Conversation

A black bear on a trail somewhere near Anchorage. Photo by Lacee Johnson. I share this because I ran into one of these guys while walking on one of my favorite trails last week. As I walked up a hill and rounded the corner, I heard rustling behind a bush on the side of the trail; I stopped and a black bear, not quite this large, took off into the woods. I went in the opposite direction, walking very calmly. Once I thought I was far enough away, I stopped for a moment and could still hear the bear so I turned around again. Never have I been so relieved to get back to the parking lot. In 24 years in Alaska, this was my first encounter with a bear on the trail and I hope it was my last. #Alaska #BlackBearsOfAlaska #SummerInAlaska