Sleeping Bear

Yesterday I walked up Rich mountain trail and once at the top turned to the right onto Indian Grave Gap. I got about 10 minutes down that way and felt the need to stop and listen for a bit. While stopped I scanned the trail in front and reviewed the mountainside the trail had carried me above which was now visible due to the bend in the route. Initially I saw nothing yet I continued the reconnaissance of my surroundings and moved along the trail a few steps when there in woods about 30 yards in front of me and maybe 10 yards off the trail was what appeared to be a bear. My initial thoughts were it's sleeping...no it would have heard me...no the trail is quiet with the recent rain showers...no look how its laying , looks dead to me! Hmmmm? is it breathing? yes it sorta looks like it is...maybe not. I again made a quick review of the surroundings for other bears.









Then the indecision began (lol). Should I stay or should I go? I had taken a picture thinking it may be evidence for something if the animal was desceased and quietly began to continue along the trail. At the closest point I knelt and got a good view of the bear and took another picture pretty sure, looking at it's completely motionless body and partially opened mouth, that it was a "gonner".
In moving the last time up the trail I must have gotten up wind of the bear because its head popped up and quickly scanned around it's position. Once it got a fix on me it began moving down the mountain stopping at a large fallen tree to monitor my move. Which hadn't happened yet.
When it showed life I said to myself, "Oh sh_t!", followed by speaking aloud to the bear that "I was just leaving and sorry to wake you up", and I repeated this several times. I did leave and was sorry for disturbing it's rest. A few minutes later as I headed back to Rich Mtn. trail and saw a cub possibly a yearling, down along the side of the mountain.
Now what did I learn. First and most importantly when I find I'm approaching a bear stop and go the opposite direction while talking in a non-threatening way and calmly making my presence known to the bear. Second. If I must proceed and this bear is not moving be patient, back up some more and call out to this large extremely fast omnivore and see if it responds before assuming it's dead. The spirit's of the forest and luck allowed this learning without consequence though it is my responsibility to heed these lessons and not wake the sleeping bear. Peace

Rich Mtn. to Indian Grave Gap

This walk (8mls RT) began like the previous entry in that it started at the Rich Mtn. trail parking where the Rich Mtn. road exits the park. Today the visibility was much better and the temperature was a little warmer except when walking along exposed points of the ridge line. The trail was muddy in places along the route and frozen in others.
On this day once I reached the ridge at campsite #5, I drank some fluids, ate some junk, and turned left along the Indian Grave Gap trail for 1.8 mls. A few hundred yards after taking this turn the trail splits. I chose the one less traveled (made the choice while planning the route) and was rewarded with some beautiful views and pictures. This spur takes you to the location of an old fire tower and if you keep following it, as I did, it reconnects you w/ the Indian Grave Gap trail.
This path drops occasionally and probably loses several hundred feet in elevation before it terminates at the junction w/ Scott Mtn. trail and the Crooked Arm trail. The latter which drops you down into Cades Cove and the Rich Mtn. Loop trail.
I followed the Scott mtn. direction about a Qtr. of a mile to campsite #6, where I sat on a log ate some stuff, drank some fluids and appreciated the gifts.
Once done I filled my Nalgene at the water source below the site and returned to the trail. Through this hike I saw several birds of various sizes and colors out taking advantage of this relatively warm day. Enjoy!

Rich Mtn. Loop Sunday Sept. 28th

This was a walk I'd only done once before in this form. I began @ 2pm from the Rich mtn. trail parking where Rich Mtn. rd. exits the park. This later than usual start for me was of some concern w/ the distance I would be covering and the shrinking amount of sunlight because of the seasonal changes. Being alone and familiar w/ the initial part of the route planned I was able to make really good time for the first 3mls. I spoke w/ a couple just as I began and they shared that they had seen no one since they'd got in the woods before noon, and as it worked out for me I only encountered folks around John Oliver's Cabin. None along the trails that made up the 11 mile+ loop.
As I passed campsite #5, I stayed to the right and continued along the .8, of Indian Grave Gap trl., to the Rich Mtn. Loop trl., down the mountain along Cave Ridge, and a resting point at John Oliver's place. I took a few pictures, re-tied my boots and walked through some very pretty forest to Crooked Arm Ridge trl.
Water was available near the bottom of the Rich Mtn. Loop trl., and I refilled again just past Crooked Arm Falls. After this water was not scene.
The trails were hiker friendly accept at the lower elevations around the Cove, due to heavy horse and pedestrian traffic exposing rocks and causing some erosion.
I was reminded of false peaks w/ the climb up Crooked Arm Ridge. After I quit telling myself "I think I'm almost at the top" and gave more attention to the sun and the shadows; and my watch, I noticed more birds, squirrels, lizards, and the still bright Aster's blooming in numerous colors. It was a challenging walk in the sense of getting it started and staying on schedule, because even though I had a flashlight in my daypack, and I was familiar w/ the last 2 mls. from #5, to the parking area, I like to night hike w/ other folks. As it was I came out of the woods onto Rich Mtn. rd., at 7:15pm. I was very grateful for the time and experience of that day.