August 15, 2008

DAY 8

We got a late start to our hike. Jodi woke with a headache.

Gunsight Pass to Florence Falls was the trail of choice today. Lush vegetation lined the path, prime grizzly habitat. We called out to the bears frequently.

We didn't see any other hikers for about 3 miles. Passing our first pair of hikers we learned there were moose in the marshy area that morning. So we watched closely as we hiked through that area...no moose, shucks!

We came upon a huge bear scat in the middle of the path. Wow, that's a big bear, wherever it is!!

It's unsettling to hike in bear country, having to be so alert and aware all the time. I found myself scanning the vegetation for movement rather than enjoying the numerous butterflies flitting from flower to flower and chasing each other. 

Tenacious vegetation had overgrown the path to Florence Falls as high as our chest. We checked carefully for ticks later on. All clear...phew. The falls were wide and ribbonlike, a good lunch spot.

There was a moose feeding in the thick vegetation across the river. This may have been one of the three seen earlier in the day, who knows.

Fatigue set in for me. Our hikes this week have been 9 miles, 11 miles, 11.6 miles, and 9.2 miles. I struggled the last two miles to the trailhead. I was too tired to be scared if a bear was on the path. My body was worn out, for sure.

We stopped to let a pair of hikers pass. We chatted briefly with them. They hadn't seen the moose. I just wanted to be done. I looked down and saw a caterpillar on a leaf, symbolic of my slow and tedious ascent to the end of the trail. Baby steps were too much, an inch at a time got me there.

Jodi regularly called out to alert any bears, rounded a corner and there was a deer feeding on the vegetation at the edge of the trail. A deer is much easier to pass than a bear. Undaunted by our presence she moved and began feeding from another spot so we could pass.

Total miles - 9.2