I let my friends walk ahead. I said I wanted to take some pictures of the Alaskan wilderness, but in truth, I was feeling a little sick from the bar the night before. I laughed thinking about how some of the local guys looked at me when I told them I lived in New York City - after all millions of us did it. It was as if I told them I slept on the dotted white line on the highway.

It occured to me that this was when people, momentarily alone, always seemed to see UFOs or Bigfoot. But then... Bigfoot no, but a bear... a bear was a real possibilty here. What would I do? Run? Fight? Vomit? This would never happen on Lexington Avenue.

I felt better when my friends returned (as if they'd be much help against some giant Kodiak). As we pulled away on the boat I imagined a clenched paw shaking at us from the treeline, "I'll get you next time..."