While hiking in Sierra Madre, California, Victoria Pham noticed other hikers running down scared while informing her that there was a bear on the trail on Monday (August 8).

She continued her hike with no fear when she encountered this fuzzy bear. Realizing that it was already too late to run back, Victoria calmy records the bear as it watches it pass near her.

Bears can run as fast as a horse (35 mph), and they can do it uphill, downhill, and everything in between. A bear can outrun anyone. Victoria staying calm was the best thing she could do.

Victoria told Newsflare: "A woman behind me was asking what I was doing, and I said I was just going to let it pass. There wasn't an ounce of fear or panic as it walked toward me. As soon as it passed me, I chased after it a little before it cut off the trail. That was the closest I've been to a bear and it was close enough to touch. Having worked in Yosemite National Park in Search and Rescue and Fire, I've come across several bears but not this close!"

I was taking my usual evening hike in Sierra Madre when I noticed many hikers were running down saying that there was a bear on the trail. Unfazed, I just kept hiking and eventually saw the bear. I took one good look at the bear and decided that the best possible case was just to let the bear pass since there was no way I'd be able to outrun the bear and there were also hikers ahead. A woman behind me was asking what I was doing, and I said I was just going to let it pass. There wasn't an ounce of fear or panic as it walked toward me. As soon as it passed me, I chased after it a little before it cut off the trail. That was the closest I've been to a bear and it was close enough to touch. Having worked in Yosemite National Park in Search and Rescue and Fire, I've come across several bears but not this close!