
Two weeks ago I went camping in the Pisgah National Forest and hiked Mt. Mitchell, which at ~6700 feet is the highest mountain in the Appalachian mountains and the highest point on the continent east of Colorado. On my way up, alone and on a remote stretch of trail to the top, I came face to face with Stephen Colbert's worst enemy: a bear.
OK, I'd like to be dramatic and all when telling the story: how I threw my backpack to the ground, ripped off my shirt, pounded my chest while letting out a primal cry, then charged the bear and wrestled it into Sam Johnson-like submission. But that isn't what happened.
What really went down was this: I turned a corner around a big rock formation and saw this big pile of black fur in the middle of the trail, about a dozen feet in front of me. It was getting late in the day and there was pretty thick fog - I think the thing was sleeping to be honest. Anyway, I wasn't quite sure it wasn't a dog until it got up, looked at me, and promptly ran like hell from the trail up the side of mountain. It was just a little guy, no taller than my hip and I doubt much more than 100lbs. But it was still the closest I've ever been to one (by far), and I was totally alone. So there you have it, I've officially stared down a bear.
I was mildly impressed with myself until I saw this story.
Showoff.
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