I saw a bear today. A big one, probably up to my arm pits at the top of his back. I was so surprised that I forgot to take a picture! I wasn't so surprised that I forgot to yell 'BEAR' and clack my sticks together and wave my hat. I think it was sufficiently scared to run away and completely disappear. Next time I'll take that picture.
True to my last posting I got up late and walked only 15 miles (I lied, it was 18). I didn't hit the trail until 9:00. By then everyone in my neighborhood had left and all was quiet. I saw one lone hiker as I shrugged on my pack.
Most of the day was spent on steep rocky slopes with poor footing. I slip a lot on surfaces that are dusty or sandy with pea gravel sized stones, so I spent a lot of time going slow. It doesn't even have to be on a slope for me to feel like I'm on ice. Lucky for me I fell completely to the ground only once. It all of the trail was like that however. The bear habitat had a nice smooth and soft surface that's easy to speed along on.
Towards the end of the day I passed by a couple of beautiful lakes near Gardnerville, Nevada called the Blue Lakes. There's a great jeep road that goes around them and then up into the hills. It might be worth exploring.
Upper Blue Lake.
Lower Blue Lake.
My camp.
Beardy.
Flowers.
Campsite again.
Hikingsolo
You look like a Hemingway character! His rhythm is perfect for your succinct writing.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you dissuaded the bear about your deliciousness and good to know you have the instincts taking over, the smart ones, not the I-need-to-photo-this ones.
That is a long way to walk in loose stuff that takes attention. You are really strong!