Bears with Cubs

Dudes! and Dudettes!! I went for walk hoping I'd see a bear and planned a route on which I often see them. Yesterday was no exception. I was barely a mile into my walk when I heard some shuffling in the forest below and beside me, I saw a mo mma bear busting it down the side of the mountain while her two cubs were quickly scooting up separate trees. The pictures are of the first family I saw and I know they are not closeups but they were not very still for long at all and I got what I could. I say this because another mile plus up the trail I heard some shuffling on a small rise to my right and I quickly determined it was not a squirrel. After sitting still for a few minutes and listening to the movement I spotted another adult bear off to my left on the knob of this ridge line. Then directly in front of me I see a little black ear just above the underbrush which was attached to a little black bear cub and then another cub briefly shows itself as it made its way through the seemingly tall brush. "Seemingly" to the cubs as the brush was only like knee high.
I am reluctant to name the trail however if you leave a comment or contact me I'll likely give up the information on where these bears were walking. Peace

Bear Along The Way

This young bear is on the verge of being relocated due to a it's level of comfort with humans. People who visit the GSMNP are not always aware of the effect their behaviors have on the animals and the wild world they are a part of. This bear lives along a very busy trail and frequently has the opportunity to sample plastic wrappers from snack bars and candy, underwear and diapers left in the trees (see the picture), and assorted paper products. Often I hear folks say how much they love this beautiful place and then drop their cigarette butt on the ground while their child tosses the plastic wrapper from the plastic straw attached to the corn syrup (fruit Juice) they are using for nutrtion.
"I love my national parks" but I can't understand why I have to pay taxes to maintain them, I want this but only if it does not cost me any effort or money"!
I love my country and show my respect for it by throwing my child's diapers in the tree and my recyclable plastic bottle along the trail. Hmmm?
If I hear another "god fearing" conservative preaching god and guns talk about his or her love for country as they spend their kids future today with their low milwage SUV's etc..., or throwing garbage out the window of the vehicle I'm going to ask them what kind of debt are they going to leave their kids? A debt represented on paper created by the dollar or the environmental debt represented by shorter life spans, increased levels of illness as a result of pollutions, wars for clean water and dwindling species diversity. An environmental deficit spurred by personal greed and self-satisfaction that you and your god can't buy you out of! Killing your children's future in gods name with acid rain and toxic coal sludge as "stewards" of the world and all it's creations?


We may still have a choice.
What is wrong with, and how hard is it to be responsible for carrying out your own trash? No one is asking you to be responsible for anyone but yourself. Ask your kid for permission each time you decide to throw something out the window of your vehicle and into their future. Peace

Bears Along The Way

After the recent incident on Laurel Falls Trail where a bear had to be shot because it had been fed by humans and began to associate humans with a free meal, several VIP rangers have begun patrolling the route to keep the bears safe from humans. Today as the "Deputy Assistant to the not so junior Ranger's, Ranger Fife", took these photos of one of the deceased bears siblings as it fed on a cherry tree. Folks feeding bears is stupid for your own safety and deadly, unfortunately to often for the bear. Enjoy these magnificent creatures fro a distance.

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

Blooms and Bears

Todays afternoon walk which took me up the Rich Mtn. trail on a great day to be appreciating the wild life was altered just before the half way point. This mother and cub were on the trail just before the final turn bringing you to campsight #5. They didn't move except the cub started up the tree beside them a few times only to come back down after climbing up a few feet.
I saw only blooms and these bears along the trail. Peace

A Cold Day in 2010

This walk was taken last Sunday the 3rd of January, along and in the Savage Gulf, which is part of the South

Cumberland State Park, atop Monteagle, Tennessee. We started out of the Collins West Access near a campsite located along the gulf rim about a 1/4 mile in from the parking area. We had visited the Gulf from this point before in much warmer times (See the entry from 07/09 "Collins West"). The 'mysterious one' and I followed the frozen and often slippery, Collins Gulf trail by Suter Falls and on to Horsepound Falls about 2 miles further on.

