.

I do have a bear bell, though it typically rings when we don’t need it to. We talk about getting bear spray, but I tend to avoid lugging things when I walk, so I’d likely forget it most of the time.

I don’t know that there is a perfect solution, but I think I should choose a wise one.

Because bears are out there.