Have you ever been watched by a bear while eating dinner? I had never had that experience either and while we are on the subject, it seems the appropriate time to say that it is quite unfair for nature to let the forces of mosquitoes and bears collide. At one point the mosquitoes were so bad that I considered dousing myself with cooking fuel and lighting myself on fire like a monk not to protest for peace but in hopes watching a few of the sons of bitches that had been living off my blood for days catch fire and go down in smoke. When that is happening the one place you want to eat is in your tent. This method of protection is not recommended in bear country though as this will invariably leave the smell of food on all your belongings and will apparently turn a bear into your own personal lap dog before he eats you.

Taking all of this into consideration Kristi and I decided to eat dinner outside and battle the mosquitoes in hand to hand combat. Just as we were finishing our meal I looked 50 feet behind us at the cliff pictured above and noticed a 400lb bear watching as I packed up our trash. He licked his lips and and turned around. Whether he was coming to visit or going wandering for another meal, we had no idea so I stayed awake with a sharpened pencil in one hand and a leatherman micra (blade length 1 inch) in the other awaiting combat. He must have sensed that his doom was near because he never resurfaced near our campsite. Just another night in the Yosemite Wilderness.