Mendocino National Forest

…Last year, I had a deeply unsettling experience in a national forest in California. I was alone on a road trip with my dog, Yuka, and I decided to drive far into Mendocino National Forest. I often choose national parks and forests for camping because they're free and isolated, which lets my dog roam freely. The trade-off is sometimes navigating sketchy road…

…The forest was still pretty dark, but I could at least make out the anxious line of his mouth. He repeated, I was following you because I thought you might know how to get out of here. His words came out rushed, like he needed to convince me. A wave of conflicting impulses flooded my thoughts. Everything in me screamed to be careful, to keep him in front of…

…The forest around me felt so still it was almost oppressive, like every twig and leaf was part of a silent audience, watching me. Suddenly, a voice shattered the hush. Please, don't shoot. I twisted, trying to pinpoint exactly where it came from. At first, I saw nothing, just the shifting shapes of branches against the faint light of dawn.…