Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t noticed the steaming mounds of bear scat on the trail.  Would we have been less than vigilant and had a “bear incident”? Would our food packs have been raided?  Or worse, would we have been ambushed for our pocket snacks?  And had this sighting been right at the beginning of the trek would we have turned around aborting our annual trip?

The Skylineline Trail outside of Jasper, Alberta rewarded us generously with the incredible beauty and peace of the Rocky Mountains.  With such a magnificent backdrop I could have just as easily stepped into that large warm pile of bear shit.  But, my instinct told me to look down at just the right moment to see the natural signpost:  Pay Attention!  Something big, something potentially dangerous, something wild had just been here.

As I continually watched for sign posts like this to help keep our group safe I reflected on fear, choice and trust in self.  Knowing that the wilderness is full of wild creatures, I could have safely stayed at home, perhaps studying for my exam.  I could have ignored the scat right in front of me.  I could have been be a sniveling mess knowing that bears, wolves, wolverines, moose, and grizzlies, were in close proximity.  I could have hoped that someone else would notice the danger and know what to do.

I didn’t though.  I did choose to listen to my intuition, pay attention and be safe.  Our group chose to follow the signs, and using our collective skills, continue on the trail.  I trusted myself to know the difference between fear and fearlessness.

In the mountains and challenges of everyday life, it can be easy to ignore what’s happening around you, to break down when the going gets tough, to wish that someone else would do the hard stuff.  But I’ve found that the best course of action is to keep moving forward despite the dangers and uncertainty, to use my own good sense, and to make decisions based on what I know.

It does take a bit of crazy natural courage to be in the backcountry, and every time I stretch myself to be fully immersed in nature I am reminded, on so many levels, that it is good to be alive.  I am grateful to be able to enjoy these natural challenges and natural rewards.

So did this particular adventure strengthen me for life in the city?  Yes, absolutely.  But I still wonder … what do bears wear in the city?