I found this post through @geopolis and am delighted I did. You made the expedition vivid through your photos and your description--so vivid I'm really glad I wasn't there. The bit about the bear was funny, but kind of scary. And the piece about the fire was sad, and startling, that you should witness the beginning of that. Witness to history indeed.

When I was a young child, my brothers used to lead me through the forest by our house. This was in the foothills of the Shawangunks. As I recall there were cliffs and swamps and tall grasses over my head. Certainly untamed. I was a reluctant adventurer back then. Your piece reminds my why I was :)