I thought this would be a fun story to recall. I was on a hike in the St. Paul area, Birds Landing, and I had a very interesting event. I used Google Earth to map out a trail through this impossible terrain and took off on my hike. I started into the woods and got about 1/2 a mile when I thought I would stop and input my GPS coordinates and take a look at my map. After I had finished I stood up to continue on my path when I just felt like something was amiss. The woods were quiet and unnaturally still. I looked around and saw a spot in the woods. I peered around and saw what I thought was a cow. I thought, "What is a cow doing in these woods?" Then, to my horror, the cow looked up at me. It was a black bear!! This thing was probably around 300 lbs. and it was about 15 to 20 feet in front of me. I stood motionless for a moment wondering what to do, then I remembered what I had heard on survival shows. "I have to look big and intimidating", I thought and began to wave my hands above my head and grunt. "Maybe grunting is the wrong message to send! GET OUT OF HERE BEAR!!" The bear started walking TOWARD me for about 2 feet and then just turned and walked away. SCARED ME TO DEATH!! I finally just turned and headed back. I left that day and went home to do a lot of research on black bears so I would know what to expect from them. I now have an extensive knowledge on these beautiful creatures and have even encountered more. Now when I hike, I take bear spray and have an alarm system I set up around my camp site. This experience changed my life really and am grateful to have had it.