Nothing Compares to You


“When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.” John Lennon


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Oh, the Majesty! I inhale deeply enjoying the beauty of my day. I get swept up in the sights, sounds, and the smell of nature, and hold that thought as I look over the scene before me. I yearn to press the pause button, but instead, I stop and reflect on how fortunate I am to be able to enjoy this moment.


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I look around at the almost empty park today. The scenery is resplendent, so much to look at, so little time. Most people know intuitively, at least to some degree, that the privileges and good things they enjoy in life are given to them and that they are meant to be grateful for what they have, or what they do. I always feel that way when I am doing something that is out of my normal day. I walk or exercise almost every day, but, to drive over to the mountains is out of my normal range of things to do when I have time kind of thing. I love nature and spend as much time enjoying Mother Nature as I can. She gives without asking, the perfect kind of relationship.


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I have no idea why, but it never occurred to me that there were so many black bears in Shenandoah National Park. The Park Rangers approximate that there are 1 to 4 bears per square mile. They keep track of sightings and I showed him off. I was so stunned at seeing this old boy that I could hardly take a picture of him. He kept looking back at me, three steps, look back. Three steps, look back. As if I was going to follow him. Sorry for the not so great picture, the last thing I wanted to do was get closer than I already was. Realistically, he is more afraid of you than you are of him and he was happy to leave me.


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Hiking the Appalachian Trail, a section at a time. Only seven miles this day, but, in fairness, the average mileage is about eight miles a day as the terrain is uneven, rocky, and somewhat challenging at times. Of course, we were fresh and hadn't been hiking for days and days and days, so that was a distinct advantage. I keep a log of where we were and how far we went, and we all hike it together when we can meet up. It is fun to do it as a team, although many people I meet are doing it by their alone. Males/Females, it doesn't matter. If you need help, there is always someone on the path to help. I met up with someone who poked a hole in his head with a broken branch and gave him first aid. We chatted for a while and we went our separate ways, his whistling bringing a smile to my face as he wandered deeper into the woods.


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In this reflective space, I have focused beyond what I can see, feeling so small, as I stand here in the wide open. But as I stand and contemplate, I can see new possibilities out there, just waiting for me to find them. It's what happens when you are looking through a different lens. Now and then I like to change my focus.


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All I have are my words, armed in my mind, written in pen, stand by stand. Oh, yes. Still by hand. It has a different feel. Altered not by keys, backspace, and delete, I write, erase, tear it to pieces and start all over again. And again.

It’s my way. I walk out to the deep end of the page and dive right in.


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The Naming of Cats

The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,
It isn’t just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I’m as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

TS Elliot


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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 78 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
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Give me a holler next time, I'll come with.

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It is only 100 miles through the Shenandoah National Park, but, it is one of the easier sections and I really should have done more, but, I was scouting out the overlooks for some color. It will be better color next week. I have hiked several of the sections in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia, and Virginia. There is a 14-mile overnighter in Virginia also, but, it has a challenging 7,000 ft rocky climb, so, I will wait for spring. Too many wet leaves right now for me to even want to do that, although they keep the trails pretty nice.

Give me a holler next time, I'll come with.

But, can you whistle?

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It seems a nice place to hike and I'd like to have a look around. On the whistling thing...Hmm, yeah I can but not really loudly...Does this count me out?

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It is a nice place to hike, and there are many that do the entire trail in one hike. It usually takes about 6-8 months as some of the trails are a little more challenging than others.

One of my girls wants to do it, with a group, someday.

Whistling is so overrated.

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Whistling is so overrated.

Thankfully 😀.

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A seven mile hike is nothing to shirk at. Such beautiful terrain. Thanks for sharing it with us:)

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Hey, Pryde! @prydefoltz It isn't but, had I started earlier, I could have done better. There are 100 miles in that stretch, so I better get crackin on it. :) It is different hiking as opposed to sidewalks and roadways, which I do more of, but, once I get adjusted, it goes much quicker.

