Friday, April 21, 2006: Standing Bear Farm to Walnut Mtn Shelter...20.3mi

I left just after the rain began to slow a bit and hoped that it would soon stop...LOL it rained all day... About 2 miles out of Standing Bear Farms I had my first bear encounter...A bit exciting and frightening at the same time... A cub ran across the trail about 20 yards ahead of me in a driving rain...I couldnt believe it and as I reached for my camera I thought to look for MOM...she was on the ridge above me with another cub seeking cover...I forgot the camera and backtracked about 50yards watching the cub race off and also my chance for a pic of the little guy fading... I waited quietly for a few mins then decided I better start making a bit of noise at least above the sound of the rain... After about 15min, I decided it was time to move on and did so calling out "Hey Bear" loudly for some time to come... I never saw them again... I was a long day of T-storms but not too cold and I stopped in to Groundhog Creek Shelter for a break about 1100 and had some lunch with a couple who were waiting out the storm...They had been there for more than a day already...LOL...probably still there too... "Gringo", "Trixter", and "What" caught up with me here and we all left together headed for the Walnut Mtn shelter another 13 miles away... The weather did clear some and the walk improved expecially with some unexpected Trail Majic at Brown Gap about 1230... After that it was a bit difficult to move...ate tooooooo much...lol...
Pictures:
1. This one is out of sequence..from the top of Max Patch Bald... Highland farming began back in the 1800s when farmers cleared the tops of these Mtns for grazing... The Forest Service purchased this piece of land, which has a road almost to the top, for all to enjoy. The views are Magnificient even on a cloudy day like this one... Thats Gringo, Donkey, and "What" taking off in the background.
2. "TRAIL ANGELS" What more can I say... These folks, thats OX and PEBBLES,took time off from their lives to flip burgers, and hand out love on the trail for the entire weekend. It was fitting that the weather cleared here around 1100 when we came up on them parked on a back road, miles from anywhere...WHAT A SURPRISE!!!! THANKYOU
3. Thats myself, Donkey, and Gringo enjoying the moment on top of Max Patch
4. Approaching Max Patch the weather was still a bit blustery as you can gather from this pic...It did improve moments later... We had a chance to dry off a bit before continuing on our way and another 8 miles before making camp at Walnut Mtn Shelter about 1900 where the weather dipped to about 45 with high winds all night. We were comfy in our tents and sleeping bags...