Bears Seen: 3
Tomahawks Needed: 0
Miles Today: 16.5
Mile Marker: 886.1
I saw my first bear today! I had heard the Shenandoahs are the place most people start seeing bears. Day two in, and boom! Bear. I spotted its head from a ways back around a corner. At first I thought it was a dog, but didn't see anyone else around. Then it clicked it must be a bear. Naturally I did exactly what you're not supposed to do. I took out my phone, fired up the camera, and crept down the trail without my trekking poles. I took a few pictures, and then perfection. It looked right at me. I snapped the photo, stared at it for a second, and then yelled and scared it away. It listlessly trotted down the hill and then stopped and looked up at me from the valley. I continued down the trail past it. Presumably it went back to licking the same tree I had scared it away from.
Other things happened today, but are hardly worth mention next to a bear sighting.