Our hike started out with greetings from hikers who just finished theirs. We had the simple stroller and situated our toddler, who seemed to be enjoying the new scenery. I had on a backpack full of diapers, snacks, water, toy, and sunscreen. The backpack was light but my heart grew heavy as we spoke with the friendly hikers.
The couple, who looked exhausted and were sweaty, shared that there was a bear sighting this morning in the woods off the trails. Of course, they're coming oit of hibernation. There and then I was excited and worried at the same time. They told us to stay on the main trail and the bear was not that close to it. We thanked them and head onward.
The news hasn't set in that much yet. I was still excited that there is a bear! Oh wow! Nature and bears and woods... Wow!
Quickly, as we were surrounded by trees, I realized that there is a bear in the woods... Should we just chickened out and head home instead? So I asked my husband, "should we just go to the park instead?"
He asked, "Why?"
Me with a nervous tone and embarrassed to admit I was scared, "Because there is a bear here?"
Our toddler stayed quiet and actually seems very entertained by the surroundings.
My brave husband stated in his manly voice as he pushed the stroller uphills, " Well, if we see the bear, you and Aiden should run for it!"
I objected, "No! You should take Aiden and run for it! I'm slower!"
He disagreed and reasoned, "I'm bigger and taller, so I can stand a better chance to distract it. If it doesn't have to run to get you guys because I'm standing here as food then you can get away. You and Aiden should run away. Wild animals know how to pick off the youngs and the females!"
At this point, my throat started to feel tight and my eyes a little watery... All the adrenaline and emotion of feeling so loved by my husband who is behaving heroic to sacrifice himself for his wife and son's survival. I can't imagine losing him to a bear. All these scenarios playing in my head.
I fought back the tears, "Um... No you can run faster and Aiden has a better chance with you... I can throw food at the bear and run the other way... He would go for me since I'm smaller."
My sweet husband once again being logical said, "I'm six feet tall, I have a better chance with the bear... You wouldn't make it."
Our hike and conversation was interrupted by a hiker who was running downhill, against our direction. He appearred to be finishing with his workout for the day. He stopped and spoke with us, huffing and puffing. "There was a bear sighting today... Big red eyes, 12 to 14 feet tall, scary looking... He was spotted off the trails."
We thanked him and kept hiking... Aiden was quiet the whole time... His instinct must have told him to stay quiet while there may possibly be danger in the woods. Or not to interrupt while mom and dad argued on who to save him. Haha. Or he just liked the new fresh air.
The air was fresh and cool, but I started to feel sweaty from the hike. So after hearing the confirmed bear sighting, I shared my thoughts once again with my husband. "So I wonder how big that bear is... Is that like a house?"
My husband responsed, "well, I'm six feet, so he would be twice as tall as me... Pretty big and taller if he raises both his hands."
So that immediately scared me... That would be too big for either of us to outrun the bear. Or play dead. "Hey, I dont think we should put ourselves in this situation anymore... The bear sounds dangerous. Let's head back and go somewhere like the park."
Apparently, my husband had the same idea. But men seem to not want to admit their fear and turn back around. But he agreed and started to turn the stroller around.
Thanks goodness I didn't marry a stubborn macho idiot! I married someone who sees big picture, can put his ego aside and think of the family first. So we headed back towards the parking which seemed like forever... My eyes were scanning the woods constantly looking for big brown shapes... And checking on our toddler and my husband.
I got more nervous and walked so fast that I almost ran. I sticked close to the two though... Just to grab Aiden in case the bear was close by... He looked too cute to be eaten by wild animals. May be I was over worried, but my motherly instinct told me that this was not safe and we can hike another time without possible danger lerking in the woods.
As soon as I spotted the parking lot, I was pretty happy... That short amount of time seemed like forever! I grabbed Aiden off the stroller, and walked to the car. I love hugging my baby, we escaped the bear!
We saw a family heading towards the trail with a baby strapped to the father's chest and the mom holding the dog's lease. We shared the news with them, and they thanked us and continued on the hike.
In the car, we decided to go to a park and continued our conversation. My husband said, "I was more worried about cougars, those are quiet and you won't know they're there at all!"
Me thinking to myself, "Yikes!"
The day finished with a nice stroll in the park by the water, Aiden playing on the big toys, us heading to have food at Brown Bag in Kirkland. Baby went on a two and a half hours nap in his air conditioned room. A good day, safe and sound.
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