Sorry folks, to dive right into your forum like this, but I thought I'd share a particularly interesting (I think anyways) set of circumstances that occurred to me (and involved others) back in 1994 in the Redwood Natl. Forest and Eugene, Oregon.

My friend and I decided to hike into the backcountry of the Redwoods, as we were prone to do in those days. The ranger on duty warned us that since it was winter, there were no other campers around and recently a jogger had been attacked and savagely killed by a cougar in the area. "But you should be ok, since you have your backpacks guarding your spine."

So, with that knowledge, we dove in.

We had a wonderful first day observing the largest tree in the forest and settling on a wild camping spot next to the voracious, bubbling and frothing Redwood river. I remember meditating on a fallen redwood that was perched precariously 1/2 way out into the river itself. My eyes slitted so I could only see the foreground in front of me, after nearly 1/2 an hour of quietly chanting my mantra I made a request: "If I am on the right path, please send me a signal of some kind..." Before the last word passed through my mind a raven swooped low into my limited vision - and very close to me, landing on a nearby branch and letting out its complicated call.

At any rate, we built a fire and planned our hike the next day up into the "prairies" that were clearly marked on one of the nearby trail signs.

The next morning we left after an early breakfast with basic items and day packs.

Up and up we went into this wonderful wilderness. We saw cougar tracks along with black bear, deer and oddly what appeared to be wolverine. Not feeling deterred, but only armed with self-made spears and hunting knives we plodded on...