I just remembered a scary night on the Appalachian Trail. I was camping in the Grayson Highlands in VA, where there's a herd of wild horses. It was a full moon, and I could hear the herd galloping in the distance. I thought that was cool, until they got pretty close, then I could see the shadows of the horses passing the tent in the moonlight. I seriously thought I was going to get trampled. My heart was pounding louder than the hooves. I guess there was enough moonlight they could see me.

Another night, about 40 years ago (ugh), I was hitching through Appalachia and bedded down just off a road. It was a cool feeling, being young and dumb and free, and there was even a train whistle in the distance. In a short while, I could see the train headlight bearing down on me, closer and closer. I shot up in the bag and started feeling around for the tracks I was sure I was lying on. The tracks were about ten feet away, way too close to a freight train. My sleeping bag nearly filled up with poop that time. It wasn't for another week or so that I could laugh about that.

Suitable thread for Halloween!