Black bear cubs climb a walnut tree in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Time Stood Still

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

There are moments in life when time seems to stand still. When all the outside noise slips away and the mind, body, and spirit are focused entirely on the moment at hand. For me, nature is where I go to seek these moments. Whether it's been a stunning sunset along the ocean, a rewarding winter view after a punishing climb, or hearing the haunting call of a loon echo across a foggy lake, I've been fortunate to experience countless moments where nature has taken my breath away and made time stand still. But out of all these moments, there's one that stands out from the rest.

On a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we were dying to see black bears in the wild. After a couple days of exploration with no sightings, we were rewarded with what likely was the greatest experience we've ever had in the wilds. A mama bear and her three cubs were hanging out at the base of a walnut tree, which itself was exhilarating to see. But then the cubs got restless, and began to climb the walnut tree. We stood awestruck as they deftly scaled the thin branches that swayed in the evening breeze, and I could feel my heart pounding so much with excitement that it felt like it would burst. This was one of those rare moments that caused me to ask aloud "is this real?" because it's unlike anything that my eyes had seen before. This was indeed real, and was a moment we'll never forget.

Photo © copyright by Joey Priola.

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