While bowhunting elk last season........on my way back it had grown completely dark and a buddy on the radio said a bear was headed in my direction. We had seen several bears in the vicinity during the week. I was still a mile away from meeting up with the buddy, and since carrying my bow, GPS and flashlight was enough and more necessary to carry, I turned the radio off and put it into a pocket. I'd forgotten a large rock pile and had to cross it very slowly and carefully in the dark. In the meantime the thought of a bear being nearby started putting thoughts into my head. At one point during my ascent up the mountain I heard a branch snap behind me which scared the bejeeus out of me, and looking at my GPS I was still 400 yards away from our designated meeting place. From that point on I was talking out loud to myself or to whatever might be nearby until finally seeing his light. Funny thing what total darkness in a strange enviroment with critters around can do to your mind.