I saw a moose up close last week.

“Up close” might technically be wrong. I was on a hike with an old friend and we turned around and the massive thing was just there. He and I had our sons with us so we took a few pictures and then moved in the other direction, checking over the shoulder every few seconds.

Maybe if I had been packing I might have chambered a round just in case even though shooting a moose would be A) stupid, B) immoral, C) ineffective and D) poaching, from a legal perspective. But if I had the choice between trying that or getting trampled, well, not a tough call.

Fortunately the big old beast seemed content to look at us but not charge or anything. He was chewing his twigs, we were walking, he kept chewing, we kept walking.

Anyway, that’s all, it was cool to see from this close. If I had the choice I wouldn’t have gotten that close knowingly. I’ve been closer than that to a moose cow, but I was in a semi truck when it happened, which affords you a little bit more armor.

Nature is cool. Don’t piss it off.