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Bare Bear
06-13-2008, 01:05
What is the strangest thing you have had happen on the trail?

Bare Bear
06-13-2008, 01:10
I was out early one morning in Maine, about 0630 am. I heard a noise to my right in the woods as I was walking along near a long waterway to my left. I thought it was a deer or moose and stopped. A hugh Beaver jumped up on a stump not three feet away from me. I fumbled for my camera and was able to get a great shot of the water ripple he left as he fled into the water; but I will never forget that image. Strange pure luck.
Later the same week I heard noises early (0500 am?) and looked out to see a small black bear clawing into a tree not 50 feet away. He looked at me then went back to clawing the bark. I dove into the tent for my camera and of course got the usual butt shot of the bear fleeing deep into the woods.

River Runner
06-13-2008, 02:25
I have a couple -

Hiking from McQueen Gap into Damascus this spring and not seeing another soul on the trail.

Hiking in Ga/NC last October, by-passing Rock Gap Shelter because there was a homeless man staying there, and finding out later that John Bryant's body was found in that vicinity. He would have been murdered not long before we were there.

Lilred
06-13-2008, 09:52
I was sitting on a log resting one day when I saw this bird with a leaf. He looked like he was playing with it. He would shake it, like a dog would a toy rope, then toss it in the air, pick it up, shake it back and forth and toss it in the air. I thought, 'how odd, I've never seen a bird play before.' This went on for a little while then I noticed the worm that was stuck to the leaf. After a few minutes, the bird finally got the worm off the leaf, flew to a nearby branch, and with the worm dangling from his beak, starting singing like there was no tomorrow. He then flew to a higher branch where there was a nest, gave the worm to the female, and she fed it to her babies. It was really cool to watch that play out.

Red Hat
06-13-2008, 09:56
Mine was what is referred to as the "Oh **** Movie"... First of all, let me preface with the fact that I am a very nice old lady, not prone to saying any bad words. I was hiking along in the snow and it was very, very quiet... majestic almost. When out of nowhere pops Bruce Spruce with his camera. He scared the ___ out of me and I exclaimed "Oh, ****!" He got the movie and proceeded to show it to everyone we knew.

Red Hat
06-13-2008, 09:57
Wow, I didn't know we were censored here... my s word became stars...

envirodiver
06-13-2008, 10:09
I was backpacking with some friends in Savage Gulf and arrived at a nearly full South Rim campsite. There was a fairly large group already there and one of them asked if we planned to get up and see the meteor shower that was scheduled to occur that night about 3:00AM. We replied that we would like too, but didn't know about it and had no alarm. One person said they would wake us up.

I was dead asleep and someone came by and shook my tent from the ouitside and said get up and see the meteors. I got up woke my hiking companions and we found a spot to watch the meteors. Couldn't see anyone else out and about. We watched the shower for awhile and went back to bed. The next morning I went looking for the folks to thank them for the wake-up call. Someone told me they weren't there and that, because the campsite was so full a ranger had loaded that group into a pick-up that evening and taken them to antoher camp site a fairly long ways from the one we were in.

Weird

jaywalke
06-13-2008, 11:41
I was hiking on the Allegheny Highlands Trail in PA, and came across a dead possum that had been skinned and crammed into the crotch of a tree at head height, facing the trail. Hanging suspended on a branch about fifty feet back in the woods was a white garbage bag with something in it. My buddy and I did not look in the bag.

Newb
06-13-2008, 11:42
I had to poke a deer with my hiking stick in SNP in order to get it out of my way. It wasn't just unafraid of me, it had a deed and title to the trail.

Cuffs
06-13-2008, 12:20
N2O2Diver and I were at a shelter on the Pinhoti. It was after dark, we BOTH heard people talking, saw headlamp light beams flashing thru the trees. No one ever showed up... There was no road access for them to go to, no other trail junctions... they just went away... weird.

jfarrell04
06-13-2008, 12:20
After a long, hot, wet day on the trail my brother and I happened upon a shelter that wasn't even on our maps. I think it was called Floyd Mountain or something like that. As we thanked the hiking gods for its placement and rested on a log in front of the shelter, a fat rabbit came hopping (barely) out from beneath the shelter. About 15 seconds later a little, viscious critter (some type of weasel/ferret?) came out of the nearby woods and attacked the poor bunny. Imagine the "killer rabbit" from Monty Python - Holy Grail, as it went right for the rabbits neck. It proceeded to drag the bunny about 50 yards up the shelter trail. Never did figure out what the predator was, but needless to say, it made for a restless night wondering if it was going to come back and go for our jugulars!!!

