"All my life, I was haunted by nightmares of a bear chasing me, always waking before it caught me. As an animal lover, the fear felt irrational yet deeply unsettling. By chance—or perhaps destiny—I discovered a bear study program. Determined to understand the unknown, I joined. Arriving first, I parked up the long rural driveway and walked alone back through the woods. The thought echoed: I’m walking alone in bear country. I couldn’t have imagined how profoundly this journey would transform me. Through the study and the extraordinary people, I met, I fell in love with bears—their power, beauty, and spirit. On the final day, walking back alone again, I was calm, connected, and free of fear. Tears streamed during the drive to my hotel. I left forever changed, carrying a bear heart within. A beyond priceless, sacred gift I will always treasure."
Brandy - NV 2025