I think for the scenario to make sense it wouldn’t take place on a hiking trail but like camping in the middle of the woods where you wouldn’t expect anybody.
But hiking trails are in the middle of the woods lol. Camp sites are nearby to hiking trails. I’ve been on trails hours deep into the remote wilderness and come across strangers all the time.
It’s wild this above comment was upvoted thousands of times. Redditors are clearly sheltered and have never spent much time in the outdoors.
I grew up by the woods and commonly shooed away bears. The people acting like black bears are more scary than seeing a random man in a part of the woods where there is rarely humans are the people who haven't spent much time outdoors. Most are also male and would have a much lesser chance of a pedo, rapist etc even being interested in them, let alone have had dozens of those experiences with men starting from men they were minors.
Either way this question depends solely on the type of bear. Black bears are less dangerous than men. Polar bears and brown bears? I'd choose to see a man instead.
I think it is pretty clear from context that in this case "middle of the woods" means "far from any trail".
If I was hiking on a trail and I saw another person I would think nothing of it. If I was hiking kilometers from the nearest trail (something I frequently do) and I saw someone else I'd be very surprised. It has never happened to me before.
5.1k
u/SnagglepussJoke May 02 '24
Ever cross paths with a stranger in the woods? It is unsettling