Black Bear Encounter on Mt. Wilson Toll Road

“Bear Encounters, Attacks Grow” (Aug. 7) couldn’t have come at a better time. Last Sunday, I rode my mountain bike up the Mt. Wilson Toll Road. After a gallon of water and almost three hours of nonstop peddling, I made it up the 91/2-mile dirt road. With the sun getting ready to set and worried about daylight, I headed back down, trying to maintain the 15-mph speed limit for mountain bikes. I was exhausted, but after passing a group of six deer, my spirits were lifted and a smile was pasted onto my face.

I picked up a little speed, headed around a sharp corner and came face to face with a large black bear. I slammed on the brakes as the bear stood up, spread his arms and glared at me. My mind was racing. Black bear. Run, play dead or fight back? Or is that the brown bear? Damn, which bear is it? This isn’t happening. . . . I snapped back to reality as the bear ran into the woods and left me alone to enjoy his backyard.

With my heart racing, I slowly got on my bike and continued down the toll road. Los Angeles, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Warren Shumway

Silver Lake