Wow! That WAS a wild experience. I am glad no one came to harm.
I was hiking in the mountains of Bulgaria, in Eastern Europe, last month. I had an idea of trying to see a wild European bear. I really felt a tenseness as I walked along the forest trails — I come from the UK, and we have very few large wild animals there. Maybe the most dangerous creature would be a wild boar (and they only live in specific regions of the country).
On one hand, I really wanted to have a wild encounter with the bear — but then I got lost on the trails and prayed for the opposite! Wolf packs were present in that region, too. At the end of the day, I didn't come across any large predators — but maybe they were there, watching me from the shadows.
Look forward to reading more posts from you in the future, Lena.
Hello. I went hiking in the Pirin Mountains. It was late May but there was still snow on the mountain. Beautiful crocuses flowering up there too.
Wow. I can’t imagine camping outside in the woods. Perhaps if there was a fair sized camp, but not in a personal tent. It must be so hard when you have to rely on a camp site used by people who break the common sense rules.
The Rockies sound awesome. There are some really magnificent parks in the US from what I see. I have never been so far.
Hope to read of more of your adventures soon, Lena.
Hi Simon, thank you for sharing and for your kind words 🤗 I have heard of those mountains in Bulgaria, what an amazing trip. Were you in the Tatras by chance? Were you able to fish any trout? The mountain huts sound amazing. My brother went in a September and got in trouble for eating the wine grapes haha. How did you find your way after getting lost? That would be a nightmare for me in a foreign country.
I think that tenseness is natural and healthy. The possibility of bears changes my behaviors dramatically. I sleep with one eye open in Montana, too many horror stories, and keep an extremely clean camp but not everyone does, which is even more horrific pitching camp in a heavily used dispersed cite. Fire is certainly a very good companion out here.
Maybe one day you can come experience the northern Rockies!
I would take wolves over bears anytime. And I think a bear over a boar…but they might be fairly similar in aggressive behavior
What an amazing experience, Lena! Thanks for writing about it. I sometimes see wolf tracks close to where I live, but so far I’ve not heard the makers of these or felt like prey in the way you describe.
Yes, I’m in Sweden. I’ve not heard the local wolves calling, but I would absolutely love to. The tactics you describe are fascinating. How wonderful (and scary) to have been part of these.
I was certainly very impressed! If I remember correctly you are in Sweden? How amazing to have wolves around. Have you heard them calling? Do you have dogs? I’m so glad we didn’t have a dog with us. The more I learn, the more this particular behavior seems like a couple of territorial maneuvers- a “bluff and tracking” tactic. First a wall of sound to make a defensive howl and overwhelm, second a hold-and-scout where a couple of wolves distract and/or intimidate, and lastly the dead silence to track our movements. I really am elated, it went as well as it possibly could have
Wow! That WAS a wild experience. I am glad no one came to harm.
I was hiking in the mountains of Bulgaria, in Eastern Europe, last month. I had an idea of trying to see a wild European bear. I really felt a tenseness as I walked along the forest trails — I come from the UK, and we have very few large wild animals there. Maybe the most dangerous creature would be a wild boar (and they only live in specific regions of the country).
On one hand, I really wanted to have a wild encounter with the bear — but then I got lost on the trails and prayed for the opposite! Wolf packs were present in that region, too. At the end of the day, I didn't come across any large predators — but maybe they were there, watching me from the shadows.
Look forward to reading more posts from you in the future, Lena.
Hello. I went hiking in the Pirin Mountains. It was late May but there was still snow on the mountain. Beautiful crocuses flowering up there too.
Wow. I can’t imagine camping outside in the woods. Perhaps if there was a fair sized camp, but not in a personal tent. It must be so hard when you have to rely on a camp site used by people who break the common sense rules.
The Rockies sound awesome. There are some really magnificent parks in the US from what I see. I have never been so far.
Hope to read of more of your adventures soon, Lena.
Hi Simon, thank you for sharing and for your kind words 🤗 I have heard of those mountains in Bulgaria, what an amazing trip. Were you in the Tatras by chance? Were you able to fish any trout? The mountain huts sound amazing. My brother went in a September and got in trouble for eating the wine grapes haha. How did you find your way after getting lost? That would be a nightmare for me in a foreign country.
I think that tenseness is natural and healthy. The possibility of bears changes my behaviors dramatically. I sleep with one eye open in Montana, too many horror stories, and keep an extremely clean camp but not everyone does, which is even more horrific pitching camp in a heavily used dispersed cite. Fire is certainly a very good companion out here.
Maybe one day you can come experience the northern Rockies!
I would take wolves over bears anytime. And I think a bear over a boar…but they might be fairly similar in aggressive behavior
What an amazing experience, Lena! Thanks for writing about it. I sometimes see wolf tracks close to where I live, but so far I’ve not heard the makers of these or felt like prey in the way you describe.
Yes, I’m in Sweden. I’ve not heard the local wolves calling, but I would absolutely love to. The tactics you describe are fascinating. How wonderful (and scary) to have been part of these.
I was certainly very impressed! If I remember correctly you are in Sweden? How amazing to have wolves around. Have you heard them calling? Do you have dogs? I’m so glad we didn’t have a dog with us. The more I learn, the more this particular behavior seems like a couple of territorial maneuvers- a “bluff and tracking” tactic. First a wall of sound to make a defensive howl and overwhelm, second a hold-and-scout where a couple of wolves distract and/or intimidate, and lastly the dead silence to track our movements. I really am elated, it went as well as it possibly could have
Seems your new wisdom emerged from that already gained and, happily, without altercation. ❤️