What a whiner, yes? :)

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Oh yes ... I understand. A trail is much more challenging physically and mentally but so worth it for the nature. I took my son on a mini hike today through Stanley Park:)

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Definitely worth it. Someone tell that to me after the ten miler next week. Killing me softly.

Well, not so softly. Did you enjoy your time today? I'm sure the weather was nice today!Everything in the northern tier was gorgeous!

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It was a beautiful day. Funnily enough ... looking at my step counter ... we also did about 7 miles. We walk so much though I hardly notice. I am my most content walking in nature:)

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Thats so cool! I walk a lot too. I use the step counter only when i am deliberately running or walking. We did lots of non trail walking, but only 7 miles of trail.

I dont feel complete if I dont get me walk in... every single day.

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Oh, what amazing views!
And sincere words come from a sound heart

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Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your words. I hope you have a great day!

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Wow, it was educating going through this post and lovely photography as well @dswigle

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Thank you for stopping by tonight. I appreciate the feedback.

Hive on!

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Beautiful !

I love the views of and from the mountains. I believe it has been 20 years since I have been there. When I was growing up, Mom would pack a picnic and off we'd go with our station wagon to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We'd ride a while looking at the trees, stopping at the overlooks here and there, drinking spring water from a pipe at a country store I can't remember the name of and eventually, pick just the right place to stop, spread the quilt out on the ground and have a splendid picnic ! It was SO much fun !.... and beautiful.

I enjoyed seeing your photos.

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How cool!!! Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina or Virginia? I wasn't sure which you meant. I was actually in the Shenandoah National Park, but, the Blue Ridge Parkway in Lynchburg, Virginia connects with one of the entrances from there. I entered the Front Royal entrance to the park and went the whole 106 miles down to Waynesboro, Virginia.

How fun it is when you are a kid and you go on these types of excursions! We did a lot of picnics when we were kids too and it seems to me that sort of thing has gone out of style, with Mommy working all the time. :( I think kids have a different bringing up than we did.

Especially when they are really young.

The park is so nice and they keep the AT trail very nice here. They are big on leaving no trace behind and to tell the truth, most hikers are religious about it. The bear was so cute and he was more afraid of me than I was of him. That just makes me smile. They are less timid with Covid being around and nobody at the park.

Anyway, I want to thank you for stopping by! I hope you get to bed at a decent hour. LOL

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I rarely go to bed at a decent hour on the weekend. It's the only nights I can stay up till the wee hours if I want.... well.... unless I want to work while still sleepy.... yuck!

Yes... the Blue Ridge in NC. I don't know if we ever crossed into Virginia as of course I would not remember now and most times it was just a one day trip and took us a couple of hours just to get to the mountains themselves.

Back then, it was much more economical for Mom's to cook and pack a picnic when they had 5 little children (or even when it was only 4). I mean she cooked all the time anyway and it was not a big deal. Lots of times it included fried chicken and country ham biscuits, among other things of course. Not only that, back then, there weren't so many restaurants and the such along the way.

Good times.

I probably should go to bed because I keep hovering over a piece of someone else's art that is calling to me off of etsy. LOL.....

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Run for your life! :)

It was in North Carolina. Virginia is too many hours from Charlotte for a nice day trip. I love the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and it is so darned pretty. I did a little bit of leafing down there too. It poured here tonight, so it better not have knocked my leaves off the trees. I am not done with them!

We had nine kids, so we never ate out. Even if the restaurants were few and far between, with 11 it was just not feasible. Even when we traveled, mom packed our lunch. It was fun and we thought of it as an adventure, but, then again, there was no expectation of eating out. My moms' food was way better anyway.

Fried chicken for sure and biscuits. Le sigh. I miss those days of not being responsible for anything.

I might just go and read tonight. I love reading and I try to end my night with it. Okay, truth be told, I cannot end my night without it. So it will be 2 am by the time I finish my shower, so good night. Sleep tight. ❤️

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Good night ! Sweet dreams !

