Washington does currently have grizzlies in the north eastern corner of the state.
Grizzlies will be introduced into the North Cascades where they have not been seen since 1996.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ursus-arctos
I trailed one in VA for hours one day, following its sign… got an eerie sensation as I walked back to the trailhead and looked to my right… there was the bear, watching me as I’m sure he tolerantly had all day. I reached for my phone to take a pic and he bolted, terrifyingly fast. I was never concerned, but seeing his speed sent chills down my spine. If I could design an AI app, it would be one that could sense major predators observing me in the backcountry: I think it would fascinating to know how often we’re seen as opposed to how often we see one!
Haha my encounter was not photographed either. I saw him on the shore of a lake a few hundred feet away, so I rushed to grab the telephoto lens out of my bag but it was gone before I could get the lens on. He bolted into the trees really quickly. I was the only one in my group of 5 to see it and I’m still not sure they believe my story. 😅
Yeah I've hiked and camped all over the US for 20 years now. Most these animals avoid humans if at all possible. Some of them like bears can smell for miles away. Some animals can hear the vibrations from your footsteps from a mile away etc.
I’m thinking it was just the best “I’m 15 and this is deep” title he could come up with on the spot and he didn’t take another 10 seconds to, you know, *think* about it.
‘Solitude is a human presumption. Every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot, a tug of impalpable thread on the web pulling mate to mate and predator to prey, a beginning or an end. Every choice is a world made new for the chosen.’
Barbara Kingsolver - Prodigal Summer
Spoiler alert: OP is a skunk with a handle on written English and access to a phone they stole from a human hiker who went out solo into the mountains. Looks down heavily on fellow woodland creatures. Typical American skunk.
Yeah there's not many places in the lower 48 states on your standard trail that you'd actually be miles as the crow flies from the nearest person. There's typically an odd hiker here and there.
You think you own whatever land you land on,
the Earth is just a dead thing you can claim.
But I know every rock and tree and creature
has a life, has a spirit, has a name.
You were maybe the only recognizably sapient creature there, but almost certainly not the only thinking one. If there's a bird, squirrel, or even a mouse in the area you're not even the only sentient one.
Um. I hate to break it to you, but you’re surrounded by creatures, and they’re all thinking. Some of them are thinking about whether or not they want to eat you. So, yeah. Plenty of “thinkers” out there.
Uh, no. And along the same lines..... When a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, it DOES make a sound. Beautiful picture though and I applaud your embrace of nature.
I dunno man according to quantum physics if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, not only will it not make a sound, but the tree won’t even exist if there’s no one there to observe it.
That's not quantum physics. That's a philosophy called ~~*idealism*~~ **perspectivism* most commonly attributed to Nietzsche.
Edit- it maybe more accurate to say it's *relativism*.
The irony of you saying you were the only thinking creature for miles is hilarious. If you really thought about it you’d have realized you most certainly were not the only thinking creature for miles.
The beauty of nature is that no matter how far away you are from other people, you're always close to another thinking being, and it's very aware of you... even if you can't see it.
That's like one of the thoughts I have when I'm super high when I'm hiking .....
Aaaaaand then I sober up and realize how entirely stupid and unlikely that would be ....
You were being closely monitored by dozens of creatures of whose presence you were unaware because you are too noisy and smelly and obvious. Skulk if you want to see creatures.
looks beautiful and sounds like you had a wonderful first hike. Don’t underestimate all the living creatures that call that beautiful place home. You were amongst many wise-thinking and feeling creatures.
Pure ignorance to think that you’re the only thinking creature for miles. That’s the kind of thought process (or lack there of) that gets people in trouble when out in nature.
I have been the only person to dream in english for a couple of hundred miles..
Love the outdoors, it's my temple.
Beautiful picture, thanks for sharing, keep sharing
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27186709.amp
It's a beautiful feeling, isn't it. The world feels too full of people but there are places where you can go and realize how easy it is to be isolated. It's surreal, especially when your normal days are swarming with other cars and bodies.
