Today would be a great day to put out a cache I thought this morning when I got up, and I’ve waited all year to place this cache since I’ve discovered the army plane crash site last winter. With the ammo can strapped to my back pack I locked the truck (34 43.449 84 22.631) and headed up the mountain past the drive for Lanning cemetery. I passed the waterfalls ( 34 42.812 84 22.153)that were barely running, then past the biggest buckeye tree (34 42.569 84 21.955) I’ve ever seen, then up to Stover Gap.

When I reached the summit at Stover Gap I heard noises in the brush just over the top so I said, “Hey” and the bushes started to fall towards me when I realized something was coming very load and quickly. When the bear broke thru the brush I couldn’t believe what was happening. Bear 101 states that you don’t move, I would like to see anyone under those conditions just stand there. As I was running looking for a climbable tree I glanced back and saw the bear heading down the mountain. I’m thinking that the bear heard my two noise makers tied to my back pack and was confused of where I was since I just crested the mountain and maybe he was just trying to run away from me, so I proceeded on my cache placement mission since the toughest terrain of my trip was just behind me.

I then decided to go off the path a little to give him room to roam. I came across a large area where fresh brush had been trampled on. Trees with bear markings all around them, ground cover and rotting debris had been disturbed, and oh that smell. I had just walked into ground zero of bear camp. With a cold chill running down my spine I checked the distance to the cache placement, .8 miles.

I just got out of bear camp when I heard some more noise in the bush that was going downhill. I saw one bear and heard another. I’m getting closer to the plane crash and really wanted to put out this cache and thought that bears/wildlife were just getting out of my way. I walked another 5 minutes and saw another bear tearing off threw the woods going downhill. By now I’m walking on egg shells and telling myself less than 800 feet to go, I can get thru this fear factor cache mission. Even a bird’s chirp nearly made me mess in my pants. Then, I found myself in the area where I wanted to place the cache.

I was told that the government brought up bulldozers to bury the body and wings of the aircraft a few years after the crash. At the end of the road/path which ends at the mountain ridge line is where I think they buried the plane since not much growth is present above this cut out and flat area. I have to walk around this edge of the mountain to go to the plane when I see another bear (4). He acted like he was startled and started to walk in the direction I was headed. Once again I froze. This bear is on much higher ground and uphill is his only escape route when he turned and looked at me and charged. I’ve been told that if a bear charges you with their ears down it’s a lethal charge. I don’t know if his ears were up or down and that was the last thing that was racing thru my mind. I thought it would be best to make a noise and raised my arms that this action might suggest I’m not scared and it might scare the bear. He got about 75 feet from me and stopped rolled his head and let out a bark, roar, or whatever bears do when they mean business. It was then that safety was my number one goal and putting out the cache just hit bottom on my priority list. After he stopped and made his position known we turned away from each other and I ran on adrenalin.

When I reached “bear camp” I could hear them in the distance still around. It was good to see the buckeye tree where I could take a little break and gather my thoughts and then make my journey back down the mountain.

Looking back at this adventure I think bear 1 was on a charge and that he wasn’t confused of where I was at, and I think bear 1 and 5 are males declaring their mountainous territory and I think that putting a cache at the crash site is not such a good idea. I’m sharing the information of what I know and if you want to go on this adventure it will be at your discretion.

There are small parts of the plane scattered at the crash site (34 41.744 84 22.042) of a two engine army aircraft that crashed in the late 60’s. You can see where one engine dug into the ground at impact. I’ve seen two landing gears and a rusty seat and other parts of the plane and engines. One local told me that a group went up to retrieve one of the two engines with an ATV and lost the engine as it rolled down the side of the mountain never to be seen again. The views are super as well as all the other little sties I’ve mention but I wouldn’t do this hike unless it's hibernation time and the leaves are not blocking the views. The old road is just a path now and used for hunters and the locals that do come up the mountain. Happy adventures, LZ33

Sounds like a good place to go back to when, like you said, the bears are taking a long winter nap.
Yikes! Good story!

