A few years ago I was hiking along a mountain trail in New Mexico. Both sides of this particular trail were clear of any trees or obstacles for maybe 50 feet. My hiking buddy had dropped out for one reason or another, so I was there by myself. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, maybe 50 yards ahead, I spotted a large bear, black or brown, running at full speed. I don't recall, but it surely weighed in at 500 pounds, minimum. I came to a full stop and just stared, more or less in a state of shock. After a moment or two, the situation stabilized as it became apparent that the bear was just running across the trail clearing, perpendicular to the trail path. Why he was running at such a vigorous pace, I can only guess. ... In order to get across the trail clearing maybe. However, it was just fortunate that his running vector was orthogonal to the trail path. If he had been aimed in my direction, I doubt that my only defense, a can of bear repellent, would have slowed the critter down long enough for him to get a whiff of it.
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There are no brown bears (grizzly bears) in New Mexico. You were safe. I know, I lived there surrounded by forest. The bears used to cruise by and eat the fallen fruit in my orchard. Some day I will tell my wild turkey orthogonality story. It involves wild turkeys, a fence and limited intelligence.

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/hunting/information-by-animal/big-game/bear/

 

Well, it happened when i was a kid - which on it's own is quite unbelievable because if i look at the mirror some G~D badger stares to my face from there . . . whatever - anyway so i was 6-7 and went biking at the summer . . . there was a descent road from the hill they had just renewed the coating - and i thought it would be good to know how fast my bicycle can reach up there . . . well i guess i reached 40-50mph when i suddenly realized "there's an orthogonal turn ahead" . . . "no way i can take it at that speed" . . . "i should have been braking instead of thinking . . . S...! " - well lucky enough there was the tractor tracks going straight , only the road formed a ramp there coz the trail had 100% slope there . . . it made about 15+ft in the air - and then i crashed my bike -- (my psychiatrist tells it may be one reason why i am so stupid (as in fact - i don't have a psychiatrist - but i'm a bit stupid - me thinks))

 

Well, it happened when i was a kid - which on it's own is quite unbelievable because if i look at the mirror some G~D badger stares to my face from there . . . whatever - anyway so i was 6-7 and went biking at the summer . . . there was a descent road from the hill they had just renewed the coating - and i thought it would be good to know how fast my bicycle can reach up there . . . well i guess i reached 40-50mph when i suddenly realized "there's an orthogonal turn ahead" . . . "no way i can take it at that speed" . . . "i should have been braking instead of thinking . . . S...! " - well lucky enough there was the tractor tracks going straight , only the road formed a ramp there coz the trail had 100% slope there . . . it made about 15+ft in the air - and then i crashed my bike -- (my psychiatrist tells it may be one reason why i am so stupid (as in fact - i don't have a psychiatrist - but i'm a bit stupid - me thinks))

orthogonal is a big word for a 6-7 year old. BTW, probably better to get 15 feet of air than hit a tree like me.

 

You can use trees to induce the OOB experience - it's actually quite a smart trick - i got this idea when i was walking in a city street staring some car an BAM it hit me -- the lantern post -- i was about to fade . . . ?and i probably did . . . as it was the 1-st time -- at the 2-nd time my brain already recognized the event and suggested how to breathe and tension/relax certain muscles to avoid collapse -- but then there was a big chestnut tree over 100yo i think . . . .