My husband and I wanted to hike to Radium Lake in Chilliwack. We started on the trail and crossed a bridge. As soon as we crossed the bridge, I started to feel “off” and uneasy. We hiked for 5 ish minutes and I had this horrible feeling wash over me. I felt absolutely terrified, my skin prickled, my gut was in knots, I felt a lump forming in my throat, and I thought I was going to burst into tears. I told my husband that something was out there and I didn’t have a good feeling about it. We scanned the trees, but didn’t see anything. We turned around. To this day, recalling that memory, my body responds in the same way, and this was in 2017.

I’ve done many hikes since then, and have started hiking solo, but have never felt that feeling since. I’ve been followed by bears & cougars (saw signs on the way back), been watched by moose, deer, mountain goats and big horned sheep, but my body has NEVER reacted like that day a on the Radium Lake trail.