~erik~

Dale did you forget to take pictures?

quote:

Originally posted by Trez:
Dale did you forget to take pictures?

I think taking pictures was at the same priority level as placing the cache. I told this story to one of the locals that live at the base of the mountain today and he said “yea, there are more bears up there than what people think.” He has seen one stand on his rear feet and make noise while the local was yelling at them.

Note to self: take .45 if hiking in this area.

Never go into bear country alone.

And make sure whoever you bring with you is slower than you are. You dont have to outrun the bear, just dont be the slowest in your party.

hehe ... that's why I mountain cache with Trez ..

Hey, Pez, let's go hiking...

Bear spray.

Hope it doesn't just tick off the bear.

quote:

Originally posted by phat.bak:
hehe ... that's why I mountain cache with Trez ..

Okay Fat Boy. Next GGA meeting a 50 yard dash. We will get a pool bet going...winner take all... and we will just see who is going to be bear food.

quote:

Originally posted by Trez:

quote:

Originally posted by phat.bak:
hehe ... that's why I mountain cache with Trez ..

Okay Fat Boy. Next GGA meeting a 50 yard dash. We will get a pool bet going...winner take all... and we will just see who is going to be bear food.

Shall we arrange for emergency medical services to be standing by????????

quote:

Originally posted by Trez:
Okay Fat Boy. Next GGA meeting a 50 yard dash. We will get a pool bet going...winner take all... and we will just see who is going to be bear food.

Race!? Heck, I don't need to be fast ...
I just have to trip you before you trip me ...
Bear Bait!!

I think on the first charge if I would have had some pepper spray in my pocket I probably would have spayed my own eyes just trying to spray something, and if I had a pistol on my hip it probably would have gone off as I was running thru the brush shooting my foot.

I told my adventure to a hiker in Colorado Springs and I have to share his position with the bears/wildlife. “Bears/wildlife lives and survives by submission, aggression, and sexuality. When I was charged I should have either (submission) lowered my shoulders and arms, lean over and slowly back up, or (aggression) wave my arms, yell, maybe step forward, or tell the bear “you look beautiful today.””

quote:

Originally posted by RickyLacy:
Never go into bear country alone.

And make sure whoever you bring with you is slower than you are. You dont have to outrun the bear, just dont be the slowest in your party.

*note to self* Do not accept invitation to bear country with RickyLacy.

quote:

Originally posted by GeoBain:
*note to self* Do not accept invitation to bear country with RickyLacy.

Or with LZ, if he's inclined to tell the bear he's beautiful! I'm not sure I want to try that method.

Sign with what to do if a mountain lion attacks. Seems like the same thing would apply to bears.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenLacy:
Sign with what to do if a mountain lion attacks. Seems like the same thing would apply to bears.

Place your shots well. Nothing works better than good shot placement.

One of the survival shows, Survivorman or Man vs. Wild, I forget which, gave some practical advice for dealing with bears. I've found I only like reality shows if someone can actually get killed for doing something stupid....but I digress....

First thing is brown bears are much more aggressive than black bears. Black bears like we have around here will avoid confrontation with man unless there's extenuating circumstances (cornered, mom with cubs, etc).

Now if you do find yourself face to face with a Grizz, whatever you do, dont run. That triggers their predator instinct, and guess who is the prey? Instead yell, raise your arms, make yourself big, if you can back away, do it VERY slowly.

Also, watch the ears. Bears such as Grizz in particularly like to bluff a charge. He'll run a few steps toward you and stop to see if you take off. Here's why yo watch the ears. If the ears are forward, he's bluffing, he wants to see what you are and what you do if he threatens you. Again, dont run. If the ears are laid back, he's coming for you.

If you do get attacked, lay down, play dead, face down, and use your pack to cover the back of your neck.

Either that, or trip Phat Bak or Trez and haul some heiney out of there.

The other thing I have read is that when confronted with any type of bears you should talk (not yell). Bears have bad eyesight, but know that humans talk. Most also know to leave humans alone. That is why I like to hike in bear country with someone, I find it hard to talk much by myself, but with other people we naturally talk.