The Window and the Bear

Big day today, big  hike, big sun, big heat, big black bear, big black bear feces, big window at top  of mountain, big views.....  Still bummed that I had to turn around on that last  hike, especially after putting in the time and effort to climb so close to the  top.  Today, I was determined to make it to the top, an even more ambitious goal  than the last hike.  The trail is the Ventana Canyon trail, going up to what the  locals call "The Window", a granite arch that has a flat bottom and sides with  an arched top that looks to the south and north at the top of the Catalina  Mountains.  I left the parking lot at around 8:00am and immediately the trail  begins to rise, staying within the canyon drainage and crossing the dry creek  bed several times.  The intermediate goal was the "Maiden Pools" a spot that has  beautiful floral display. The overall goal was 6+ miles to the  summit.

After leaving the  pools behind, the trail continued to stay within the drainage and thus, having  access to water, the plant growth was prolific.  Thick grass bordered the trail  and at times I could barely see my feet.  that, combined with boulders, rocks,  matted down dead plants made the area appear to be snake city. I did see a  couple of tails sliding away but they were not my feared rattlers. About half  way up the trail I passed this large rock with the concave spots, where 100+  years ago, early peoples of the area ground legumes.  Kind of cool to think I  was walking in their footsteps.

Farther up, the  views opened expansively to the south.  I had been hiking, slowly as I carefully  picked my way through snake country, for 4 hours and had not seen anyone.   However, I had come across several large animal feces.  I assumed (hoped) they  were big horned sheep.  Some appeared to be from earlier today.  Suddenly, as I  rounded a corner I almost ran into....

....this retired  forest service range who now volunteers to walk the area's trail, making notes  for the office.  He asked if I noted the animal feces, which he had counted 9  droppings.  Yep, I told him I guessed it was large sheep and he said they were  no longer native to the area.  Instead he said they were from a black bear and  it was in the area. Yikes!  I still had a few hundred yards to
go and bid him  farewell, finally reaching.....

.....the window.   Next to the views from the spine of land at the top of Refugio leading to the  satellite array in CA with views to the ocean and valley, this was probably the  2nd best I've seen.  Southward and Northward past multiple mountain ranges,  awesome.  I had climbed 4300' in a little over 6 miles and would finish with 12+  miles, call it a mini half marathon with lots of climbing.

I did not dwell too  long at the window, instead thinking it may be a good idea to hustle down the  trail and catch the old-timer.  I wondered what I would do if I encountered the  bear.  Yes, my initial instinct would be to turn and run, screaming like a  little girl but I knew that would only trigger the pursuit instinct.  I had read  for bears or mountain lions, take off the pack, swing it around, making yourself  appear to be larger than you are and make noise.  I quickened my pace and soon  caught the ranger. I must say, I really enjoyed the miles I spent as a crotch  sniffer, drafting him like Grand Poobah on the wheel of the Rossi tandem.  He  had walking sticks gliding through the grass and commented that once the stick  had taken a direct hit from a Mojave rattler.  At this, I drew even closer.  He  identified all kinds of flora and showed fox, coyote and other animal feces on  the trail.  Really good guy.  Said the environs was ideal for snakes and we had  no doubt been observed by dozens but not seen any of them.  Yet more reports to come!