I was working for the summer in Glacier National Park logging and mapping all of the Park's outbuildings in the backcountry with a co-worker. We were walking along a trail quietly, exactly the WRONG way to hike in bear country and we knew it. I was in the lead when we came around a corner to a black bear within arms reach from me. The three of us froze, I pulled the bear spray and then the bear ran up the hill. My co-worker behind me freaked, promptly grabbed my pack and started to swing me around like a shield in front of him as we backed up down the trail. He was saying "what do we do? What do we do!"

I looked up the hill and saw the bear peeking over a log just like this . I don't know who was more scared, the bear or my co-worker. Although I was pretty pissed at my co-worker for using me as a shield.

A few days later I was walking from my park service house to my office when I heard a little rustle in the trees left of the path about 10 yards up. Then I saw a bear cub come out of the trees, walk up to the edge of the road, stand on his hind legs and look both ways before he crossed. Momma bear was on the right side of the road about 15 yards up and was too busy eating something to notice me thank God. But she sure did teach that cub how to cross a street safely!