XOXO

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Almost to bed. Lol

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I thought you were in bed already... I was just sure I heard some snoring.

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Haha! You might have, but, it wasn't me! I was still tending to #MarketFriday- although, I really will be running off pretty quick! I have a book to read!

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turns off the light

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No way! I dont believe you!

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That was YOUR light, mines still on.

...and the art is ordered.

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Nope! I wasn't there if you did! Ran to the store for tootsie rolls. Just got back.

Art. You did not!

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You ran to the store for Tootsie Rolls in the middle of the night???

That must be some kind of addiction...LOL !!

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No, I needed to get half and half for coffee for the morning. I would rather do it at 2 am than 8 am... after church? Ugh! Everyone and their mother is there then.

And I got some tootsie rolls while I was at it, along with a few other necessary wanted things. :)

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Oh!!! I did read last night for an hour! Boo me!

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ha ha,.... I hadn't seen this message when I responded above...

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Look ! I never saw a dressed up pickle ornament before.... have you ?

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OMG!!! No!!! Where did you see this bad boy?

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Nothing compares to that! How fun is that?

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Amazon.... Christopher Radko..... $53.... get out those money bags ! ha ha

I'm not buying it, but it says order soon, one left. Of course they are probably for sale somewhere else too.

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I have 6 Christopher Radko, when he was made here and now, he is not. It is not the same as it used to be. Oh, and most of mine were gifts, and I won one in a raffle here in downtown Old Alexandria a few years ago! Me! I won something.

That makes me sad. But, cute as a button!!!! Thank you! It made me smile!

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Radko sold the company in 2005 to Rauch Industries, then completely separated himself from the brand.

It started in Germany even though he is an American Polish guy and now has factories in Germany, Italy, and Poland.

Did you see the Radko pickle that was dressed up for less $$ ?

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I didn't look, but I already got a pickle, so I wasn't in the market for one. Just thought it was weird/cute....LOL ! I know you could appreciate it.

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I do! I have a pickle too and a little mini one. It is so stinkin cute! :)

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I knew you had a regular one. Didn't know you had a mini too.

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One of the girls got it for me for a stocking stuffer a few years ago. It is so adorable. So now, we have TWO pickle prizes. A regular one and a gag gift for the baby pickle. It is fun that way. :)

Gag as in a silly gift.

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Oh... that sounds like a great idea. Finding and giving gag gifts is such fun.

I saw something the other day I thought would make a great gag gift, but now I forget what it was. LOLOLOLOL

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I do live a good gag gift! I need to think up one!

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Realistically, he is more afraid of you than you are of him and he was happy to leave me.

The meeting with that bear was probably intense or at least interesting, exciting. I have not encountered with any bears so far. I am glad and happy that your meeting with him was without any incident.

Have a nice day and have a nice weekend.
All the best. Greetings from Hungary.

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I actually think that because there were few people traveling, even the parks, during the height of COVID, they are a little more out and about than they used to be. Plus, it is close to hibernation, so they are heavily foraging.

It was a chance meeting. :))

Goodnight from here!

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Goodnight from here!

Good morning from here. All the best.

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I actually think that because there were few people traveling, even the parks, during the height of COVID, they are a little more out and about than they used to be. Plus, it is close to hibernation, so they are heavily foraging.

It was a chance meeting. :))

Goodnight from here!

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The Park looks beautiful with the leaves changing colors. That's so cool that you saw a black bear. Looks like a young one. I've only ever seen two in the wild. One was so far away though I don't know if I should count it. Lol

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It was pretty cool seeing with black bear yes I've never seen one up that close and personal. The park is not quite in Peak oh, probably next week or so but the wind has been howling so I hope there are some leaves left. It wasn't a young one it was an adult but black bears don't get that big. I say, close or far if you saw it, you can count it! Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

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The view there is absolutely breathtaking! So many trees, so much greenery. Also, love that bears are protected in the area.

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I must say that they really are more breathtaking in real life. There is so much greenery and it just surrounds you. I love that the National Park is a protected area and there is plenty of Wildlife supported by it. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

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Very cool to see the bear!

