It was almost 15 years ago now that I first met one of the most interesting people I know.

True to that nature, I also met him in one of the most interesting and unexpected ways.

I was out hiking on a trail in Washington State.

It was a remote area, but one which I was fairly familiar with. On that particular day I decided to venture far beyond the hiking

trail I normally took just for the sake of exploration. After some time I entered a sunlit gully which led up to a local mountain, rife

with blooming conif and serene glistening pines. I was alone that day

and felt my soul rejuvenated a bit with every breath of fresh mountain air.

After probably 20 minutes I was well off the beaten trail and I found something worrying.

I was about to take another step when I paused midstride, seeing a circular, jagged, metal ring

laying just behind a small shrub.

It was a good thing I didn't put my foot down, as the ring proved to be an improvised bear trap.

The hell you're doing out here.

A gruff male voice suddenly shouted from somewhere unseen.

I looked around, trying to find the person who had spoken when he chose to step forward and

reveal himself.

An older man sporting a long gray beard then emerged from the brush.

He had amber skin, long grayish black dreadlocks, and a scar and his right cheek.

He wore a raggedy brown coat that looked hand-woven and all jeans patched in multiple

spots by mismatched fabric.

His eyes burn like campfires and his hands clutched the bolt-action rifle while his lip

cradled a sizable rod of chew.

I asked you a question, son, what are you doing here?

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