As we walked out the next morning, we saw the rabbit, partially dragged/stuffed beneath a log. It appeared to have been drained of it lifeblood.

Bear Cables
06-13-2008, 12:22
At Philmont as I was sitting on the "bomidier" (trail potty) I looked up into the face of a beautiful Mule deer just about two feet from me! I ask " Do you mind? " It decided that I wasn't that interesting and just turned and walked off.

warraghiyagey
06-13-2008, 12:25
I hiked the Mahoosuc notch at deepest dusk last year. There was a rock that had give to it when I stepped on it. It took me a minute to realize it was a moose laying there. Took another minute to actually believe it had expired. When I got to the end of the notch it was pitchblack out and I needed a cigarette. Hiked to FullGoose in the dark. Beautiful.

jfarrell04
06-13-2008, 12:34
On another section hike (this time with both of my brothers) in VA, we came across a mountain stream with about 50 beers laying in it. We met the folks that had placed them their (they were waiting for thru-hiking friends), and they told us to "help ourseleves". Being one that enjoys a cold brew (or two) daily, and having been out on the trail for about five days, we proceeded to down three each in about 20 minutes. We loaded up to move on up the mountain, and sure enough, about 10 minutes after we left the stream, down the mountain came a young man carrying a tuba!!! At that time, we didn't know anything about "Tuba Man", and frankly we didn't believe that this dude was thru-hiking with said instrument.........or we thought we were having Colt 45/Mickey Big Mouth Hallucinations. Weird, wild stuff!!!

River Runner
06-14-2008, 02:42
At Philmont as I was sitting on the "bomidier" (trail potty) I looked up into the face of a beautiful Mule deer just about two feet from me! I ask " Do you mind? " It decided that I wasn't that interesting and just turned and walked off.

That reminds me of the time the deer kept coming around our camp all evening. It was bizarre - they just kept coming closer throughout the evening, and ended up just a few yards away, watching, for hours.

Jason of the Woods
06-14-2008, 07:13
We were doing Trail Magic for a few days right off the AT north of Damascus. On the second day a guy hiked in and I offered him a beer. He asked me what kind it was. Like that matters when it's free.? He stayed for two and a hotdog.... I've never know any hiker to care what kind of beer they are drinking, especially in the middle of the woods.;)

Cabin Fever
06-14-2008, 08:44
Back when I was a big newb on my second ever AT hike, I had a wonderful surprise on the Trail. We were hiking from Woody Gap to Unicoi Gap, GA and I did not know that Mountain Crossings was an outfitter! I thought it was just the name of some gap or something. It was a grandiose surprise and made for a great lunch!

I was hiking with Long Story from Sam's Gap to Erwin, TN last fall and we practically stepped on some goats on the Trail. We were making our way up Big Bald and there were around 15 goats right in front of us. We stopped, took pictures and enjoyed that first time experience.

TIDE-HSV
06-14-2008, 10:35
Around 8-9 years ago, my wife and I were in CO and we'd taken a day trip from Vail down to Glenwood Springs, and we decided to stop on the way back and hike up to Hanging Lake. On the way down, I noticed something moving through the bush to the right of the trail and paralleling it. I made a comment about it's being a pretty rambunctious squirrel, and my wife commented that it was far too big to be a squirrel. The only way I could describe its motion would be that it was "surfing" through the woods at high speed. When reached a 3' sapling, it just flowed up over it and down the other side effortlessly. Then, it crossed the trail, pausing in the middle as if posing, while I fumbled for my camera (didn't make it). It was totally unafraid, and just regarded us from about 25' calmly. Then, it took off up a dry creek bed to the left.

When we got back home, we looked it up and decided that it was either a marten or fisher. We called the Glenwood ranger station, and the wildlife specialist called us back the next day. He said, from the description, that it was probably a fisher. He was quite excited, since neither species had been seen in that area in many years...

Roots
06-14-2008, 11:07
This past April I was at Hawk Mtn Shelter with about 60 other people...really, there were about 60 others there. Anyway, I had not been in my tent but about 5 minutes when I started hearing heavy footsteps and then a man in the distance--at the shelter area--was repeatedly saying 'yes mame' and the sound of walkie talkies. I get out of my tent and through the trees I could see shadows walking up the trail. All single file with HUGE packs on their backs. It was the military doing night missions around the mountains. I had always heard about it, but to see it was amazing. We went to talk to their sgt., the one saying 'yes mame' and talking on the radio. He said their were two groups coming through. The first was 50+ guys and the 2nd was 40+ guys. I have to admit it made me feel VERY safe that night knowing they were around.

minnesotasmith
06-14-2008, 11:24
What is the strangest thing you have had happen on the trail?

