A 6.4 Grizzly

I’m walking through the woods in the Alaskan back country. There’s a trail but I’m not 100% sure where we are or what it’s called. It’s just me, my buddy, some chick, Bobby and Freija. I have no idea who the girl was. Anyhow, my buddy sits back for a minute with his dog. I continue paving the way with the girl. I’m clearing out the old trail, he’ll catch up in just a few minutes. I swing a stick to clear some head room.”We need to took be on the look out for bears” I say, as I chop down some poke berries. Bears like them them, at least back home. All of a sudden, I hear a pounding. I look for the source but have no idea from where it’s coming from. It’s getting closer, it’s loud. “Get behind the tree.” I yell and swiftly jump behind a giant redwood. I notice how big the tree is for the first time. I’m a little confused, but more concerned with the problem at hand. “That’s a big F’ing bear, but where is it!” I’m looking for it, expecting a roar, a heart stopping appearance and then….

Creak. Crack. The rattling of items on shelves. The bed shifts. The house sways. I jump to the headboard, turning sideways, parallel against the wall. “Bob-O come here.” I’m laying on the bed looking up at the ceiling. Max will be in here any minute. That’s my roommate in the room directly above me. I’m expecting the ceiling to fall. Bobby has no idea what’s going on, he’s standing at the foot of the bed. He barks. I jerked the covers off him when I spun round, otherwise I doubt he would have noticed. It stops. I open my room door, and find the front door open. Max is sitting against the car in the snow. I start laughing. “Did you feel that.” I say redundantly. “F&$K yeah” He says and comes inside, that’s when I notice he’s barefoot! More laughter.

There was a 6.4 actually a 7.1 earthquake at Anchor Point. That’s the biggest earthquake I’ve ever felt. I can’t imagine any bigger. Car alarms are going off outside, but I don’t think it did more than shake a few houses and jolt fellow Alaskans awake. For now, I’m just thankful it wasn’t a bear. If I ever meet one who treads like that, well, I guess it will be a short meeting. Yep, I think I’ll go back to sleep now.