Home » Poems & Poetry » Blogs » Another Bear Story

Another Bear Story - Charles Henderson's Blog

About Charles Henderson

(Show Details...)

Never would I have thought I would start writing at 73 years of age. I have thoroughly enjoyed my voyage into the written spirituality of poetry and am thankful for the opportunity. In my seven years here I have met many new and wonderful persons. Having them accept me as a friend has been a moving experience.

Home
Past Blogs
Poems
Photos
Fav Poems
Fav Poets

Another Bear Story

Blog Posted:3/31/2013 10:23:00 PM

The bear sonnets prompted me to dig out my log account of the bear episode my Boy Scouts and I had during the week we hiked 100 miles down the Appalachian Trail. I almost do not believe it myself except I was there. I post here again for your enjoyment and enlightenment as to how much you can believe about the safety of hiking these wilderness trails. The Forest Rangers do not bar fire arms in the preserves and trails but discourage bringing them. Do not believe a word of it. I reread my hiking log today and want to change the bear episode slightly. The kid who was carried down the hill said he weighed 150 pounds and the bear picked him up like he was “nothing” (his own words). The bear only bit the boy twice instead of four times. The tooth marks of the tusks were 4 inches apart on his upper fleshy part of the back. We only had some bacitracin ointment, which I had in my first aid kit. The team coaches who brought the boy up had nothing. I packed ointment into the wounds which were more than a half inch deep. We left early but received a note from the coach after getting back home. The rangers came in on horseback and radioed for a helicopter at a nearby clearing and they carried the boy to the hospital. There were no lasting effects of the bite, thanks to the bacitracin and his prompt treatment. While there, the bear was located and was killed. Once getting that much taste of a human it would only get worse and it was too old to captivate.The boys and I left straight away the next morning and for a change there were no cat calls to the bear, loud talking or joking. They were only putting as much space as they could between themselves and that campsite. We hiked until early evening without stopping for lunch. It was wash day. That had been decided before we left home. We went the 500 foot path down to the spring. As I said before the spring is divided into an upper and a lower and the lower is for washing. This was about 45 minutes before the sun went down behind the adjacent ridge. While we were at the spring one of the boys looked up and a mother bear as large as the one which was killed, was approaching the spring from the hill opposite the road we had walked down to get to the spring. We immediately hid behind a tree and constantly watched the two cubs which were about the size of a large beach ball. We watched them because we knew that ultimately the mother bear would follow them, although she seemed to be getting quite aggravated with their antics. They were beautiful and the mother was frustrated but seemed completely in charge. We could tell when she was fussing at them. Fortunately the cubs scampered up the road we had just came down, and she followed. We waited until they were almost out of sight and we bolted for the road, yelling and screaming and waving our arms. The bears immediately bolted up the high bank as we chased them up the road. We could barely see them, except for the mama bear, scurrying away to our left, so we hightailed it on up the road to the cabin, and slammed the gate shut, tying it with the rope and chain provided. Not more than a couple of minutes later one of the cubs came around the corner of the Adirondack. Then the other one and the mama bear. She would not approach the shelter but the cubs did. They were not afraid at all. One of the guys had dropped his canteen on the way into the shelter. The cubs were biting it and playing like it was a toy. I inspected it later after the episode was over, and it had a lot of small pinholes in it where their teeth had penetrated the hard aluminum canteen. By now I had decided that all of those ads about being one with nature, somehow just do not tell the whole story. I probably have had my fill of camping in the wild, if I ever do go back I will be well armed with something stronger than loud voices.

Post Comments

Please Login to post a comment

A comment has not been posted for this blog. Encourage a poet by being the first to comment.