I completed my thruhike, when most of the other hikers half my age and weight didn't come close. Never completely figured that one out...

TIDE-HSV
06-14-2008, 11:44
Something similar happened to a group I was with at the Apple Tree Group Camp, up above the Nantahala. They waked us up crawling between our tents. Another time, same camp, we were sitting around a campfire, when rocks started sailing in to the fire from the darkness around us. Then, a high-pitched voice said "First, let's take the women." They were Boy Scouts, precocious ones...

Tipi Walter
06-14-2008, 12:08
A weird thing happened to me driving and backpacking into the Citico/Slickrock. On the way in I picked up a backpacking hitchiker with a full load from Chapel Hill NC. He said he was planning on staying out for about a month and wanted to get in on a decent trailhead, so I just drove to my usual spot.

We unloaded and both started up the South Fork Citico trail, he to go up the South Fork and me to veer off on the North Fork. Along the way we had a long talk and it turned out he did "Chakra Healing" using TUNING FORKS and recommended it as a balancing therapy, etc.

We said our goodbyes and two days later in my trip I was up on the high ground sitting by a firepit and saw a flat rock inside the hollow of a tree and moved it and found a thick, heavy rolled up leather pouch containing many tuning forks. I snapped a fotog of the things and figured the guy I met must've stashed them here to lighten his pack. See pic.

Cookerhiker
06-14-2008, 12:20
In October '04, I was on a southbound section hike that took me through all of the Smokies. I spent a night alone at Russell Field Shelter (http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=84124). In the morning when putting on my boots, my right boot had 2 shiny acorns inside it. OK - some critter was busy. Then my left boot: also 2 shiny acorns inside. Not more, not less - perfect symmetry. What are the odds?

Rockhound
06-14-2008, 14:09
I don't know about "strange" but I had a wonderful experience at Tinker cliffs last year. While taking a break at that awesome overlook a bald eagle was riding the wind currents directly overhead. It was so close you could actually look it the eye. One of the best experiences I had on the trail

Dirtygaiters
06-14-2008, 17:29
There's a favorite camping site of mine in central Missouri which is on the edge of an expansive glade on top of a mountain. Very scenic spot to watch the sun come up from. Several years ago, when I was just getting into solo backpacking I did a lot of short overnighters there. I remember on my first solo overnighter, the sun was going down, it was looking to be a beautiful evening, I was munching on my dinner, and I heard this abrupt grunty noise. Not quite a grunt, not quite a woof, but definitely made by a pretty big animal. I stood up and darted my head around in every direction. I was in a glade, but the 6-10' tall scrub oaks here and there made it impossible to see very far in every direction. Just as I was starting to think it was a deer just passing through, I heard it again. A sharp, loud, and definite exhaling of breath, like a pissed off bull getting ready to charge.

This went on, about once every five to fifteen minutes, always just beyond my line of sight, and always right at the moment I was starting to forget about it, but always sounding like it was very close and made by an animal that did not want me there. Even on into the night, I kept the fire stoked, and still I heard the same noise, closer now, but always just beyond the firelight. I don't know how I got to sleep, but I remember I was pretty restless.

I never did figure out what it was. It didn't sound like any bird I know. Bears are pretty rare in Missouri, and I'd be surprised if it were a bear simply because I never saw any sign of it. I'd like to think it was a feral hog who simply lived nearby to my campsite and either was just going about its business or who didn't like me there, but luckily never felt threatened enough to charge me.

Strange thing is, I went back there about two weeks later with a friend and we heard the same noise that night when we had our campfire going and it was dark. I couldn't convince my friend to go looking for whatever it was that made the noise.

River Runner
06-15-2008, 03:42
There's a favorite camping site of mine in central Missouri which is on the edge of an expansive glade on top of a mountain. Very scenic spot to watch the sun come up from. Several years ago, when I was just getting into solo backpacking I did a lot of short overnighters there. I remember on my first solo overnighter, the sun was going down, it was looking to be a beautiful evening, I was munching on my dinner, and I heard this abrupt grunty noise. Not quite a grunt, not quite a woof, but definitely made by a pretty big animal. I stood up and darted my head around in every direction. I was in a glade, but the 6-10' tall scrub oaks here and there made it impossible to see very far in every direction. Just as I was starting to think it was a deer just passing through, I heard it again. A sharp, loud, and definite exhaling of breath, like a pissed off bull getting ready to charge.

