Them Bears Out There

This young bear emerged from its winter resting a couple of weeks ago. That statement is based on reports from visitors and fellow Volunteer Interpretive Rangers who patrol the Laurel Falls trail in order to keep the bears safe from the visitors. No, really. S/he appears healthy and new to these long periods of sleep, and waking up from them, and all those "two legged animals" standing around staring and pointing. Maybe s/he's wondering "hmmmmm? wonder what they taste like, I'll ask mom when she gets up."

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.

Bear Cub can't get no sleep

This cub was resting above a busy trail last week and was finally tired of all the attention. Here it's coming down the tree after rousing from it's slumber along a large branch above the folks gathered to look at it. The mother and a sibling had left the tree sometime earlier and were likely close by. These pictures were taken by noted wildlife photographer M. Harter, who happened to be in the area. Thanks to him for his contribution.

Past The People

Today after speaking with a Ranger at Sugarlands, where I volunteer 1 day a week, who told me of an old growth forest, I decided to hike the Laurel Falls trail and go beyond the falls, and all the holiday traffic on this trail. The pavement ends at the falls but the trail continues which I followed to the intersection with Little Greenbrier trail(3.1 mls) and just about a quarter mile towards Cove Mtn. Making this a RT hike of approximately 7 mls, with a gain in elevation of about 1300'. Though a thousand of which was gained in less than 2 mls after passing the falls.
After getting a hundred or so yards past the most visited waterfalls in the park I only saw 3 people and was able to enjoy; without distraction, the area of old growth less than a mile beyond the falls. Pretty awesome trees and in a relatively lightly traveled area. Beyond the falls that is.
On October 4th of last year I had come from the Little Greenbrier trail head near the Metcalf Bottoms area up to the intersection with Laurel Falls trail and had wondered if I'd ever see the section of trail between there and the falls. Well I have and enjoyed the walk a bunch! Peace.
(Just to note, to avoid any affiliation between wemaybeback and the GSMNP I have chosen not to post the pictures I took of one of the large trees, w/ me beside it for reference, because I was wearing my park uniform)

Lil' Greenbrier Trail

This 8.6 mile excursion, RT, began at the trailhead located just inside the Park border w/ Wear Cove. I followed Little Greenbrier Trail "the distance" until it connected w/ the Laurel Falls and Cove Mtn. trails which was approx. 4.3 mls. This trail gains elevation for most of the 4.3 but does so at a relatively modest and consistent incline. The only place I found water was in a spring along the trail about a mile+ past the intersection w/ Little Brier Gap Trail, or, over 3 miles into the walk. About a 1/4 mile+ before this spring, on may way in I caught up w/ a couple who had just seen a black furry creature. The lady showed me the picture. She was proud! It was great to see the excitement because it will help them appreciate the experience and could, in the future, encourage them to protect the wild life in some way.
I moved on and soon heard a large animal moving above me in the thick brush. It was a deer (doe) cruising through unaware of my presence, well unaware of my location, because it appeared to have heard or smelled me in how it kept looking in my direction and moving it's nose around trying to pick up a scent. I put a tree between her line of vision and myself so I could watch further and try and get a better photo but she stopped moving and disappeared into the scenery.
The trail continues along Chinquapin Ridge after the crossing w/ Little Brier Gap Trail and increases noticeably in the degree of incline. It also contains several great views even in the summer, as you may agree from the pictures here. Once I arrived at the turn around point I sat and drank some water, ate some gorp and and was soon joined by two individuals who arrived a few minutes apart and appeared to be going on to ascend the Cove Mtn. Trail. I gathered my stuff and returned to from where I'd come.