4000 Miles Hiked In The " Quabbin Woods"

 

As I write this article and reflect on experiences close to the 4000 mile marker hiking the Quabbin Woods. The last two weeks have seen a first time blunder and last weekend a bear approached me in the twilight of dawn. Both will be most memorable in this hiking journey

Several weeks ago, while bushwhacking I was starting to overheat so I stopped took my vest then rolled it up and stuffed it in the large open pocket on the outside of my pack. The corner of this pocket is where my bear spray is stored. Sometime while bushwhacking the plastic wedge that prevents the plunger on the bear spray from be pushed fell out. While stuffing my vest into the pocket it triggered the bear spray. Luckily it was pointed away from me. Unfortunately,  when it sprayed it ricocheted off the tree in front of me just catching the corner of one eye and my lips. My exposure was minimal , all I can say is OMG , that was uncomfortable. The worst part was yet to come. When I arrived home, I immediately flushed my eye out,  some of the spray made it into my eye. All I can say is LESSON LEARNED !!!

Last Sunday I hit the trail at the twilight of dawn. You could just make out the silhouette of trees. I was walking a road that leads to deep woods, hoping  to catch a bull moose on the move. Wouldn’t you know it, a bear steps out into the road ,looks away from me , then turns and starts walking towards me. It took a few seconds before the bear  looked up and realized I was there , then it disappeared. Of course, who would have ever figured something like this would happen. First time in ten years I’ve ever thought about pulling out bear spray ( which I had none of)

 Jim

 

I find it remarkable the amount of sows with cubs that have show up in the relatively small area. The sow with four yearlings from last week appeared to be just passing through. Probably a corner of her home range that overlaps.

The sow that typically rules this area dispersed her yearlings late spring. I’m thinking that possibly with her being cub-less, is reason for all the centralized bear activity. Next summer when she is wandering her home range with cubs will tell the story.

I still haven’t quite got the picture of a sow with cubs crossing a beaver dam that I’m hoping to get. Lots of close pics though…. I changed the settings on most of the Browning TC’s to burst picture mode in a last ditch effort to capture a pic before the bears den for the year.

A review of all my bear videos for 2021 would suggest that I should consider placing camera traps on each end of the dam next year. Bear butts were the norm with getting several bears moving towards the trail cameras.

No doubt the 4000 miles hiked in the “Quabbin Woods” will be reached this month. Eighteen miles to go…… I’m excited about this mile marker. Not sure where this hiking quest goes from here.

Jim