Camping in Bear Country

When spending time in nature, it’s easy to lose yourself in the beauty and serenity of it all.  The smell of fresh air, the chorus of wildlife all around and endless views that are a photographer’s dream are there to be discovered.  The tranquility can be mesmerizing, but at the same time, you are at nature’s mercy.  A peaceful hike in the woods can become a fight for your life in a split second if you happen across the wrong animal at the wrong time.  Being out in nature is recreational for us, but for the creatures that live there it’s pretty much what they do for a living.  They live and die there.  They hunt or are hunted, forage for food, defend their territories, and raise and protect their families.  When we enter their domain, we become part of that equation from their perspective.  They don’t know we’re just there to enjoy a walk and take some pictures. They see us as just another animal that might pose a threat, and indeed, some of us do.  Sometimes we can even be seen as an easy meal!  Knowing this, it is up to us to take precautions and remain vigilantly aware of our surroundings.  Common sense and a little homework can make the difference between a fantastic outdoor adventure and getting eaten alive.

Limekiln & Harris Lakes; Moose River 8/7/13 – 8/14/13

This year’s annual camping trip with Adam & Jacqui and Kaden took us to new places.  Our first night was spent at Limekiln Lake Campgrounds, just outside of Moose River Wild Forest.  We had a spot near the water, and had to keep a constant eye on Kaden, who is two years old and into everything.  He is a very busy little guy, and moves quicker than expected!  The site was nice and roomy, plenty big enough for all of us to share.  Adam & Jacqui rented a pop-up camper for the weekend; we used our regular tent for the single overnight, as it sets up and tears down pretty quickly.

Shenandoah National Park 5-16 & 5-17-13

Okay, so we’re into 2013 now! We’ve had two visible modifications done to the Jeep at this point: a roof rack/basket, and a light bar. I’ll discuss those more in detail in a later post, but their functions are obvious.

Testing

Highland Forest County Park, Fabius, NY 5/9/09
Westwind Loop Trail 3.0 miles

Since acquiring all our new gear, we decided to test it on a nearby short hike before going out for “the real thing.” Highland Forest is a place we’ve always loved and returned to many times for various activities. There are miles and miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling. For our test run, we took the Westwind Loop, which is about 3 miles long with some hilly sections. We encountered a garter snake shortly after getting started, and of course I had to take pictures of him. He was less than thrilled with our presence. We also saw a small toad later on, who wasn’t bothered by us at all.