Courage Under Fire

There is nothing better than a walk In the woods. It really is a spiritual place for me. I think, pray and make some major life decisions out there. Some hikes aren’t always a search for the big hairy guy, often they are just me getting in tune with nature and myself.

I’m usually very relaxed going in, and if strange vibes happen to come on then I’ll trust my gut instinct when and if it happens.

On two occasions, In relatively the same area, I did have those strange vibes come on. To me they translated as I might not be alone anymore and or there may be possible danger. And both times my gut has told me exit stage left and quick.

After I got home and relaxed I thought, how will I ever have that encounter if I don’t give my gut some Tums and keep going forward?

I should start by telling you a bit about these two particular encounters, and then you can help me decide if I made the right call at the time, or if I should have stayed and faced my fears.

The first incident, in a new area to me mind you, the further I entered the woods, the more uneasy I began feel. On the right side of the trail there was a ledge looking down to a small river and field and to the right of me there was thick tree coverage.

Up ahead I saw large tree down blocking the small trail. While I figured out what to do next, I stopped to take pictures of the area. Then I felt it. There was no way I was alone. Then I heard the run, heavy on the ground like a bull charging. A full on heavy footed bipedal run up the hill beside me.

First thing that happened, I froze in my tracks. I think I may have stopped breathing. My heart was definitely pounding. Then it all just stopped. It went from full on to complete full stop. I saw and heard nothing else after. As soon as I regained composure, still standing in the same spot. I flew out of there.

At the time my choice to leave felt like the right thing to do. My gut was screaming run. Then at home I thought, did whatever it was stop to give me a choice? Test if I was ready to see? Or was it as surprised as me and didn’t actually know I was there?

The second incident was on the same conservation land maybe two miles away. I again felt something, this time my gut was screaming whatever was about to happen was menacing. Much heavier feeling came on me then before. On my left on this trail were tall weeds. At my 4″11 I couldn’t see over them and it was far to thick to see through. Then it happened, again. Heavy footfalls charging. I froze a second again. I took a deep breath, because whatever this was, it was close and I wasn’t out running it. And then just like the previous time, it came to a full stop. I didn’t hear or see anything else. Was this the second test? Did I make the right choice? Again my gut said to leave quickly.

I never thought of myself as a chicken. I’m alone unarmed in the woods often, I’ve had a bear encounter and thought on my feet, so why are those two moments in time different?

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I know for a fact Bigfoot was running at me. I didn’t actually see anything. But something was there, and because I left the area I’ll never know what that something was.

There are so many strange goings on in the woods, even strange people doing nefarious things. So how do you decipher what is actually happening?

I’m happy to say I have returned to to these same two spots often. I’ve not heard anything like that since then.

So what do you think? Did I leave to soon? Would you have stayed?

My plan is to stick it out if those vibes hit me again. I walked into the forest relaxed and I’m choosing to leave it that way…

area of first incident

Area of Second incident