My Past Blog Posts


My 129 mile walk down the Appalachian Trail Date Posted: 12/13/2018 1:56:00 PM
How to make copyright and other symbols on the computer. Date Posted: 2/20/2017 1:31:00 AM
Why Read Poetry Soup Poems Date Posted: 12/6/2016 10:22:00 PM
True Beauty Date Posted: 1/19/2016 6:48:00 PM
Objective and Subjective Haiku Date Posted: 1/13/2016 3:15:00 PM
new kiddie trick Date Posted: 1/8/2016 4:53:00 AM
A Neat Card Trick Date Posted: 12/22/2015 8:33:00 PM
Charles' Answer to the Riddle blog Date Posted: 12/22/2015 4:18:00 PM
A Riddle Date Posted: 12/22/2015 9:51:00 AM
Haiku Date Posted: 12/21/2015 9:08:00 PM
Expanding Deb's Blog Date Posted: 5/19/2014 11:44:00 PM
Possum Branch Road Date Posted: 3/31/2014 11:22:00 PM
Calling All, Want To Be, Haiku Writers Date Posted: 2/20/2014 3:46:00 PM
My Bear Story Retold Date Posted: 2/5/2014 2:35:00 PM
Poetry Soup Imbeded Ads Date Posted: 11/4/2013 7:31:00 PM
The Elusive Monoku Date Posted: 7/27/2013 11:20:00 PM
Computer Games Date Posted: 7/12/2013 9:08:00 AM
Contest Winners and Bear String Date Posted: 5/3/2013 11:47:00 PM
My Contest Date Posted: 5/2/2013 2:01:00 PM
The Bear III Date Posted: 4/1/2013 5:23:00 PM
Another Bear Story Date Posted: 3/31/2013 10:23:00 PM
The no contest Contest Date Posted: 3/30/2013 2:51:00 AM
Hanging Ten Date Posted: 3/22/2013 10:59:00 AM
Feedback Wanted Date Posted: 1/27/2013 1:06:00 PM
Wise Guys Date Posted: 1/22/2013 9:28:00 AM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
5/13/2020	Without Your Love	Rhyme	romantic,
4/14/2020	The Doldrums	Free verse	introspection,sound,uplif
4/14/2020	The Doldrums	Free verse	introspection,sound,uplif
4/14/2020	The Doldrums	Free verse	introspection,sound,uplif
2/25/2020	Observations	Rhyme	analogy,people,perspectiv
2/18/2020	Bora, Bora	Rhyme	12th grade,allusion,fun,p
2/13/2020	The Battle of Kings Mountain, Nc	Rhyme	america,patriotic,war,
2/12/2020	My Cat Number 2	Free verse	cat,friendship,pets,
10/7/2019	Stank Breath and Funky Shoes Blues	Rengay	funny,
4/25/2019	Noises	Haiku	dedication,emotions,
4/23/2019	The Cause	Rhyme	12th grade,encouraging,en
3/31/2019	The 1940's and 50's Movie, Radio and More	Prose	truth,world war ii,
3/31/2019	Fighting Chilblains	Rhyme	12th grade,allegory,analo
3/31/2019	Loyalty	Rhyme	allegory,analogy,characte
2/4/2019	My Coat of Many Colors	Rhyme	appreciation,love,
1/9/2019	Ad Hoc	Rhyme	inspirational,
1/4/2019	Reclamation of Number 21	Narrative	inspirational,
12/28/2018	Time	Free verse	allegory,analogy,
12/12/2018	The Core	Free verse	love,
10/23/2018	A Blue Moon Shining Light In Heaven My New Babe Our Cat Now With Her Kits	Tanka	appreciation,
10/1/2018	Love of the Subconscious Mind	Rhyme	lost love,love,
12/10/2017	New York	Haiku	analogy,
11/8/2017	Rising	Haiku	symbolism,
10/29/2017	Well, Here I Am, I Think	Free verse	allegory,
10/11/2017	Young of Mind and Heart	Rhyme	allegory,analogy,
8/27/2017	Yesterday's Pollen	Haiku	nature,
7/7/2017	A Vow	Rhyme	love,
6/17/2017	My Day	Haiku	anxiety,
6/15/2017	A Secret	Haiku	allegory,betrayal,conflic
6/15/2017	Deception	Haiku	betrayal,
6/9/2017	The Deep	Prose	adventure,inspiration,mys
6/4/2017	Metamorphosis	Haiku	beauty,nature,
5/9/2017	Wild Dreams	Tanka	dream,
3/6/2017	Massacre of Glencoe	Narrative	bereavement,
2/26/2017	The Culmination	Free verse	muse,
2/25/2017	Legacy	Tanka	allegory,
2/21/2017	Tribute To My Wife	Dramatic Monologue	devotion,love,
2/10/2017	In My Mind	Rhyme	allegory,character,emotio
2/4/2017	Snails	Haiku	nature,
2/2/2017	A Sunday Drive	Prose	life,
2/2/2017	Reheating	Haiku	life,
2/1/2017	Moments	Haiku	life,
1/23/2017	About Snails	Haiku	nature,
1/23/2017	All I Need- - -Is a Little Sunshine	Free verse	change,character,confiden
1/15/2017	Faith	Haiku	inspirational,
1/11/2017	The Angel's Tribute	Rhyme	tribute,
1/9/2017	Tall Pines	Haiku	nature,
1/9/2017	Lady Bugs	Haiku	nature,
1/8/2017	Deluge	Haiku	nature,
12/24/2016	Reflection	Rhyme	allegory,
12/8/2016	The Campout	Free verse	imagination,
12/7/2016	The Final Chapter	Tanka	angst,
12/4/2016	Aurora Borealis	Free verse	beauty,dedication,univers
11/22/2016	Futility	Free verse	allegory,
11/12/2016	Loneliness	Haiku	anxiety,
11/6/2016	The Keys To the Kingdom	Rhyme	faith,
10/30/2016	Aloneness	Haiku	appreciation,
10/30/2016	Mt Fuji	Haiku	philosophy,
9/7/2016	To My New Grands and Great Grands, Et Al	Free verse	love,
9/3/2016	The Blurb	Prose	angst,
9/2/2016	Izzy Baby	Prose	best friend,dedication,
8/28/2016	Zodiak	Rhyme	allegory,
8/28/2016	Mood Indigo Ii	Free verse	feelings,muse,sensual,
8/24/2016	The Celts	Free verse	love,
8/23/2016	Blank Eyes	Haiku	people,
8/23/2016	Standing Tall	Haiku	simile,
8/23/2016	Bent Limbs	Haiku	body,nature,sorrow,
8/8/2016	Keeping Time	Haiku	nature,
8/8/2016	A New Dawn	Haiku	nature,
8/8/2016	Education	Haiku	emotions,
8/8/2016	Equalizing	Haiku	appreciation,
8/8/2016	Freedom Is	Haiku	nature,
8/8/2016	Majestic	Haiku	beauty,
8/8/2016	The Girls From Worchester	Rhyme	environment,humor,
8/8/2016	Evening Mist	Haiku	nature,
8/8/2016	Quiet	Haiku	nature,
8/6/2016	Day Passes	Haiku	people,
8/5/2016	Morning Dew	Tanka	senses,
8/5/2016	Whispers	Haiku	child,
7/21/2016	Spring Rains	Tanka	life,
6/16/2016	Possum Branch Road	Narrative	humorous,
5/21/2016	Her Reply	Haiku	judgement,stress,
4/26/2016	Temptress	Free verse	allegory,
3/30/2016	The Old Man	Haiku	life,
3/30/2016	Aspiration	Haiku	life,
3/29/2016	Strong Grip	Haiku	nature,
3/24/2016	Tiny Fingers	Tanka	family,father,father son,
3/24/2016	My Child	Tanka	memory,
3/21/2016	On My Broom	Haiku	life,spring,
3/17/2016	In the Bath	Haiku	nature,
3/11/2016	A Mother's Breast	Haiku	mother,
2/19/2016	Into the New Wave	Free verse	love,
2/10/2016	Wild Grapes	Haiku	nature,
1/31/2016	Karma	Prose	life,
1/31/2016	A Day In the Life of An Old Man	Free verse	lonely,old,people,
1/27/2016	The Crossing	Free verse	destiny,old,
1/26/2016	The Grave	Tanka	death,
1/24/2016	The Shag	Rhyme	art,beach,birth,dance,mus
1/23/2016	Life's Changes	Senryu	life,
1/21/2016	The First Time	Haiku	beauty,

