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>Decide to try a 13 mile loop trail up local mesa.
>climbs up 3500ft higher than surrounding are, so figure good views
>Starts on reservoir access road for easy accent.
>get to top of loop, in lake bowl so no views like what.
>topo shows if I bushwack i'll get the views I want.
>decide to go past the no trespassing signs because its remote.
>takes an hour to navigate a route to the ridge.
>views worth it. pic related.
>decide to follow ridge.
>getting late, not looking forward to the extra hour and a half to get back down to the trail.
>plan new route further along the ridge.
>begin making my decent.
>steeper than anticipated
>come to where I could slide down but I know I could not climb back up.
>seems to level out below.
>Go full Edward Abbey and go for it.
>scrub oak city. hard going.
>engrossed in descending, surprised by loud "HUFF, HUFF" noise.
>turn to see black bear
>15ft away
>Hanes shopping soon.
>bear luckily books it.
>watch it tear through scrub-oak all the way down this valley.
>thats my route out. can't go back up.
>begin singing loudly. don't want to spook it again.
>continue down,
>scat
>tree scratching.
made it back alright. its just a black bear after all.
>
