17 Horrifying True Stories That Happened To Real Campers (That Will Make You Never Go Outside Again)

9. Awoken by a bear snarling

“First backpacking trip without my parents, I was 11. Had just started scouts, had read the book front to back repeatedly. I was armed with all the knowledge. Bear bags, snake bites, fish hook removal, I WAS READY. Long day of backpacking. Got to the campsite, did normal scout things, went to bed. I was bushed.

Woke up early in the morning. It was still dark. And I heard a bear snarl. FROZE in my sleeping bag. Bear snarled again. I did not move. Was planning on how I was going to get to my pocket knife if it attacked through the tent. I KNEW there was no food or toothpaste in my gear, I’d put it all up in the bear bag like a good scout, but my tent compatriot must have not been such a sterling example of an outdoorsman as I, and now we were doomed to death by mauling. That bear snarled around for ages. I didn’t move a bit. I barely breathed. The sun started to come up. The bear was STILL snarling around.

And then my scoutmaster woke up and stopped snoring.”

Holly is the author of Severe(d): A Creepy Poetry Collection.

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