Animal encounters are a frightening experience. Humans operate best when they in control of situation. But what happens that is taken from you? Fear powerful emotion. Our ability to assess the world around us and decisions we make shaped by it. its effects on behavior decision making way it can change our lives long term mold us. What fear? According author Lisa Fritscher “Fear natural powerful primitive human It involves universal biochemical response as well high individual emotional response.” (What Fear? Verywellmind.com). One say born fear emerge into new cold wholly unlike place resided for last 9 months. From moment born must learn face unknown. As experience different events situations lives become less fearful. However traumatic instill fear us not so easy shake. This lead debilitating condition known PTSD. Through preceding story I will delve time struggled with deep was able shake many years still affects me this day. land surveyor working Rocky Mountains Western Colorado am fortunate see landscapes wildlife. Rarely two days alike. day be dense forests at nine thousand feet elevation then next traversing rugged often dangerous desert. main reasons love being surveyor get go places only handful people have ever been over hundred plus years. Being such come numerous dangers. Weather does rapidly elevations. Animals mountain lions bears snakes moose move about silently unseen. Hazardous every corner whether steep hardened bentonite slopes rocky unstable cliff faces narrow washes fill 8 water blink an eye undergrowth thick oak brush. All unforgiving features Mountains also makes wonderful is. Many these dangers concern occasional trail hiker however surveyors where there no trails or often help coming if something wrong. The year 2011 my crew consisting cousin were tasked locating Section terrain South town Parachute Colorado. We Left office headed out roughly hour half drive take off point trek mountains. warm morning 70 degrees 6am. The summers Colorado quite hot 100 degrees. After setting up supplies reviewing planned route via USGS quad maps set 6-hour hike. section looking established 1890 sandstone rock marked ground. you imagine would nigh impossible find single covered rocks use notes written original guide. These consist detailed descriptions landmarks terrain. path taking had dropping dry wash meandered through valley basin canyon lands terminating foot abrupt 500-foot-tall face. As sandy bottom became darker brush trees began rise overhead snuffing light attempting penetrate canopy. temperature cooled considerably remember thinking how nice little break heat. Around mile came story waterfall natural spring flowing gently bottom. Water comes straight safe drink. decided breather refill bottles. Sitting down bed could tracks animals drink spring most notably black bear lion. There uneasiness wilderness unarmed heavily wooded shadowed landscape. has creeping in starts it’s always calm back down. Seeing abundance predator seeded quiet both Sounds louder shadows appear move your heart races sightless sensory change. hike tone now venture further carrying extra weight even heavy. aside particular bad encounters. already within close range several bears summer which rare. been 6 years yet let alone contact. Earlier walked ravine somehow 5 me. froze felt like eternity before panicked jetted hill. bring encounter because me though manifest itself. short few choice words wanting run another bear but leave waterfall. If familiar tree explain evil. tree generally tall. Most standing 10 height. They limbs leaves. spikey grab attempt pull yourself through. Often ripping holes clothes shredding any bare skin. Visibility more than feet. You rely other senses visual surroundings. Pushing ascend mountain. To current situation edge tracks given direction. mild feeling slowly rising presses on. A while later happened elk antlers poking Taking investigate detoured check them out. Right noticed rare find. complete attached. skull found base intact partially eaten elk. Immediately backed away picked pace put some distance between Predators lion typically elusive skittish towards humans defend meal becoming territorial aggressive. At reached almost state. True sticking fester. Adrenalin started rush systems causing heightened senses. Your surroundings you. loud jarring. Throat dry feel need water. Hands sweaty beats faster faster. knew matter claimed elk when. mid-day search area corner. review notes panic earlier subsided alert. consisted turning after carved markings rough stone surface. bright spot saw succeed goal locate reestablish monument. special finding 121 old. Walking their shoes moment one highlights life. Packing supplies head talked briefly avoid descent. far carcass distinctive smell. uneasy rushed back. assessed position flee encompassed all sides. mere foot stand sound gentle breeze hitting leaves deafening. small bird landing branch rotating quickly investigate. fever pitch. stood side side brandishing hammer axe. approaching. heavy-footed step crunched foliage right. scanned nothing. breathing heavily tunnel vision settle in. beating hard hurt. should speak softly presence nearby. literally frozen fear. to. maneuvered circle sensed presence. click heard smacked jaws together believed sign frightened. steps fell silent later brief pause shot full speed. over. maybe lasted thirty seconds frame mind hour. exhausted sudden rush. sat down laugh reminisce It’s odd thing. strange ways relieve ourselves tension feelings Knowing mountain off. rest trip uneventful change bask beauty Rock Mountains. Unfortunately unbeknownst time seed planted grow long-lasting first start thought going work remote areas. subtle destination struggle breathe. developed attack syndrome. someone who delt anxiety growing up scary begins mind. what-if sorts. tell there don’t want think builds inside until adrenalin. For hands numb. Then numbness trickle face notice suddenly all. force myself breathe point. minutes hours. affect work home learning overcome whatever emotions. ten nowhere. those learned sets described life changing time. Heading college ideal job. positives negatives impact differently. likely never “summer bears” recall really core it completely consume believe strongly fears them. personally insanity plagued attacks brutal pains know others suffer determination others respect things