Paralyzed with Fear to Advocate of Bear

My 2009 ALDHA presentation

It truly was a spectacular summer hiking amongst spectacular scenery! It was a real treat to be able to share much of it with family and loved ones.

Much of this  backpacking was  in Grizzly country and during trip preparations,  I was terrified! 

Research, both scientific and personal opened up the incredible world of these grand mammals. I was becoming aware. My terror was transitioning to respect.

One of my itineraries in Glacier  NP changed because of a “Bear Harassment” order. Sadly, it was later changed to a “Bear Termination” order. It was feared that a mother grizzly was raising her two cubs to be accustomed to humans….she was to be killed and her two cubs sent to the Bronx Zoo…….The event resulted in the death of two bears and one of the saddest wildlife images of the summer……..a photo of tiny, beautiful grizzly claws emerging  between the bars of the bear trap…..broke my heart.

For most of the summer,  I backpacked without having to share a campsite with an outside group. All summer I was bear wise and bear aware. All summer I acted as a guest.

When having to share camps with outside groups I witnessed people cooking at their campsites. I witnessed people spilling food in the cooking area and not cleaning it up. I was crushed – as it was now known to me that the unfortunate premature demise of a grand animal and one of her cubs was likely brought on by insensitive and/or uninformed people like this.

It is because of this experience and developed respect that at our 2009 Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association’s (ALDHA) Gathering in Gettysburg, PA,  that I presented a workshop on grizzly bears:

Hiking and Sleeping with Bears – Sunday, 1-2:30pm

There is some spectacular terrain in the lower 48 that we share with grizzlies. Come find out what’s so special about this great and endangered species and how you can possibly make your trip safer for both you and bears.

 

Wow. What a summer………….looking forward to getting back out!

Where Bears can be Bears

Pelican Valley

Big Sky

Yellowstone has a series of Bear Management Areas (BMA’s) where bears can be bears!!  Special rules apply and one of them is no hiking between 7pm and 9am.  One of my backpack trips started in the Pelican Valley BMA…… it is a very special place.

The hike started in Pelican Valley and I spent the first night in Mist Valley and then the next in the upper Lamar.

My first priority is not to surprise any bears……so that means lots of noise……”Bear. Hey, Bear!” is what I shout before every bend, stream crossing and turn. Then I got to thinking……maybe the bears can distinguish that I am only one….a solo hiker…..so I decide to “mix it up”.  Change pitch….sing it….even the words.

“Oh, little bear. Little Bear.”, in homage to David Sedaris. Then I even tried a Miss Piggy version, “Bearhhhreee!” Then I thought perhaps that bears may like bacon?  How sounding like Mr McFlye in Back to the Future? (Did you ever notice how much he sounds like Ronald Reagan?)….so I stopped.   It was fun and I found myself laughing down the trail.

Only one bear sighting on this trip…..across the valley in Pelican (note the photo how wide the valley is). Lots of tracks and scat…..that I was following….. I even got to put my foot inside a wolf track!

The last night was beside the Lamar with lots of firewood – Petrified!  Did you know that Yellowstone has the largest petrified forest in the WORLD?  Avacados use to grow here!

I am currently in Jackson Hole with my Mom…..we enjoyed a Yellowstone Sunset last night (signature drink – two imported rums). We joked that any bear that choose to dine on us would comment on how he tasted a hint of pistaciao encrusted chicken, bison meatloaf and a hint of infused rum!  We are roughing it – paper napkins…..

Only a week left before heading to Glacier and meeting up with more family and friends!  I get to do more guiding with my sister, her husband and my Dad!  College friend Bonnie “Box” and her husband Ken are coming in as well…..maybe a Kathleeen sighting?

I can’t wait!

WONDERLAND

Wildlife on Beartooth Highway

On the way to Hellroaring.

Sunset over Grand Prismatic Spring

It truly has been a joy to share “Wonderland” (Yellowstone NP first name) with family and friends.

We saw a running grizzly, coyote family, a pair of hunting wolves, sand hill cranes…….all in the first 20 minutes of our arrival!!!  DIVINE.

Then we turned the corner and witnessed a herd of over 500 bison………..

What a vision.

