On our last morning we hiked to the top of West Ridge. This is my "king of the mountain" shot. You can see the dead pines that still are standing from a forest fire they had in 2000 that came close to the camp. One the way down from the hike we encountered three moose. Once they moved off the trail we were able to continue and then encountered a bear. (Heard a huge crack, crack, crack, thump as we surprised it in a tree.) Well, let's just say the bear spray was out and the safety was off and ready to use. We couldn't see the bear, (I had seen a flash of fur and leaves/branches quickly moving) but knew it was there as it kept walking around (very close to us) when we tried to pass it twice. So we were making noises to scare it off and I was chanting a lovely rendition of "let's Go Red Wings" with clapping and hoping it was not a Pittsburgh Penguins fan. We also couldn't back up anymore as the three moose were directly behind us and we were pinned. I decided at that moment that I am not happy when I am not the top predator on the food chain. I also pondered on if I did not make it back to MI or was attacked to near death they would have to hire a new teacher for our school. After a little more than a half of an hour we were able to go on the trail without hearing the cracking of this large animal approaching our path. (We had convinced ourselves it was the other moose in the area and since it was a teenager it was giving us a hard time.) We booked (without running so we would not be mistaken as prey) down from that mountain and the safely back to camp. The staff sent a search and retrieve team up for Jan who had passed us earlier that morning and was hiking alone. They made it to the top and radioed back that she was not there. Finally, they located her behind the mountain after she had missed the trail up to West Ridge peak. They hiked her down quickly and got all of the teachers back to camp. I'm sure that is a story they will share with every team that comes up in the furture. (Oh, and by the way, it was not the teenage moose because the teenage moose was in camp at the salt lick.)