decided to drive up Mt. Washington today.  I’d love to hike it, but I’m unnecessarily fearful of wild animals.  like bears.

When camping in the desert last month, I’d wake up in the middle of the night convinced I was hearing them around the tent. mountain lions and javalinas and bears oh my.

So just a couple miles into the drive, an approaching car flags me down and the driver tells me tersely that there is a bear up ahead.

I stop driving, put the convertible top up, and hesitantly proceed.

black bears are supposed to be afraid of humans, but this one was just hanging out on the side of the road while cars passed it, chewing on some grass.