It was a fabulous week of hiking and trekking with Donna and Laurie………..what wonders to discover.

Yellowstone Adventure

Storm comming in over Blacktail Creek

I am currently in Cody WY awaiting for the arrival of my Mom and two friends, Laurie and Donna. We are then heading back up in to Yellowstone for some more awe inspiring beauty (Beartooth Highway entrance). I am soooo excited to see so many families with children exploring this our first national park and now I get to be one of those families (hope my Mom doesn’t put me on a leash).

 At the Lamar Valley trailhead, I witnessed a young girl, 6 or so, desperately begging her parents to go on a hike……………… I remember my first solo hike…….in NB Canada!………I wanted to visit my cousins and my family was moving to slow back at Uncle Freddies…….so my parents let me walk there along those beautiful rolling dirt farm roads……. Then, when I was older, on a backpacking trip with my Dad to No’Ketchum Lake, we encountered a solo woman hiker also from Newburyport……..I remember her words, “There is nothing like hiking solo. I highly recommend it.”

Maybe, some day, that little girl will do the same.

Yellowstone Canyon

What's for dinner?

Ranger Liz helped me to set up a great hike into Yellowstone Canyon (hot). Left the truck at Blacktail and hitched a ride with a retired couple from St Louis (Barb and Chuck). They are also bird people so we stopped at Floating Island lake and spotted a few Harlequin ducks (first for me). Chuck’s dad is from Old Town and they have been doing some research on him……Chuck described him as a “rounder”. Great to meet people that love to visit the State of Maine.

Started hiking down HellRoaring trail to a great site on the Yellowstone. The rock in the gorge is intensely dark but the light and the bench for the site were devine.

The next day was short and I got there pretty early….set up camp…hung the food….filtered some water…..sat by the river….watched the ducks play in the river (ferry across, eat the floating dead bugs, float through the rapids, eddy out and do it again)……then apparently, I was not an obstacle to a snake that decided to slither under my legs upstream…….and I thought that was exciting!

Almost time for dinner and I decided to head to the food pole……still a little early so I thought I would read……something made me look up and 125 yds or so away was a black bear sauntering along. It was beautiful. Cinimmon in color – blonde with dark legs and face….pointy ears! (that’s a  blackie)……I announced myself, “bear, hey, bear”….it stopped and I then moved off the path of its’ course……….and then it ran on by!…..

Well, a bear in camp is never a good thing…..so I have read…it behaved the way a bear should…..but I decided to stay somewhere else…fastest break of camp…..EVER!

NORTHERN YELLOWSTONE

animals in the road

Northern Yellowstone is where it is at!!!

This place is amazing….the light, the colors, the people, the animals.

I am sure you have all heard the stories about traffic stopping (bear jams) and the animals in the road (see photo).

When I first saw a bison 10 ft from the road I was amazed that people coming from the opposite direction were not stopping. Hello! Then I drove a mile around another bend and saw a herd of about 350!! That’s what they saw! (looked like a Beirdstadt painting)

Blooming

My sister Christine is receiving her Masters degree this weekend in Bennington, Vermont!

Congratulations!

One thing about becoming more educated is that you learn that you still have more to learn!

I remember teaching you how to blow a bubble and then how to tie your shoe!

Wow. Christine, may you continue to grow and blossom.

Love,

Suzanne

The Road West

View NE from Round Top Hill

Should be on the road for the fourth. Just a few…..weeks behind where I thought I would be.

Life is all about modifications and adaption – my definition of survival and evolution.

This is a sunny view from a hike in the Kennebec Highlands (can you see your shadow?)

That is my stationary home (hopefully) – top right, between the two hills, just below the horizon.

If you look closely, you will see the lakefront.

Grease Monkey

A new bumper for the 'Taco

Rain. Rain. Rain.

Waiting for sunshine. Set up the awning……. rain stops!

Should have done it sooner.

Nope….started raining again….when did I move to Seattle?

Travels with Ella

One bite at a time

Ella loves nature!

We go on “adventures” and get to see some really cool things.

Sometimes it is baby trees, raspberry patches or even pretty rocks.

This time, we got to see a tree a beaver worked on!