Total trail mileage: 1311.6
Starting location: Catfish Fire Tower
Ending location: Viewpoint after Jacob's Ladder Trail
Weather: 78 degrees in the morning. 77 - 87 degrees during the day.
Partly Cloudy all day. Hazy in the morning. Drizzle in the early
afternoon
I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=41.167160,+-74.803527
Today was another great day! I saw BLACK BEARS #4, #5, #6, #7, and #8
of the trip! :) I know everyone said I would likely see bears in
Shenandoah and then in NJ, but I was not expecting five separate
encounters in one day. I saw more bears today than rabbits. #4 was a
rather large bear, but #8 was small, probably only 1 year old or so.
#6 took off when my camera flash unexpectedly went off (it wasn't even
a good picture), and #7 and #8 ran as soon as they sensed me. All of
them seemed to be out grazing today. I would hear some rustling in
the bushes and look over to see them (occassionally though it was a
deer or a squirrel).
So, yes I have competition for the blueberries :(. The blueberries are
slowing me down, and I think I have developed an addiction. They are
much sweeter than the blueberries you can get in the store, although
they are much smaller.
Between looking for bears, looking for blueberries, watching for
snakes (I almost stepped on a really large black snake today), and
looking at the scenery, I don't know where to keep my eyes. The only
real solution I think is to get a few more eyes.
At lunchtime I stopped for a long lunch at the top of Rattlesnake
mountain. There were really nice views, a nice rock to lay down on,
and a surprising break in the annoying bugs. So, I read my book for a
while.
I am now 60% complete. I have walked over 1300 miles this year and
have 867.5 miles left to go to Katahdin.
I made today another short day. I got to a fantastic overlook looking
out at a large lake. I am hoping to get up early tomorrow morning to
catch the sunrise from here.
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