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Thanks so much! I rarely see bears up there, although there are probably 1/4 per mile in the park. Now, that is a lot and I don't know how this is the first one I have seen there, although I think with COVID and the absence of people, it has brought out more.

It was pretty cool though. Didn't he look frightened? LOL

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It's funny how often we miss the wildlife around us. I put a trail cam out a couple weeks ago and haven't checked it yet. Been raining yesterday and today so didn't go out to check it. May not get out there to check until next weekend, but will be interested to see what kind of visitors we've been getting there at night. I frequently see the eyeballs glowing back at me when I hit the field with a flashlight. The deer are much more nocturnal and spooky up here, a lot more hunting pressure here than we had back in Colorado suburbs where they were almost like pets.

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Yes! They are like pets here. People even feed them. I assure them that is still baiting. :) My summer house on the Canadian border was like that, they were totally nocturnal and I had an apple orchard on the property, but picture windows so we could see. :)

There were 80 acres and everybody wanted to hunt the land during the season as I was never there, only in the summer with the kids. It has a big concentration of bear, deer, beaver, muskrat, and all the regular
visitors. My neighbor bagged the biggest bear ever caught (at the time) on the property. Neighbor= 1/2 mile away once you got to the road.

We could send each other messages via morse code LOL It was a lot of fun.

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No worries, just running by. LOL

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I love this John Lennon quotes.

Oh love the atmosphere and colors also. a wonderful experience you gather. Thanks for your awesome Post! God bless you my dear friend @@@dswigle.

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Thank you! I love that John Lennon quote too. It is so true, isn't it? The atmosphere was so serene and beautiful. I had a wonderful day and an awesome hike. I am so glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for taking the time to read the post, leaving your words behind.

Have a wonderful day!

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The mountains sure are beautiful to see, and those open vistas are literally awe inspiring!

Yikes I would certainly have some bear spray just in case. I hear its not just for bears as well.

Thanks for sharing that. You look snug as a bug in a rug!

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This is one of those cases where it was more beautiful than the pictures are. I just couldn't bring out the color and there's a couple pictures that are less than good because I tried to do that. I need to just leave them as they are. That is the thing! I didn't expect to see bear there but I forgot that it's getting close to hibernation, if they even hibernate. I'm not sure they do but it gets pretty cold up there in the mountains so they probably do. I was minding my own business and almost freaked out when he appeared. The day that I went was the day that the wind blew and was howling through the mountains as I was hiking. Thank goodness for voice and the sweatshirts they sent me. See? Some good use came out of it. I have another really strange things happen with a buck. Thank you for stopping by and leaving your words!

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The photos are really beautiful, the landscape is so gorgeous. Perfect for a hike in contact with nature. Although, I think that if I saw a black bear like that I could pass out even if it was far away.

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Hehe! Noooo! It was like Yogi Bear at Jellystone Park! :) Except without the picnic basket. Thank you so much for your kind words. The hike was perfect!

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Wow, what a beautiful environment. Thanks for sharing because most time I do anything for somebody without appreciation, I always feel sad but from now on i just have t let go

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Congratulations @dswigle! You received a personal badge!

You powered-up at least 10 HIVE on Hive Power Up Day!
Wait until the end of Power Up Day to find out the size of your Power-Bee.
May the Hive Power be with you!

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Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:

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Bee ready for the 2nd Hive Power Up Month challenge!
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Thank you!!

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You're welcome @dswigle, that's with a lot of pleasure!!! We wish you a really nice day 😊👍 See you soon and happy HPUD!

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Beautiful photos Denise. I love you got to see the bear. There are no bears left on PEI but lots to be seen where I spent my childhood in New Brunswick. I never found them threatening and my grandmother told many interesting stories of her encounters with them. 💕🐻

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Thank you, Jo! I love it when I can get a peek at one. :)) They are so shy. No bears? Really? We camped in New Brunswick and I can vouch for bears there still! I sure would love to sit in front of a roaring fire and listen to your grandmother's encounters with them.

