Otter Creek Wilderness...bears! (West Virginia, 6/25/'23)
Jun 25, 2023 17:20:57 GMT -8
burntfoot likes this
Post by GaliWalker on Jun 25, 2023 17:20:57 GMT -8
This hike could so easily have been a bust. I only managed 5mi out of my planned 15mi hike in West Virginia's Otter Creek Wilderness, but those 5mi had plenty of good stuff!
I took off from the Mylius Trailhead at 6am. It was overcast, and the high humidity had me sweating within minutes, even though the temperature was in the low 60s. Everything was super green...a wet green. Anticipating that, I'd put on my knee length gaiters, but my thighs got soaked when passing through a grassy field.
About 1.25mi in, as I was side-hilling my way up the forested mountainside. I turned a corner, and the next moment, the trail in front of me seemed to have hundreds of bears zipping around. On closer inspection, it turned out to be only three, a mama and her two cubs, the latter being about two-thirds the size of mom. In a flash, Mama Bear and one of her cubs headed downhill and raced up a tree each. The second cub seemed frozen for a second or two, before shimmying up a tree just 10yds ahead of me, right beside the trail. I stayed put. I knew that if I continued, I would have to pass right under the cub-laden tree, and Mama Bear might decide to take steps. The cub also realized that he had made a bad choice, so he got down from his tree and scampered down the hillside into the woods. Mama Bear, a keen observer of all this, climbed down from her tree and raced after her wayward cub. Cub #1 was not far behind. This was my second time seeing a bear in Otter Creek Wilderness, and by far my most favorite bear encounter ever. This was my second time seeing a bear in Otter Creek Wilderness, and by far my most favorite bear encounter ever.
After climbing up to a saddle I dropped down to Otter Creek, approximately 2.5mi after starting. And this is where my hike came to a stop. Red Creek was running high and fast due to the past two days of incessant rain. It was crossable, but I decided that I didn't really need the stress. On the plus side, Otter Creek looked gorgeous. Mountain laurel, in full bloom, decorated both banks, and the high volume of water made this section more impressive than I've usually seen in the past. So, I messed about taking photos, and then retraced my steps back to the car, well satisfied with the shorter than expected outing.
GaliWalker on the Mylius Trail (selfie)
Grasses, weighed down by rain
Blooming mountain laurel and Otter Creek
Money shot
I took off from the Mylius Trailhead at 6am. It was overcast, and the high humidity had me sweating within minutes, even though the temperature was in the low 60s. Everything was super green...a wet green. Anticipating that, I'd put on my knee length gaiters, but my thighs got soaked when passing through a grassy field.
About 1.25mi in, as I was side-hilling my way up the forested mountainside. I turned a corner, and the next moment, the trail in front of me seemed to have hundreds of bears zipping around. On closer inspection, it turned out to be only three, a mama and her two cubs, the latter being about two-thirds the size of mom. In a flash, Mama Bear and one of her cubs headed downhill and raced up a tree each. The second cub seemed frozen for a second or two, before shimmying up a tree just 10yds ahead of me, right beside the trail. I stayed put. I knew that if I continued, I would have to pass right under the cub-laden tree, and Mama Bear might decide to take steps. The cub also realized that he had made a bad choice, so he got down from his tree and scampered down the hillside into the woods. Mama Bear, a keen observer of all this, climbed down from her tree and raced after her wayward cub. Cub #1 was not far behind. This was my second time seeing a bear in Otter Creek Wilderness, and by far my most favorite bear encounter ever. This was my second time seeing a bear in Otter Creek Wilderness, and by far my most favorite bear encounter ever.
After climbing up to a saddle I dropped down to Otter Creek, approximately 2.5mi after starting. And this is where my hike came to a stop. Red Creek was running high and fast due to the past two days of incessant rain. It was crossable, but I decided that I didn't really need the stress. On the plus side, Otter Creek looked gorgeous. Mountain laurel, in full bloom, decorated both banks, and the high volume of water made this section more impressive than I've usually seen in the past. So, I messed about taking photos, and then retraced my steps back to the car, well satisfied with the shorter than expected outing.
GaliWalker on the Mylius Trail (selfie)
Grasses, weighed down by rain
Blooming mountain laurel and Otter Creek
Money shot