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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
1,362 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | 5 Hrs 30 Mns | | 0.91 mph |
| 1,362 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | ...Bears Oh My
I hadn't been to the Sierra Ancha Wilderness Area before and wanted to get some fall color in before it was too late.
I drove up Saturday morning and about 3hrs later was in the thick forest. I parked at Falls undeveloped campground right on the creek and began hiking down in Workman. I forgot how slow creek hopping can be especially with a camera and tripod  , but eventually made it to the falls. The creek was flowing but the falls weren't too impressive with the lack of rain. I took the rockslide up, then dropped back down into the creek at the FS gauge/dam. This part wasn't as impressive and the woods were a lot thicker so going was slower. I left Workman at the small tributary that enters at 33°48'56" N / 110°55'34" W and began hiking along it until I found what some maps still show as the old FR 151. It was grown well over and sometimes easily lost.
Not far down the trail I saw deer everywhere, more the eyeballing type compared to the skittish ones, many time them gawking at me before I knew it. A little further up I saw movement in the woods and saw my first bear doing a fast walk away from me. It was more brownish than black, and medium small- a wrestleable size. I was a little saddened that I couldn't get a good picture, but it wanted nothing to do with me.
A little further the elk started complaining and calling about me being there but I hadn't seen any as of yet. As I started to try a pathetic call of my own, I looked over to my right and saw 5 big ones just off the trail trying to figure me out. I got a few pics and they moved a little further away but still in view. I left the 151 around that time to work my way up and over the ridge that would drop me down into Knoll's Hole. I was pushing daylight but I wanted to at least touch the next trail I would access from Reynolds tomorrow. I followed a heavy game trail on my way up and then down. Before reaching the bottom I stopped near a tree to consult my GPS. As I was doing so, an elk came clambering down the trail but couldn't see me because of the tree. As he reached the tree 12 feet away from me I realized how close our contact may end up being so I pocketed the GPS and raised the camera slightly. That movement startled it into stopping and as it peaked around the tree, I snapped off the camera at chest level. That noise did it and it turned, trotted off and presumably found a new way down. I met more elk at the base of the hill and found the 150 and lots of tree color. The daylight was almost gone on this side of the hill, so I headed back the way I came to the old faded road. I had my headlamp with me just in case but the sun was still present on the southwestern face.
The woods were still very much alive with deer and elk, sometimes seeing them along the trail, at other times hearing them run off breaking through the forest in retreat. It was for this reason, when I heard the forest explode to my right, I didn't react much, but slowly turned to see how many I scared up this time. Instead of seeing brown and white disappearing through the trees, I saw black running at me. Without thinking, my gun was in my hand and my recently acquired walking stick went up. Time slowed and as the bear, close to full run burst onto my back trail I yelled, "Hey!" as loud as I could and it stopped 50 feet away. We had a staring contest for what probably only seemed long at the time, all the while making sure not to give up the fact that she was bigger than I had expected. Without lowering the stick or gun I took one small step back to let her know we didn't have to do this but I wouldn't be backing down. That seemed to do it and she dropped eye contact and crossed the trail into the other side of the woods. While I would have liked to unhinge my camera from my chest, doing so would have bid me lower one of two of my weapons and I felt that to be the wrong decision at the time (and still). My adrenaline was off the charts, but there was no fear, and immediately after, I felt ecstatic. What was supposed to work and happen did, we both left unscathed and neither of us had to officially back down. I was glad though that it hadn't gotten dark yet.
I saw more deer the rest of the way down and a large owl. I made it back to camp right at dark. Only two other vehicles were around, and one guy offered to slice up a log with his chainsaw so I could chop my firewood better. A nice fire and food later, I turned in for the night. I was awoken only a couple times as a skunk came into camp and licked what he could off my propane stove top.
When the sun came up, I drove over to Reynolds to hike the other side of the hill. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial
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May he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
May he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
Armchair Crisis Design |
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