The ‘bear’ necessities

Following my previous article last November, I decided to share another exciting adventure within our local mountains.

Speaking of a bear encounter, how about the day I experienced three encounters and with multiple bears. Not just one, but four bears within two hours.

I’m turning back the clock to the summer of 2019 within the mountains surrounding Oakhurst.

This summer morning is one of those when the light is starting to chase the shadows back into their daytime shelters. Over the distant mountains the sun is starting to brighten the landscaping for another day. Maybe this morning’s early departure will reveal another mountain secret.

During the early morning these mountain roads are void of any artificial light such as automobile headlights. While driving to the trailhead, I looked through my windshield and I spotted a red-tailed hawk circling lazily catching the warm thermals created by the rising sun.

Out of nowhere a deer scurried across the road followed by two fawns still displaying their spotted coats. As quickly as they appeared the trees and underbrush welcomed them back into their foliage.

Looking west from this lofty mountain road, off in the distance those bright lights from Oakhurst are starting to fade.

Finally I arrived at the forest gate and trailhead at the base of

Thornberry

Mountain. The dry season had taken away the colors offered by local wildflowers.

Even the white blossoms and red berries or little apples associated with the wild manzanita bushes have disappeared.

But the blackberry bushes located deep within the canyon are ripe waiting for someone to sample their nectar.

As I approached the shaded canyon loaded with blackberry bushes, I was surprised that I was not alone.

First, I heard rustling noises and then from those thick berry bushes out jumped three bears. Now this story is not associated with the bedtime story that our parents read to us when we were children before bedtime.

This was momma bear and her two small cubs. The cubs scurried for the nearest pine tree and climbed to its lofty safety. Momma bear just stood at the tree base and stared directly at me.

I thought to myself, “What was mom’s next move?”

I was surprised when she focused her attention back to her cubs to check their safety. I took advantage of the situation and backed away from their location.

She decided not to charge me but focused on her cubs which, in turn, gave me the opportunity to escape. I located another game trail and continued my quest to the summit, but looked over my shoulder a few times to make sure I wasn’t followed.

Next I started forging my way down the mountain and searched for the main trail that will lead to an old abandoned logging road.

Since the bear encounter, I was forced to forge a new route by climbing over fallen trees, ducking under and through manzanita bushes. This uncharted new route would have been much easier if I had four legs.

Finally, I found the trail that would lead me to the logging road. This must be my day for bears.

All along this trail were paw tracks arranging in size from five to seven inches and tracking in all directions. This must be their direct route circling this mountain.

I would stop several times just to observe any movement in the underbrush. Those movements could be created by wind gusts or even the sound of a small pine cone falling from a tree branch. The pine cone can create many strange sounds as it plummets off each branch before striking the ground.

A short time later, I heard the rustling of dry leaves and the cracking of breaking dry branches. Is this the rhythm of footsteps forging through the thick underbrush?

Vaguely I could see a hillside sheltered by trees visible only through a small clearing. Adding to these wilderness sounds was an animal’s deep breathing.

Looking through the dense underbrush, I could see a large dark object running in the opposite direction. When the object stopped, I could see it was a beige colored bear. It never looked back at me but continued over the ridge and disappeared.

I thought to myself, “This is enough excitement for one day. Four bears, two adults and two cubs and all this entertainment in two separate sightings.”

Also, would you believe all this excitement in two hours,so maybe I’ve been in the wilderness to long?

Now I believe it’s time for me to locate the trailhead and depart for home. Today is just too much to think about and I may run out of luck.

Tony Krizan describes himself as an “adventurer” and he explores the Sierra Nevada range on a regular basis. He can be reached at tonykrizan@hotmail.com.