The depth and scope of people’s stupidity takes one’s breath away! I was hiking near Cades Cove and saw an idiot get between mama bear and her cub to take a picture. They thought I was rude when I called that to thier attention.
Once about twenty years ago, I was hiking up the trail from Twenty Mile to Gregory Bald and heard some squealing. We looked up the ridge and saw two small teddy bear heads sticking out the top of a hollow tree.
We went to the tree to get a better look and actually beat on the tree. They stayed put.
I have reflected on this adventure often. God looks out for fools, especially fools who came to count flowers and found bears.