Miles today: 19
Trail miles sum: 1243.3
Trail location: 1925.6
Elevation: 5811
Spinning on the turntable: Yann Tiersen: EUSA
Today was a low mileage day to wrap up my week. The lower miles allowed Noelle and I to meet in the afternoon and spend the night in the van.
I really enjoyed hiking next to the lakes this morning. It feels like home!
The lakes today were everything that the lakes yesterday were not.
I made a mental note to return to these lakes with Noelle for some relaxed camping and fishing.
There were lots of tents near the lakes and a mix of thru-hikers and weekend hikers. Well this is my assumption based on the fires burning at some sites and the smell of frying bacon in the air.
I snapped a bunch of pictures and moved on. I like the steam rising from the water.
I pondered why I enjoyed the hike today more than the hike yesterday. I think I prefer the taller trees and soft trail of today. The trail yesterday was a lot of sand. The lakes today were gorgeous. The lakes yesterday (3 of 4) looked like large cattle watering zones (to me).
I stopped at a ski cabin that was built and currently maintained by volunteers.
In the winter snow skiers, snowmobiles, etc can use the cabin for free.
I signed the logbook and ate a banana. I like all the hangers hanging from the rafters. I can imagine this cabin in the dead of winter with the stove roaring and jackets hanging to dry.
I saw this bird sitting in a tree.
It may be a Spruce Grouse. It was the size of a medium turkey, about 8lbs to my eye. Any birders know definitively what this breed might be?
I stopped for a early lunch near Bobby lake and this little bird decided that it wanted my sandwich. This is the first time I’ve experienced a bird quite this aggressive about stealing food.
I’m guessing that folks are rewarding the aggressive behavior with treats and reinforcing the aggressive behavior. Aggressive or not, I enjoyed it immensely.
Two more birds hovered on a tree above my head while I continued to eat.
I hiked back to the van and arrived by 2:30. I promptly took a two hour nap. Tomorrow I’m going to knock out 27 miles so the extra sleep is a good thing.
Did you reward the bird’s aggressive behavior?
After it pecked at my sandwich I gave it the the piece of break it had beaked. Then, when it was busy eating my sandwich I captured it, plucked all its feathers and set it free.
Hay Steve amazing what you have accomplished you will have great memories. Joyce and I would like to see you when you complete your journey. PAUL
Hi Paul! Thanks for following our journey! I’ll touch base with you when we wrap up this hike. Steve