Monday, February 25, 2013

Zion's National Park, Utah

When my husband and I went hiking near the Narrows, in Zion's National Park, we got to a certain spot when I put my "foot" brakes immediately on after seeing a bear on top of this huge rock in front of us!!   I zoomed in with my camera to take his picture...
slowly,  I put my camera away...then decided not to move since we certainly couldn't out run this guy.  My husband, John, said he looked like he was coming down the rock toward the water, so I waited hoping he was right.   Slowly but surely he walked in front of us to the water.   I stayed perfectly still not looking at him, and at that moment,  I decided "never" to hike by ourselves.    I think hiking with a group of about 100 people would be perfect !!

91 comments:

  1. Grande lavoro Hilda,molto difficile da realizzare e tu sei stata bravissima!
    Complimenti!!
    Buona settimana!

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    1. thank you FRANZ for your very nice comment! I appreciate you stopping by!!

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  2. Hola Hilda, me parece fascinante que te hayas encontrado tan cerca de un oso. Los adoro, yo no he logrado ver uno en libertad en toda mi vida, ¡que suerte!. Es divertido cuando dices que es más seguro ir en grupo, pero de haber sido así, el oso no se hubiera dejado ver, se asustaría :))
    Es hermosa tu pintura, una belleza!

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    1. El oso estaba un poco muy cerca de nosotros, pero verdad el oso no se hubiera dejado ver con mas gente. Gracias, CARMEN por tu comentario!!!

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  3. Hola Hilda, menuda aventura que tuviste,increíble encontrarse con un oso y ese momento lo has inmortalizado con tu pintura. Muy bien hecha.

    Un abrazo

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    1. Un comentario muy amable, ROSA. Estoy muy contenta que te ha gustado!!!

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  4. beautiful painting! I think you made the right choice!

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    1. thank you for stopping by MYRA!! I'm so glad you liked this ...yes, good choice!
      Enjoy this wonderful day!

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  5. Hi Hilda,

    Beautiful painting, happy to hear that you and your husband did the right thing by not making eye contact. Wow, amazing story and an amazing painting.

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    1. thank you JOAN for your very generous comment. Maybe "he" didn't want eye contact with us! LOL. I enjoyed painting this one.

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  6. So interesting, Hilda! I'm glad the bear did not charge you.

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    1. thank you DIANA for stopping by...I'm glad as well..he would have won! Have a nice day..

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  7. Dear hilda,a moment of time filled with tension that is transferred to the painting. What a thrill! This painting is wonderful ,well done and...amazing! I'm glad you have been able to painted this after... this meeting!

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    1. thank you RITA for stopping by and for your very generous comment! I'm glad I took the reference picture so I can have this memory..although I don't need the picture to remember..LOL Enjoy your day.

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  8. Haha. that is one creature we're unlikely to come across when hiking in the UK thankfully. Fantastic memory though and well captured in your lovely painting.

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    1. I enjoy hiking, SUE and always love to see the animals, however, when I do, I don't want to..LOL....Glad you stopped by to comment..

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  9. This is a really neat painting and a great story. I've seen bears a few times out on hikes and there is always that really scary feeling when you don't know what the bear is going to do. Fortunately they've always headed off.

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    1. So glad you stopped by DOUG! I always get the thrill of seeing them when I hike...and you're right...in most cases they don't bother us unless we bother them...

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  10. You caught this moment of curiosity, surprise and anxiety very well Hilda, I can visualize this moment through your painting.

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    1. thank you PADMAJA for stopping by and for your wonderful comment. Maybe this is the moment when I started my high blood pressure?! LOL It was such a beautiful place as well...Enjoy your day!

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  11. That is quite an adventure, Hilda. I'm glad you got your photo, and were able to create this work.

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    1. thank you KATHRYN for stopping by. We always have a wonderful time when we go hiking...of course, I'm more aware now and my eyes are all over as I walk.

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  12. Muy bien captado Hilda, me gusta el conjunto y el fondo con los los árboles es fantástico.
    Qué suerte y toda una aventura lo que cuentas, nunca he visto un oso y la verdad que me encantaría. Un abrazo

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    1. Gracias OLGA por tu comentario muy amable. Los osos son precioso y casi siempre no quieres cuenta con nosotros!
      Estoy contenta que ha gustado esta pintura!! Un abrazo..

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  13. Beautiful painting with a great story behing it Hilda!

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    1. thank you so much for stopping by and for your very nice comment...I appreciate it!!!

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  14. Oh my god, that must have been scary ! But you got a great story to tell and a beautiful painting came out of it :-) Those rocks are awesome !

