Bears, GTs, and Lions, oh my.....

Pulled into the trailhead for my favorite local mountain bike ride.

It's a turnout just off the road with a creek and a vacant and rundown fishing lodge.

I was about to get out of the GT when I saw a bear about 200 feet up the trail.

I sat and watched. The bear heard me, but didn't see the car pull in.

It was a young bear. It was a wandering at a few thousand feet lower in elevation than bears usually are in this area. Never seen a bear this low in elevation. It looked hungry and a bit beat down. Probably living off garbage. The authorities shot a few bears earlier in the summer, and I'd bet that one of them was this bear's mother.

I watched the bear make it's way along the creek and up to the front of the GT.

Sure enough it popped it's front paws up on the bumper and took a look at my 20 year old paint job.

My driver's window was down.

The bear came over to the drivers side and stuck it's nose in the car.

I said " Hey bear", and that sent it running. It was across the road and out of sight by the time I opened the door and got out of the car.

The other guy at the trailhead saw the whole thing and got a laugh.

I thought the bear would be the highlight of the day, till I spooked a young mountain lion on the trail.

The trail runs through a tight canyon. The lion heard me coming but didn't have a lot of options to get out of the way. It settled for jumping the creek and trying to get as far up the other canyon wall as possible.

Rather unusual to see both those creatures on the same day.

maybe that Lion was sent from Lyons... a Jaguar maybe?? and was the bear Russian?? a Zil possibly??
just some silly thoughts on a rainy Sat eve..lol

Andy, it doesn't get much better than that. I do hope the little bear critter manages to get healthy for the winter though.

R.

Story in the SF Chron today about a 250 pound bear up near Tahoe. It was crossing a bridge and a car spooked it so it jumped. 80 foot fall, but it managed to land on a support platform. Stayed there a couple days until someone saw it and they rigged a catch net then darted it. if fell into the net, they lowered it to the creek below, swung it over to the bank, and waited an hour or so until it woke up, looked around, and wandered off.

Nice going, guys!

Andy,

"Hey Bear" hahaha

I guess that answers the question as to what to say to a bear sticking its head through your window! Well, that about sums it up.

Cheers,

Rob

And I thought this was another NFL football thread. :(

What a day ya had though....

Paul

Geez-I clicked on this too cause the Lions and Bears are playing today. Thought there might be some neat tailgaiting shots from the rear of a GT! Anyway, the critters are obviously appreciative of the LBCs
Terry

Andy, that is awesome. There is no way that you can't in some way be impressed by the Sierras not matter who you are. I envy that you can be there a the drop of a hat. Thanks for sharing!

He just couldn't bear lion there in a GT

Cool ...although I'd be finding another place to bike for a while.

PaulM Wrote: