On Thursday afternoon around 5pm, I was standing in Crawford Notch NH.
And that's when I almost shit my pants.
As I was photographing over the ravine, just over the crest of the Notch - I was standing on the other side of the guardrail (away from traffic) to take the shots I wanted. The ravine was directly below me, and the drop to the bottom of it is probably 60 feet or better. It's heavily wooded, so you can't really see the bottom.
As I stood there shooting the scene - suddenly- I heard the LOUDEST FRIGGIN BEAR ROAR I have ever heard!!!! (Ok - it's the FIRST bear roar I've heard that wasnt in a friggin zoo!)
And I can't lie- it scared the living hell out of me. I knew it was coming from below me, and it didn't seem likely that a bear was climbing the ravine wall, which is about an 80 degree angle - but who knew? The hair on my body stood on its end for a second because I had no idea if that thing was roaring at me or something else! My first instinct was to back away from the edge- and scan all around me. When I didn't see a bear anywhere- I started looking down into the ravine because I wanted to see the damn thing! Unfortunately- I never saw it. I chilled out pretty fast, but man - the shock of hearing that unexpectedly was powerful. I can't imagine what it would be like if that happened and I WAS the target~!
That roar was LOUD! Now, maybe it echoed in the ravine and seemed louder than it was, I don't know - but I know this - it sent a jolt through my body, I can tell you that!\
I never saw the thing- but from the sound, it couldn't have been that far from where I was. I'm sure it was an animal it was roaring at, but if it scared me - 60 feet above it, I can't imagine what it did to that animal.
I've never heard anything like that in the woods, let alone along a roadside of a busy highway. Crazy.
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