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    1. thank you so much JANE for your comment. I think the older I get the more scary I get... My husband loves hiking, so I love it with him...LOL I really enjoyed painting this!

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  15. But what a great photo opportunity! LOL And a beautiful painting emerges too. I have to say that this is a story you will be able to tell the grandkids!

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    1. Glad you stopped by SHERRY.! It seems "adventure" follows us when we go on vacation. LOL Glad you liked this painting..

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  16. An exciting adventure Hilda, which ended well and has resulted in a magnificent painting. A hug!

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    1. thank you so much TITO...So glad you like this painting...Hugs...

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  17. Oh Hilda, what a great story -I bet you'll never forget it! I can only imagine how you felt. Good thing you stayed and got the chance to capture the moment because this is a very nice painting. Love those rocks!

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    1. It really was a wonderful hike..just a scary "moment"....I'm so glad you like this one, ADRIANA..

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  18. I held my breath as I read of your adventure! So glad you snapped the photo! This is a great painting - your vertical and horizontal lines lead us slowly to the "scary" er..I mean "sweet" spot!

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    1. thank you SO much ROSEMARY for stopping by and commenting on my "experience"..LOL
      but I'm happy I got the photo!

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  19. What a wonderful experience you've been blessed to share with us! Sounds as though your husband is a very wise man. So glad your painting captures this moment in time...I know it will be a wonderful thing to recall. Hope you are all making progress in NY...miss the city!

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    1. thank you TRUDY for your very nice comment. I enjoyed painting this and I'm glad you like it...We're slowly getting back to norm here in New York..maybe you will be able to visit the City again someday.!

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  20. Great painting, Hilda, but an experience I have feared for a long time. I stopped hiking in the Smoky Mts. for that exact reason! Very scary to be out there in the woods with no other humans around. So happy you survived!

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    1. thank you so much CAROL for your lovely comment...I do enjoy hiking but the older I get the more fearful I get...!! Maybe I'll go back when they go into hibernation. LOL

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  21. Lovely job on this! Great story...I guess hiking anywhere alone isn't such a great idea. I know someone who lives in Canada and when she goes out she wears what I think she calls "bear bracelets" that jingle and make noise so the bear knows something is coming and hopefully leaves...or I guess it could also think ah...dinner is coming. lol

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    1. thank you so much JOAN. I'm so happy you like this painting. You're so funny...Yes, I heard about wearing bracelets or even talking loudly would keep them away!

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  22. Wow close encounters of a bear kind!!! How scary, you need to put this story on the back of the painting! So glad you made it out alive to tell us all about it!! Beautiful work:)

    Carrie Waller

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    1. Thank you so much CARRIE for stopping by and commenting..I'm glad you like this one. I'm really glad I wasn't lunch for him either!! The thought alone scares me..LOL

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  23. Oh my! Great painting and memory.

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    1. thank you so much MARGIE for stopping by..
      Glad you like this painting...It really was a good memory...Enjoy the rest of the Evening!

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  24. Oh Hilda!! You have captured a fantastic moment SO perfectly! It really looks like he's about to jump down! I'm glad he wasn't in the mood to go after you!

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    1. I'm so glad he wasn't in the mood either!
      He was so beautiful standing so high up on the rock! He really didn't look like he was interested in us...only the water.!

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  25. Good thing he was thirsty and not hungry! You have captured the scene beautifully!

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    1. I agree, THERESA!!! I get nervous just reading this comment. LOL Glad you liked it. Enjoy the rest of the Evening!!

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  26. So glad to see this post. I bet you was a little apprehensive. I can imagine a little fear. This is a great painting and sings with harmony.

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    1. Glad you stopped by ANGELA!! Your comment just made my day....I'm glad you liked it.

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  27. I like this view that heightens the whole effect! Great story too!

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    1. Thank you so much MARY!! He was pretty high up on the rock..in fact, I saw him before my husband. I enjoyed painting this ..and glad you liked it! Enjoy the rest of the Evening!!

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  28. Que experiencia!, Yo no sé si me hubiera quedado petrificada o hubiera echado a correr. Tu serenidad te valió la foto que has convertido en un hermosos cuadro. Felicidades.

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    1. Yo no creo que hubiera correr!! El oso ganas si corres!! ....Gracias por tu comentario muy amable, TINA! Lo agradezco...

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  29. You have luck that the bear there was not hungry, otherwise it would have eaten to you two and probably had included also the camera. I'm joking.
    Very good oil painting with a perfect texture of rocks.

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    1. SO funny, JULIAN...you made my day with your comment!! I'm glad you stopped by and glad you like this painting!!!