We had seen Suter Falls during the earlier visit however there was much more water on this most recent trip. Much of it frozen around the edges and making for some precarious stepping in places. The first picture is at Horsepound Falls, our lunch spot and turn around point. A really pretty spot even with temps in the lower 20's.
The other picture shows the trail along some cliffs just before the stream crossing at Suter Falls.
This trip was 5 miles according to the signs posted and the state park service is now posting notices of bear activity in this area of the South Cumberland State Park so bring some rope for hanging your gear if you do an overnight.

Bushwacking!

Today I took a semi-educated guess and went completely off the grid for about a mile into White Oak Sink. Heck, it was pretty likely that I was going to end up either in the sink or crossing the road to Cades Cove.
After coming upon the trail, almost exactly where I was expecting/hoping, I continued to the sink where at one point I noticed a bear quickly moving with little noise up a ridge in front of me. Just before you get the the rocky cliff on your left near the bottom. I've seen several bears as I've walked this route.

Mt Sterling via Big Creek

Hello, and Whoa!!, what a great backpacking excursion (7/27-7/29/09). This walk began at the Big Creek trailhead which we followed the 5 mls. up to campsite #37. Here we set up a base camp late in the evening just before the first of several thunder showers began. It rained both nights and was very pleasant temperature wise despite the humidity.
Big Creek trail is relatively easy hike w/ a slight incline most of the way amounting to less than a 2000' elevation gain over the 5 ml. distance. This trail is a dual use trail and parallels Big Creek w/ several popular swimming holes along the first mile or two.
The #37 site is a large flat area in a bottom surrounded by mountains allowing access to several trails in different directions. We barely noticed the other campers at this location because of it's size and everyone contributing to the quiet peacefulness.
Monday we got a relaxed start up the Swallow Fork trail and were blessed w/ having the entire distance of the roundtrip dayhike to ourselves for observation, contemplation and discussion. The natural gifts of the green plants and blooming "rodo's", a version or two of Aster's, some Coneflowers, Indian Pipe, Bee-Balm, and the funky Turk's Cap near the top of Sterling, and other summertime blooms were spectacular and will bring me back again. This trail also parallels the creek it's named after and branches of itself and others for more than 2mls. of it's 4ml. distance.
We enjoyed the clouds atop Mt Sterling from the firetower, had lunch and walked to the watering hole for campsite #38, which is located up here, before we started our return trip. After finishing the filtering I stood up and turned around to see a healthy bear coming our way and only about 50' from us. It appeared as startled as I but only looked at me and continued walking when I said calmly, "hello, we're just getting some water but were finished and will be leaving now". I quietly told my hiking partner, who was still sitting w/ her back to the bear to stand up and not freak out that there was a bear right behind us. When she stood the bear stopped and I continued my "dialogue" w/ it ensuring it we were leaving and that there was plenty of water. My friend saw the bear and slowly spread her arms to appear bigger while asking me "is that a big bear?" Suddenly...in my mind I became a PhD wildlife biologist w/ a vast knowledge of the black bear in Southern Appalachia and responded "naaa, about average",(Deputy Fife). Which was probably true based on the limited number of bears I've seen. I'd guess it to have been around 200 lbs.
The curiosity of these remarkable animals is great and while it sniffed the air and watched us we slowly began moving out of the way and up the trail we had come at which point it began moving in the opposite direction.
Along the return trip of Swallow Fork the rewards were great w/ a new perspective and appreciation of the plants, animals and water.
Our return to the camp came just before the rain began to fall. Peace

Chestnut Top Colors

Hey! This was new for me. I saw where James the Walker had done this route a few weeks ago and wanted to try it out. Just did about 3 mls. RT, from the 'Y'. I made a deal w/ a bear; who I saw the backside of as it ran, that I'd turn around at the point I did so sticking to my word kinda limited the length (about a mile and a half in). The bear was running so I did not get a picture but got several other nice pictures I think. The first 1/2 mile or so of this trail could be tough because initially it's a steep incline w/ some more moderate grades after the first 1/4 ml.

Along The Trail

Well OK, it's no big thing. I saw one Bear about 6 miles down the trail where I had seen the two noted on this blog, w/ pictures, July 19th. I was on the same route of that previous entry only at opposite ends of it and nearing the end of my 6 mile RT walk. Fresh and frequent bear scat was seen beginning about 1.5 mls up the trail from the parking area though the bear seen here was closer.

