It had been my dream to live "off the grid" in nature. When I was offered a photography assignment in the Colorado Rockies I jumped at the opportunity. Being a black female in the photography field wasn't unusual, being a black female who loved to photograph nature was. The cabin I was to stay in for the 4 week assignment was small but all I needed.
It had been only 4 days since I arrived that I decided to walk one of the many nature trails that darted the woods behind my cabin. The park ranger that unlocked my cabin for me assured me that many where easy hikes, even for a city slicker like myself. I wasn't out of shape by any means; at 5'7 and 120 lbs,. I wear a natural 36 D and from years of walking for photo assignment (and a $50.00 membership at a gym) I have a nice toned body. I packed a small bag of items just in case it got dark before I got back; a flash light and extra batteries, 2 bottles of water, several energy bars and a small bag of trail mix, and a blanket just in case it turned cool. I hoisted the pack onto my back and was on my way.
It was a beautiful day. It was early spring so the trees were just beginning to get leaves again. All around you could smell the forest scents. Fresh pine, water mountain springs, flowers in bloom.....and there was a strange scent too. A musky odor. I figured it must also be mating season for many forest animals and a male deer in rut had been in the area. I took out my camera and begin snapping photographs. I walked down a side trail and came to a large clear lake. The reflections of the trees danced off the glistening lake. It was a breathtaking scene! I pulled my camera to my eye and begin snapping pictures. Just then in my view finder a movement to the right caught my glance. I snapped a picture and removed the camera for a better look, but there was nothing there. Just trees. I reviewed the pictures I had taken on my digital camera. There! There had been something in that frame! I marked the picture so I could go back to it once I was back at the cabin. I walked for a few more miles then glancing at my watch, figured I should start back to the main trail and the cabin before it got dark. The park ranger had been right, these trails were very easy. I could walk for hours and not realize I had even walked that far.
As I turned the final crook in the trail toward the cabin I heard a branch break behind me in the forest. Just out of curiosity I yelled, "Hello?" not expecting an answer I turned to walk away when I heard a low groan. I didn't stop to look again I ran back to my cabin. When I got in the cabin I slammed the door shut and locked it. I was out of breath and sweating. I threw the pack off my back and ran into the kitchen, to the back door. I pulled it shut quickly and locked it also. I stood in the large picture window a moment, gazing out at the blackness then closing the blinds retreated to my bedroom to shower and change clothes.