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  30. Wat een prachtige rotsen en een lieve beer mooi gedaan lieve groetjes Danielle

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    1. thank you so much DANIELLE for stopping by and for your very nice comment...I appreciate it!!

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  31. Goodness - I think I'd feel a mixture of curiosity and utter terror!
    What a beautiful painting you have done from that experience though :0)

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    1. Glad you stopped by SANDRA and glad you like this painting.. I think for the moment it was silent terror!! then happy that I was able to take the shot and live to see it. LOL Honestly, I think he wasn't interested in us.

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  32. thank you so much MARJA!!! I appreciate your comment ...enjoy the rest of the Evening!!

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  33. Love the painting and I love the story
    I am with you, Hilda, hike in groups in future!

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  34. I feel when hiking with a few people guarantees noise from talking or just walking and bears will most likely stay away. They are such beautiful animals and always a treat to see them.! I'm so glad you liked this painting, JULIE... Enjoy this beautiful day!!

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  35. Oh my! I would have been terrified! So interesting that you painted this guy after that. I'm not so sure I could have put myself to re-experience that all over again. Nice work. Glad you made it back!

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  36. Thank you SUSAN for stopping by and commenting on my painting!! Right now, I'm not sure if I will experience this again but I do like to hike..we'll see!! LOL Glad you like the painting. Enjoy your day.

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  37. Une composition impressionnante et majestueuse!
    Bravo pour ce magnifique travail.
    Bon week-end, Hilda.
    Bisous :)

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    1. thank you OLIVIER!! You're so kind! glad you liked it. hugs..

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  38. Dear Hilda,
    You're a multi drawer and painter! Very well organised work, congrats!!
    Kind regards, Sadami

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    1. thank you so much SADAMI! I appreciate you stopping by and commenting...Enjoy the rest of the day...

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  39. Hi Hilda, What a terrifying experience but look at the great painting you got out of it. Wonderful bear and I love the colors in your rocks.

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    1. thank you so much BARBARA!!! I'm glad I took the reference picture as well. thank you for that nice comment..I appreciate it.

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  40. What a scary experience but I am so relived to hear it all turned out well. Yes - 100 people sounds right to me! And you did a wonderful job of capturing your experience and this thirsty fellow!

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  41. I think not knowing what was on the bears mind was what scared me...taking the photo made me happy....I'm so glad you like this painting, SUSAN! Thank you for stopping by!

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  42. Ohhh Hilda, que recuerdos, yo he estado en ese parque, es maravilloso. Yo no tuve la suerte de ver osos pero fue un viaje espectacular, tu pintura es una fabulosa manera de recordarlo. Muchas gracias!! un abrazo!

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    1. Muchisimas gracias, Mari por tu comentario muy amable!!! Es verdad que el parque es maravilloso y estoy contenta que tu tenia un buen visita!!! Un abrazo.

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  43. Hi Hilda.
    Another cracking Landscape Hilda. Lovely painting of the bear especially. I also think that your portrait of Lexi is fantastic. More landscapes please. All the best Hilda.
    Vic.

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    1. thank you VIC for those kind words...I appreciate it...yes, I really enjoy landscapes and will be doing more.. I just finished another portrait...! So I'll have to get my reference pictures together for a landscape..LOL Enjoy this wonderful day.

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  44. Such lovely work you've created since I last visited!! Very nice composition with the bear perfectly placed and concentrating to decide his path down the rocky terrain. I also love the brushwork in the rocks. Cheers!

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    1. thank you so much CLAIRE for stopping by and for your lovely comment! I really enjoy painting with oils lately..still so much to learn!!

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  46. Dear Hilda:) If you've ever eaten by a bear at least we can still say: we are happy to have the painting! A very beautiful painting, but I do prefer you in person! :)Please carefully into the wilderness. We want to enjoy for a very long time of your beautiful paintings!!

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    1. Thank you RENATE for that funny comment...
      You made my day...I'm so glad you like it. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  47. Hello hmuxo, that fear would spend to see the bear, which give serenity to the photo. You are very brave. The bear was big ....
    a hug

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  48. Yes, it was a nice size bear ...I wasn't brave!..my heart was pounding!! ha..ha..
    thank you for stopping !!..

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  49. What an adventurous encounter! From what I've read about what to do if you spot a bear you did the right thing! Hard to do, though, I imagine! Well, it makes an exciting tale to tell friends back home, and in this case, a lovely painting to remember him by.

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  50. It was very exciting and you never know if you're doing the right thing "at that moment".
    But I was very happy to get the photo...but I have to admit my heart nearly came out of my chest. LOL I'm so glad you like this painting, CAROL...and thanks for stopping by.

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  52. thank you for stopping by and commenting.
    I appreciate it.

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