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Today we start out with a beautiful walk in the forest, heading gently down to the trail junction and main crossing of Redwood Creek. We need to fill up with water when we get there since we’re unsure if we’ll find any more during the rest of the hike out.
It takes a little while to filter the gallon of water we need, and we’re just about to start a climb of about 1,500 feet, so Dean suggests that I go on ahead. I like that idea. Since he is faster than I am, I know he will catch up quickly and the sooner I get the climbing out of the way, the better!
I’m not expecting to see any bears here as there hasn’t been any sign, but to be cautious I call out a few times as I start up the switchbacks. Well, that must not have been enough, because after I’ve been hiking alone for about 5 minutes, I hear a crashing sound. I have a flash of hope that it’s just a deer but I can tell by the heavy crashing sound that it isn’t. Looking ahead about 30 yards, I see two very small and young bear cubs climbing very fast up a tall, thin pine tree. And then mamma bear comes crashing onto the trail in front of me, and she is clearly not happy. Whoa, this is not a good situation! Exactly the sort of situation you’re not supposed to get into. I have an urge to hide behind a tree and curl up in a ball. I find myself babbling something at the bear about how it’s OK and I’m leaving, while with shaking hands I take out my bear spray and remove the safety tab. OK, I’m ready. I just don’t know what she’s going to do yet, and neither does she. I think all four of us are in a state of panic! We stare off for a few brief moments with nothing but the bare trail between me and her. I start backing away very slowly and to my tremendous relief she likes that. The tension diffuses a little and she backs away a little more. Then she stops, waits, and makes sure I am leaving. No problem, I am definitely leaving! Once I make it around a corner out of sight, I start moving faster, while still checking over my shoulder. I call out to Dean and see him down below.
Within two minutes, we’re reunited, Dean looking cheerful and easy. That quickly changes when he sees my stricken expression and the bear spray in my hand. It’s worth noting here that we had spent hours on the trail together every day so far, and not hiked apart at all, and that we were apart here for only approximately ten minutes in total. With me telling the story, we make plenty of noise and give the bears time to leave the area. When we start hiking again, there’s no sign of the little bear family. I’m feeling very adrenalized and freaked out for the rest of the morning. We make it to the top of the ridge and find a beautiful sequoia grove where we stop to have breakfast, and we end up relaxing there for a few hours.
In the afternoon, we hike the last easy section back to the parking lot, which offers beautiful views and more big trees. We camp near the unstaffed ranger station for the night.
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