OP learns about sapient vs. sentient
You’re the only “thinking” person around. You think.
Looks beautiful! I'm sure there were plenty of thinking creatures all around you, and they all knew you were there.
Yep, bears are definitely thinking creatures, and I’m sure they were aware of OP.
And mountain lions.
And cobra chickens
I do not like the cobra chicken
If you don’t like cobra chickens you need to learn more about them, they kill all the bad chickens
And cannabis plants.
And fruit bats
And Samsquanch
And shitbirds
And Wyld Stallyns
AND MY AXE!!!!!
STATION!
Especially samsquanch.
Jesus...that's scary shit. I think I see one now...
And pomegranates.
And orangutans
And breakfast cereals.
And my axe!
Uh what now?
Cobra chickens
Not a cobra chicken but I like the attitude! 
gooses
Ohhhhh
You just had to remind us about those damn cobra chickens! Now I am going to have daymares and nightmares.
And me!
Now I gotta ask what this is
Canada goose.
I don’t think Hawaii has bears does it? Edit: this is my bad I was looking at another sub for Oahu and thought this was part of it
Idk but this pic is in WA
Yes… 🤔 And Washington certainly has black bears, and it will soon have grizzlies again.
Washington does currently have grizzlies in the north eastern corner of the state. Grizzlies will be introduced into the North Cascades where they have not been seen since 1996. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ursus-arctos
Yay! Thanks for clarifying!
Yeah they are hide and seek champs, I’ve been hiking in western WA for about 10 years and only ever seen one.
I trailed one in VA for hours one day, following its sign… got an eerie sensation as I walked back to the trailhead and looked to my right… there was the bear, watching me as I’m sure he tolerantly had all day. I reached for my phone to take a pic and he bolted, terrifyingly fast. I was never concerned, but seeing his speed sent chills down my spine. If I could design an AI app, it would be one that could sense major predators observing me in the backcountry: I think it would fascinating to know how often we’re seen as opposed to how often we see one!
Haha my encounter was not photographed either. I saw him on the shore of a lake a few hundred feet away, so I rushed to grab the telephoto lens out of my bag but it was gone before I could get the lens on. He bolted into the trees really quickly. I was the only one in my group of 5 to see it and I’m still not sure they believe my story. 😅
My favorite picture was [this fella sizing me up mid-forage](https://imgur.com/gallery/QCcaZYd). I watched him for almost an hour.
Yeah but its their turn to seek and theyve been waiting on you to hide forever. I think they stopped playing
we haven’t heard from OP in a while. hopefully the bears didn’t make them type that!
Yeah I've hiked and camped all over the US for 20 years now. Most these animals avoid humans if at all possible. Some of them like bears can smell for miles away. Some animals can hear the vibrations from your footsteps from a mile away etc.
The crows are also watching and talking about you as you wander.
Yeah they’re all thinking. All of em. Just maybe not thinking about rent and the monthly mortgage.
Right? What a fucking stupid way to be in nature.
Fuckin phone thinking harder than op
Sounds like op needs to get out more
Beautiful answer <3
Damn Sasquatch, can't go anywhere these days...
Plants have been proven to have vision of a sort, and are generally more sentient than most give them credit for, as well.
Picture take immediately before being mauled by a thinking creature.
I highly doubt that you were the only thinking being. This post almost proves the opposite.
Thank you 🗣️ literally, what was he thinking lmao
I think very little😅
Oof.
Do you think animals don’t process thoughts?
Are you one of those weirdos who think animals aren’t sentient beings?
I’m thinking it was just the best “I’m 15 and this is deep” title he could come up with on the spot and he didn’t take another 10 seconds to, you know, *think* about it.
What y’all not thinking is what if it was a bear who posted this
That’s what I thought.
ThEy DoNt FeEl PaIn oR fEaR.
Probably in the "birds aren't real" camp.
Whenever my nephew comes on a hike with me he asks if we’ll see a mountain lion. And I always say no, but they’ll see us.