The trail was dusty and dry yet water was still flowing in the stream, what say, about a quarter of a mile before campsite #5. The water source at the campsite may have had water but I could not find it. I say "may have" because I'm still not sure if I'm looking in the right area where the sign points me. Maybe these Tropical storms and Hurricanes will spare our friends on the coastlines and bring us some moisture in the form of rain. I did find, and carry out, a crushed bud light can, a power bar wrapper, and some assorted plastic garbage. Including a sign warning of bear activity that had been torn off a tree and left in little pieces. Hmmm? Peace

Big Timber and Little Bears August 7th

This walk began on the Lead Cove Trail("led"), after it crosses Laurel Crk Rd, going in the direction of the Bote Mtn Trl. "Ja'll git all that"? The trail parallels the road for a short distance and then makes a sharp left turn to begin a more pleasant experience following the path of an old road that once went through this reforested farmland. A stream goes along side the trail for a little while. Off the trail here to the left I noticed some piles of rock which were apparently made by man. When I got home I checked the "lil' brown book", that I'd obviously forgotten, and learned I was probably looking at what remains of Gibson Tiptons' cabin. The Tipton's were some of the first Anglo settlers in the Cove. As I progressed up towards the intersection w/ Bote Mtn Trl, I noticed the large trees scattered consistently in the forest and amongst these large hardwoods were big decaying Hemlocks, still standing. The seemingly larger than usual trees were seen along the whole loop I made this day. As I made it farther into the forest and higher in elevation the walk became very pleasant though somewhat physically challenging and at times very rough from exposed rocks and roots. The picture here is from a similar sight along Anthony Crk Trl a few miles further in the walk. I've found this to be more "the case", than not on these dual use trails, which this whole loop was, dual use. At the intersection w/ Bote Mtn. (aprx. 3000') the route I chose took me to the right, up Bote Mtn. Trl, so after enjoying a log to sit on for a few minutes and the vista which included Thunderhead peak I walked some more. From here, after 1.2 miles in distance and 800' gain in elevation, up a sometimes again rough rocky trail, the Anthony Crk Trl begins on the right. This is a 3.5 mile decline almost continually along side the sometimes large creek for which the trail is named. After about a half mile or so I passed campsite #9 which was a pretty nice site right beside Anthony Crk. Throughout the walk here there are small cascades and then pools of water large enough to "waller" around in if one saw fit to do so. Towards the bottom, about .5 miles away from a large equestrian campsite, I spotted two cubs running for cover, apparently having noticed my approach. I stopped to check for "ma and pa", and after 5 minutes or so, I saw and heard nothing further so I continued on my walk.
A few minutes later I crossed over a wide wooden bridge and shortly after that, before the trail split for the Cades Cove Campground, was the large equestrian campground. This camp location was different than it is shown on the park trail map that I was using. Shortly after the campsite was the right turn for the 1.6 mile Crib Gap Trail that damn near put me right on the side of the Laurel Creek Rd. a few times before crossing it at .8 ml. and connecting back to where I began the excursion after another .8 mls. The last few hundred yards were very pleasant visually, though the frequent noise from vehicles was close to remind me where I was in the park. The final approach into the cove.
The route was fairly strenuous for a day hike both w/ the length and the first 3 miles which is pretty much an incline. Also something to consider for some, is the often rocky and rough conditions of these dual use trails. Peace

