[Zero]

just saw a black bear - which wasn't especially strange but scared the shit out of us. we had hiked into a camp site 5 miles up into the mountains arriving at around 9pm (just getting dark). as we unpacked a big black bear came up - bluffed us away from our lean-to and proceeded to eat much of our food.

i got a picture (well, i think it took but i haven't developed the film from this week yet) - which, note to all, you should NOT use the flash if taking a picture of a wild bear - they DO NOT like it (he charged me about 10 steps (and only my hiking buddy stopped me from running, which you should not do with black bear - and reminded me to stand my ground and make more noise)

it was an odd experience and seemed surreal - only frightening when i saw him charge and it sunk in that we were in the middle of the wilderness with an 800 pound carnivore staring at us.

needless to say, and much to our exhaution, we hiked our big packs back out (in the pitch dark - thank god for headlamps) and got back out around midnight. . . pretty scary shit.