You have a smart approach! That sounds like a good idea, to keep aware of your surroundings in case you need to get away quickly. (But yeah, bears are fast. And they climb trees. So it could be an exercise in futility.)

Painful, disturbing experiences and fears are excellent fodder for writing, even though sometimes it can be difficult to relive them or focus on them. I had never thought of that--a journal with a proper character arc! That's good. :-)