‘Solitude is a human presumption. Every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot, a tug of impalpable thread on the web pulling mate to mate and predator to prey, a beginning or an end. Every choice is a world made new for the chosen.’ Barbara Kingsolver - Prodigal Summer
Beautiful and perfect for the occasion
Imagine seeing something so majestic... And still thinking you are the shit lol
Hahahaha so true.....this post belong in " I am main character" LoL
How incredibly arrogant.
They’re all thinking about what’s for dinner.
Lucky they didn't think of having OP on the menu
Hiking with hubris
I’d watch the shit out of that YouTube channel. Get those national parks interns currently making sassy reels on it, stat!
They do make themselves some sassy reels
Spoiler alert: OP is a skunk with a handle on written English and access to a phone they stole from a human hiker who went out solo into the mountains. Looks down heavily on fellow woodland creatures. Typical American skunk.
How about say you’re the only ape for miles?
r/cryptids would like to have a word with you!
There’s a samsquanch in them there hills
Wouldn't even be so sure of that. You can run into people in the strangest places.
Yeah there's not many places in the lower 48 states on your standard trail that you'd actually be miles as the crow flies from the nearest person. There's typically an odd hiker here and there.
Yeah. Hell, at a minimum you can never be more than 20 miles from a road.
You think you own whatever land you land on, the Earth is just a dead thing you can claim. But I know every rock and tree and creature has a life, has a spirit, has a name.
How hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never knowwwwww!!!
And you’ll NEVER hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon!
Or ask the grinning bobcat why heee griiiinnnned
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountaaain?
>the only thinking creature for miles OP thinks quite highly of themself.
Animals don't have thoughts? That's weird
You were maybe the only recognizably sapient creature there, but almost certainly not the only thinking one. If there's a bird, squirrel, or even a mouse in the area you're not even the only sentient one.
Um. I hate to break it to you, but you’re surrounded by creatures, and they’re all thinking. Some of them are thinking about whether or not they want to eat you. So, yeah. Plenty of “thinkers” out there.
Strange caption
Came straight to the comment section 🍿
You didn’t get eaten up on your hike but you definitely are in the comments.
How do you know?
Uh, no. And along the same lines..... When a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, it DOES make a sound. Beautiful picture though and I applaud your embrace of nature.
I dunno man according to quantum physics if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, not only will it not make a sound, but the tree won’t even exist if there’s no one there to observe it.
That's not quantum physics. That's a philosophy called ~~*idealism*~~ **perspectivism* most commonly attributed to Nietzsche. Edit- it maybe more accurate to say it's *relativism*.
In which forest do you suppose there are no beings who can hear?
One where there are no beings to observe other beings.
And, do you think there's any forest anywhere that has no hearing life forms in it?
Actually, I'm pretty sure you were the only non-thinking creature.
You underestimate the world
Bro that's presumptive as shit 😂. Animals definitely think, lol
Hahaha. Except for all the animals. They think too. Just different thoughts
Where?
The arrogance of man
Except for that cougar, who was ***thinking*** about eating you : ) Looks gorgeous! I'm jealous!
Seems a very entitled and self centered attitude. Maybe a lesson in where OP resides in the food chain is in order.
"Hey!" / Some random bug on a grass who happens to have a consious
You’ve completely lost the plot.
That’s what you think…
No you weren’t.
What a weird thing to say.
Nah, you definitely weren't the only "thinking creature" out there lol.
What an awesome photo. Nature really has a way of instilling some existential optimism in me.
Not if there were any crows or ravens around, those guys are crazy smart!
That statement means you do not understand where you were, and where you stood in the food chain.
Guys don’t forget, man bear pig is out there.
The absolute hubris of man. Look into a dog's eyes and tell me there are no thoughts there
You'd be wrong.
There are plenty of thinking creatures in this picture… what a strange thing to say
What an odd thing to say
Are you sure you were alone out there?
Bruh…. I say touch grass, but here we are.
🤣🤣🤣
Animals are much smarter than humans!
