Learning curve (episode 1)

As time goes by and I continue to explore – a place explored by millions of people every year and of which everything has been discovered and written already – I learn.

For example:

1. If you see a bear, do not, I repeat, DO NOT get overly excited and call, “hi cutie!! please come closer” and walk towards it. A friend of mine… not me of course, (wink wink) did this and got lectured by her walking companions….
   I think this is the right protocol:
   • Take all the excitement that makes you act like a 6 year old who just saw a Ferrari drive by, pack it under your coat. Then elegantly point with one hand while  signaling “shhh” and say: “look, a bear” [remember to keep an absolute not surprised face and act as if you are tired of seeing these pesky animals around] I know it its hard, I can’t do it yet…
   • Consider your distance. You are not supposed to be less than 150 yards from it. That is about 100meters. 
   • Continue  to walk, AWAY from the animal. be-live-me I know you want to take that picture and really see it up close but, think about it… is it worth dying for it?
   • You want to make sure the bear is not startled by you or your noises. For example, if you are walking with friends and you see it and you scream “guys, guys! a bear!!” and you startle it, it is fairly possible the bear will charge at you and you’d not survive
2. If you go for a walk with your city dog and you see beautiful mountain deer with their antlers walking around with their wife and babies, do not asume that your dog’s barking will startle them and they will run away. In fact, as my dog Luna found out, they may charge at you and have your dog run for shelter under your legs. Your dog will make you a human shield as a result… no more comments on that.
3. Bobcats are not cute fuzzy cats, they can catch a ground squirrel in one jump and carry it up the boulders in less than a second. by the time you took your phone out to snap a picture the cat is gone, the squirrel is dead and the cat cubs are fed.
4. If you happen to go to school to the Yosemite Valley School, you may see momma bear coming to the baseball field with her cubs to check it out. Or, a random evening you may see park rangers shooting paintballs at huge black bears who like to play in your playground. They do this not to hurt them but to teach them to stay far from humans. That way, both  the animals and us, stay safe. Watch out when ask to share the swing if your pal is dark and hairy!
   

I know none of this is a discovery or  useful advise for anyone who has ever hike the park or camp in bear country. I know there is nothing new in my writing but it’s so fun to walk the trails knowing that even when this is commonly known to all around me, something can be new and so thrilling when it happens just for me.