Bears in The Woods

The times when I'm at least trying to be at peace w/ my immediate surroundings things tend to workout. As I began this walk at Rich Mtn. trail I was believing in the positive energies I'd "walk into" along the way and things the wild world would allow me to be a part of. Heck, as you can see from the pictures w/ this entry the positive thoughts and actions were returned to me w/ each step I took.
I started from Rich Mtn. Rd. without a destination, some gorp and water, and two books. One being the lil' brown book about the trails and the other one for identifying trees. I used both.
This trail is described in the brown book as being "upside down" as in it begins dry, without a stream, proceeds up Rich Mtn. and about 2 miles into it you come to water in a stream down on the right. Soon after beginning this route I noticed a spur to the right which takes you down to a sink developing here. After 2.3 miles of forest and ferns I arrived at campsite #5, and continued on along the Indian Grave Gap Trail until it intersected w/ the loop trail. Here I decided to stop, eat some gorp and jerky, and feel the peace. I had heard what appeared to be a large mammal in the trees below me but it never showed itself maybe a third of a mile back. After I snacked and relaxed for a while I got up and proceeded back the way I'd come and quickly reminded myself of the noises I had heard in the trees a few minutes earlier. No sooner than I remembered this I saw a bear stepping out the trees onto the trail completely unaware of me 40 yards or so down the trail. I quickly snap a few shots w/ my camera, which I already had in my hand, and then said to myself "I better let this bear know I'm here". So I begin speaking in a non-threatening tone loud enough to get its attention and keep eye contact as it stops, looks up, and a few seconds later steps off the trail. It then followed the trail parallel inside the trees about 30 yards. We kept an eye on each other as we passed and I continued to speak in mellow tones keeping it up to date on where I was.
So I'm pumped about this sighting and thanking the powers that be, wondering if the pictures are going to turn out when 10 minutes later I spot another larger, "black furry creature", already on the trail walking towards me. I still had my camera in my hand so I quickly take a few pictures and let this big bear know I'm here by saying "hello Mr or Mrs bear". With that this large mammal stops, looks up at me and doesn't move, except it's head, trying to get a "wiff" of my scent it looked like. After we stare at each other for about 20 seconds or so, w/ my "conversation" continuing, I decide it would be wise for me to begin backing away and slowly waving my arms to give the appearance of being larger than I am. As I begin this that "sucka" snarls and grunts at me letting me know I have made a good decision in backing up. It stands it's ground for another 20 or 30 seconds and then turns around and heads back the way it had come, staying on the trail and going around a knob on the ridge. The bear disappeared around the bend so I stopped and began to listen for it, trying to keep it located by the sounds it may make. After a few minutes I headed up the trail, continuing to speak to my new friend. Rounding the the bend I heard it, and then saw it amongst the trees taking a route that would bypass the area we had just met in. I continued speaking so it would know where I was and avoid any surprises. The rest of the walk out was gravy! What rewards I get when trying to be "a part of" the larger wild world. Aldo Leopold was and continues to influence my beliefs in that all things are related and Steve Martin put it best for me when I'm looking at a large bear 35 yards away, "I feel really small", Peace.

School House June 25th

Hello, this walk took place a few weeks ago though I've been reluctant to post it because I forgot my camera...well I remembered it this time along the walk then left it in Townsend when I drove to Nashville to finish up some work.
This walk began at the School House Gap Trail Head, from the Tuckalechee Cove side, and was fairly strenuous. The first 2 miles are along open moderate trails w/ the 2nd mile dropping down to Laurel Creek road. At the crossing of Laurel Creek rd. I turned left walking along the side of the road and back over a stream, crossed the road, and hooked up w/ the Bote Mtn Trail on the other side. The next 1.2 miles was a steady incline along a wide path to an intersection w/ the West Prong trail which can hook you up w/ the AT and an wide assortment of other routes.
I made it point of walking to this crossroad then returning back the way I'd come about 50 yards to rest and eat some gorp. While doing so some folks passed by on horses. We greeted each other and I sat back down to enjoy the soothing "greens and noises of nature". Just as I stood up to gather my hat and day pack I heard a large animal moving in the undergrowth about 30 ft. below me. I quickly got my camera ready as I noticed a "shadow" of a what appeared to be a bear, or boar, moving through some brush. I say shadow because I only saw for a moment a large dark spot moving amongst the green leaves. About this time I was also becoming consciously aware of the fact that whatever this large animal was it was very close and may not know I am present. So I whistled and said hello, to which it scruffled through some more bushes and then stopped. I never got a clear view as it moved in short burst for a a minute or more then stopped hidden under the bushes and trees below where I was standing. It might have noticed, as I did, the approach of more riders. I spoke w/ them briefly as they stopped and I briefed them on what was just occuring. They dismissed my information after a short talk and continued on. Much to my delight I'll add, as the woman rider was telling me how to behave around her _____ horse because my hiking poles were scaring it. This route is a dual use trail though I had it all to myself for the first hour or so. Water was plentiful though even w/ a filter it would be wise to "locate areas of gathering less polluted by horse run-off".
Peace.