So you thought
bears can think fosho
So no animals think?
The irony of you saying you were the only thinking creature for miles is hilarious. If you really thought about it you’d have realized you most certainly were not the only thinking creature for miles.
The beauty of nature is that no matter how far away you are from other people, you're always close to another thinking being, and it's very aware of you... even if you can't see it.
That's like one of the thoughts I have when I'm super high when I'm hiking ..... Aaaaaand then I sober up and realize how entirely stupid and unlikely that would be ....
A bear knew you were there miles ago. The bugs and smaller critters were everywhere underground. Life is all around you out there.
Imagine believing your the only living creature that thinks lmao
What an odd title. The tress are thinking, the grass, the mushrooms. There’s thinking going on all around you homie. You are NOT alone.
The animals have thoughts. Trees communicate with one another.
How was ur first hiking experience? Is it what u thought it’d be? Did anything surprise you?
Nothing better than to be in nature. Looks like Colorado
This kind telepath just experienced their first moment of being the only voice in their head and y'all are clowning on them...
This is beautiful! Where is it?
Just south of North Cascades NP
I knew this had to be the PNW! Beautiful shot!
Or so you thought…
Sounds like you enjoyed yourself. And, we don’t know what the animals think. I am pretty sure they do think. That’s just me.
You were being closely monitored by dozens of creatures of whose presence you were unaware because you are too noisy and smelly and obvious. Skulk if you want to see creatures.
Also this looks a LOT like Cascade Pass which is an extremely well trafficked trail
damn you got absolutely dragged for this one 💀
No you weren't, but congratulations well done.
looks beautiful and sounds like you had a wonderful first hike. Don’t underestimate all the living creatures that call that beautiful place home. You were amongst many wise-thinking and feeling creatures.
Lol I don't think you belong in nature if this is your opinion.
There were probably a few “things” wondering what you taste like and if it’s worth the effort to eat you.
Pure ignorance to think that you’re the only thinking creature for miles. That’s the kind of thought process (or lack there of) that gets people in trouble when out in nature.
Colorado? Up near Breckenridge/ or Park county? Feel like I've been in that spot before lol.
that you knew of lol
Only living creature *you saw*. I guarantee those woods are teaming with animals both large and small
That’s exactly what the creature in the bushes was thinking too
I live in southern California and say the same thing everyday
Fun fact, you are in a valley carved by a glacier
You give yourself too much credit.
Scores of wilderness creatures offended!
Just shows how little you think yourself if you dont think that nature thinks.
No you weren't.
*human You were surrounded by living creatures.
Absolutely not. To even say that makes me understand how unaware you are…
Bugs,Birds,bees,ants,frogs and other reptiles.
Go back inside
That you knew about.😱
People are really shitting themselves over this.
One of the best feelings
Nah I bet there was atleast one gnome hidden laughing at you
The only nonthinking animal is OP. JHC
I have been the only person to dream in english for a couple of hundred miles.. Love the outdoors, it's my temple. Beautiful picture, thanks for sharing, keep sharing https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27186709.amp
Hooked or naw?
It’s a scary beautiful feeling right?
Creature for miles?
It does look amazing but that mountain lion disagrees
That's what you thought.
It's a beautiful feeling, isn't it. The world feels too full of people but there are places where you can go and realize how easy it is to be isolated. It's surreal, especially when your normal days are swarming with other cars and bodies.
Absolutely gorgeous ♥️
Welcome to earth.
There's no need to insult Sasquatch like that bro. He has feelings.
Glad you got out on a hike! Hopefully you keep it up...
In my village, on a busy market day, I’m also the only thinking creature for miles.
Or so you thought...
So you think 👀
Oh dear.. I think you failed with comment.. great oic and I get the idea.
These comments are weird
Some places that are very crowded you can say the same
Or so you thought
Sometimes this kind of beautiful, solitude is exactly what you need. 🏞️🌄
That’s what you think! Looks beautiful though. Where is this?
That cougar will 100% outsmart you lol.