As our group of 11 women walked down the Wagon Trail in Valdez, someone commented on the number of bear scat piles we'd seen. I hadn't thought it was that many, six or so in two miles, but I suppose if you're not used to them, that's a lot. Another asked if we should be worried. I replied, "None of them were steaming, were they?"
Later that evening, at the final dinner for this Adventures in Good Company group I had the honor of guiding around Alaska, we went around the table talking about highlights from the trip. Jody mentioned that she'd learned a lot, and specifically noted that she'd learned from me that she doesn't need to worry about the bear scat unless it's steaming.
Oh, dear, I hope I didn't give the wrong impression. I suspect I tend to be a little cavalier about the dangers of bears because they're a danger with which I'm very familiar. That doesn't mean, however, that I take the danger lightly. I spend a lot of time in the outdoors by myself. Of course I think about bears. What I don't do is worry about them. While I don't carry bear protection, I do remain aware, pay attention to my surroundings, and force myself to yell "hey bear" in dense brush even though it makes me feel ridiculous. And when my chosen path turns into a bear highway, I choose a different path.
Over the years I've had many women ask me if I'm not afraid to travel internationally alone and tell me how brave I am. This opinion is usually followed with "I could never do that."
Bah, humbug! It's all a matter of attitude. Of course I was nervous spending three days alone in Bangkok (need I say that I don't speak Thai) or a week in Cusco, Peru, even though I have enough Spanish to get by. But I refuse to live my life in fear. What a tiny world I'd inhabit if I didn't do things just because I was afraid. While I won't say that I've gone so far as to "say yes to everything", I have committed to an attitude of "if it makes me nervous, that must mean I need to do it".
What do I say to those women who ask me if I'm afraid? I say, "I'm a big, strong woman and I act like a big, strong woman." If I don't act like a victim, I'm not going to be one.
Of course, just like with bears, I don't take the potential dangers lightly. I keep my possessions close to me. I walk tall and confidently, projecting an air of "don't mess with me." I pay attention to what's going on around me. I rarely go out alone at night, and when I do it's only for dinner and I end my evenings early. I take precautions, but I don't worry and I keep on doing.
I was privileged to travel with my daughter to Nicaragua when she was just 14. After a group tour, we spent a week alone exploring Leon and Granada. It was refreshing to have someone to talk with while traveling, and to feel more confident being out in the evening since there were two of us to be vigilant. What I really hope, though, is that the trip was one more step on the path to her becoming another strong, confident woman who is not afraid to go out in the world and experience all that she can.
And I hope she keeps an eye out for bears at home.