Grandparents have the best stories!

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your workds!

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Most welcome Denise @dswigle. The last bear on PEI was killed (shot) in 1927. I feel bad the bear was killed. People were afraid of them; some folks had been attacked.

The last bear on P.E.I. was killed by the Leslie family from Souris Line Road. After a snowfall in the winter of 1927, Harold Leslie's grandfather saw bear tracks in the snow. The next day his two teenage sons set off tracking the bear.

"My uncles, there was two of them, George and Bernard ... they left early in the morning," said Leslie. "Could be around noontime perhaps or a little later when they found him under a tree. He was a big male bear, a black bear, They said there was some old wound marks on him

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That's kind of funny because they really aren't ferocious oh, but that could be just here in because nobody hunts them in the state parks. He was just so shy and adorable because he kept looking back at me like I was going to follow him or chase him. They're kind of on the small side here oh, but I know that about the Canadian border where we have the house they were bigger. Scratch that oh, they were much bigger. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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Most black bears are shy but one has to be careful. There are different bears, I wouldn’t want to meet a grizzly bear out in the wild. Perhaps the recordings of death by black bears was because the bear was hungry or had cubs.

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I agree with you 100% and I passed that along to my kids when we spent a lot of time at the summer home. They may seem okay, but, they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable, but, only because we don't know what is going on with them. (hungry, cubs, or rabies, although rare.

Grizzlies are different altogether, and I wouldn't want to meet one either. In areas with expanding bear populations combined with increases in recreational visits that we have had because of COVID, the chance of a bear encounter is higher than usual.

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Yes your kids need to be careful as even coyotes have attacked people. I always carry a walking stick when I go for a walk in the forest. You can’t really leave your cat or dog outside with them around looking for a meal.

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This one looks like a baby to me or maybe the perspective is off. If it is, you know mama bear will be very close behind. What a spotting and I wouldn't worry about the photo quality. Sometimes I think people will walk right up and put their arm around them while telling the bear this is for Instagram haha

Warms to heart to know there are people like yourself out there on the trails. A helping hand for those in need is a wonderful thing. Even the simple "Hello, nice afternoon" catch people of guard at some times.

Great photos with an interesting tale to tell. Thanks for sharing.

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I was probably less than fifteen feet from it. They like sightings reported so they keep up with activity. The ranger said he definitely was full grown. I thought he was young, but, black bears always look young to me. It is their small stature, I think.

I must say that hikers, in general, are kind and thoughtful and don't blink when help is needed. It makes one want to take to the trails full time. I can see why some people do.

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Love it! Looks like my kind of day...I'm wanting to get out for hikes now that our autumn has finally arrived! Now I just need to drag my husband away from the tv and the endless football games every weekend...

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Make him a deal he can't refuse! It is so nice out now!

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WOW! That's quite an encounter, luckily it wasn't a trash bear or it might've pursued you. Although I don't climb or do any mountaineering anymore, I know the bears in national parks often associate humans with food, so they can be more dangerous than meeting a bear on BLM land or wilderness areas. Well, you got the shot and you're still alive, so I guess that's a winner.

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It's weird because I wasn't going for the picture, he just ambled out and there he was. I think I frightened him as much as it took me by surprise, and normally in the Shenandoah oh, the Bears tend to be pretty shy. That's not to say that they're not wild animals and things can happen, so I don't try to attempt to lure them out for a picture. That would just be insane. Now and then a camper will come across one especially when he leaves his food on the ground. You're supposed to use ropes and have it above to keep them at Bay. They might be small but I am pretty sure they could take me out easily. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello! I hope everything is going well with you and yours and you're getting closer to departure!

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Those mountains are pretty astounding, aren't they? I love my time in them when I'm able to make it down that far for any length of time.

I'm glad that you and the bear were able to come to an understanding and not need to engage in any form of fisticuffs. 1-4/square mile is a lot of bears!

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