My Photos

ps_104.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Hard Times	Cowboy Poetry	cowboy-western,family,fun
Petal	Verse	love,
Violin	Personification	death,love,rose,
The Sowing	Free verse	devotion,
Disposable Wisdom	Rhyme	age,cat,endurance,life,wi
Footprints	Free verse	introspection,life,
Alabaster Night	Free verse	nature,planet,sea,
Forgotten Heroes of the Somme	Rhyme	brother,death,history,lif
Mona Lisa	Free verse	artme,
Love Beyond the Pale	Quatrain	abuse,devotion,lost love,
Humanity	Couplet	life,peoplechild,lost,chi
Hunting Sevens	Rhyme	funny
Frosted Panes - Re-Post	Quatrain	girl,life,me,sea,time,win
When Madness Rides On Moonlight	Sestina	god,life,
-unlatched-	Rhyme	childhood,family,mother,s
Missing Mother	Verse	depression,devotion,me,mi
Her Silent Seams	Free verse	words,
Wet But Wiser	Quatrain	adventure,funny,pets,
Love Passing By	Rhyme	love,love,pride,
- My Dreams -	Verse	dream,faith,hope,love,
A Police Man's Grave	Epitaph	death,funny,
Long Goodbyes	Sonnet	faith,happiness,holiday,n
Hear Oh L-Rd	Kyrielle	faith,family,happiness,un
Haiku 20	Haiku	introspection,nature,
Light a Candle	Verse	faith,history,
Spring Showers	Free verse	nature,rain,rain,

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Debbie Guzzi	United States	Read
Dakarai Cobb	United States	Read
Cyndi Macmillan	Canada	Read
Tracy Edwards	Australia	Read
Skat A	United States	Read
Leroy Max	United States	Read
Carolyn Devonshire	United States	Read
Charles Henderson	United States	Read
Carol Sunshine Brown	United States	Read
Kathryn Collins	United States	Read
Leon Enriquez	Singapore	Read
Susan Gentry	United States	Read
Constance La France	Canada	Read
Amy Green	United States	Read
Mick Talbot	United Kingdom	Read
Thvia Shetley	United States	Read
Robert Lindley	United States	Read
Trey Hamner	United States	Read
Terry Henderson	United States	Read
Terry Henderson	United States	Read