This went on, about once every five to fifteen minutes, always just beyond my line of sight, and always right at the moment I was starting to forget about it, but always sounding like it was very close and made by an animal that did not want me there. Even on into the night, I kept the fire stoked, and still I heard the same noise, closer now, but always just beyond the firelight. I don't know how I got to sleep, but I remember I was pretty restless.

I never did figure out what it was. It didn't sound like any bird I know. Bears are pretty rare in Missouri, and I'd be surprised if it were a bear simply because I never saw any sign of it. I'd like to think it was a feral hog who simply lived nearby to my campsite and either was just going about its business or who didn't like me there, but luckily never felt threatened enough to charge me.

Strange thing is, I went back there about two weeks later with a friend and we heard the same noise that night when we had our campfire going and it was dark. I couldn't convince my friend to go looking for whatever it was that made the noise.

Deer can make some pretty weird sounds when they snort - the first time I heard one I couldn't imagine what it was. If you were close to an area they normally bed down that might make them snort.

Lilred
06-15-2008, 09:26
Deer can make some pretty weird sounds when they snort - the first time I heard one I couldn't imagine what it was. If you were close to an area they normally bed down that might make them snort.

I camped at Marble Springs near Glasgow recently and had a buck snorting at me the whole time I was in camp. He stopped when I got into my tent. It may have been his feeding ground.

FeO2
06-15-2008, 11:01
this is embarassing...

Two years ago I am hiking along for about 4 hours, not a sole in sight. It was hot, muggy, and uncomfortable. I absent-mindedly forgot to apply body glide to the inner thighs....:eek:

I was veri irritated... So, in the middle of nowhere on the trail I was unzipped and attempting to air the situation... Think of someone half squated fanning into the zipper and kinda moving up and down at the same time... get the picure!!!!!

I am busy trying to get some relief when I hear, "Good Day"... I froze, slowly looked up and saw a hiker coming from the other direction only about 10 yards away.

Well, in 7 hours of hiking that day it was the only hiker I saw.... Timing is everything :D

rafe
06-15-2008, 11:13
Well, in 7 hours of hiking that day it was the only hiker I saw.... Timing is everything :D

That's a classic. I just got Yogi's PCT handbook, and this is pretty much the story behind the trail name of the hiker named "Gottago."

Anyway, I've long known... if you're lonely in the woods and want company... take off your pants. It's surprisingly effective.

John Klein
06-15-2008, 11:27
This is embarassing...

I was trying to get to sleep in my tent. I turned onto my side to get comfortable. Then I heard a wierd snorting, rumbling type sound. I thought it might be an animal trying to get my food bag hung in the tree. So I yelled to scare whatever it was away. Then I turned on my back and the sound stopped. Then I turned on my side and the sound started again and I realized it wasn't an animal outside...

...it was my stomach rumbling.

Wise Old Owl
06-15-2008, 11:52
At Delaware Water Gap in thick woods, I heard an awful buzzing and spun around as to see the largest yellow jacket looking wasp hovered about fifteen feet above me. As big and agile as a dragonfly about 5 inches long and black & bright yellow all over. We both got a good look at each other for a minute as he hovered like a Harrier Jet and then took off into the woods as fast as he came. I came to realize I haven't seen everthing yet. And have no explanation as to what I was looking at.

http://entmuseum.ucr.edu/insect-faq-pictures/horntaila.jpg

looked like this unfortunatly this species is only one & half inches and not big enough.

TIDE-HSV
06-15-2008, 13:36
A buck which stands its ground can be dangerous, particularly during the fall rut. There have been fatalities. A strange event I've posted about before just came to mind. Back in the 80s, a friend and I were on a several day Smokeys hike. On one leg, we were coming in to Siler's Bald from High Rocks, where we'd stealthed by the fire tower. There was a remote back country campsite there that we had to pass through (I don't think it's there any more). As we came around a bend and into the cleared area, there was a guy with his pants dropped about to take a dump in the middle of the trail. He was a dwarf, and, standing beside him was a tall, beautiful blond gal. He grumbled "A guy can't take a ***** anywhere." We both just said "Hello," and went on our way. After we went around the next bend and out of sight and hearing, I asked my buddy if he'd seen what I just did. Sanity confirmed, we proceeded on our way...

Dirtygaiters
06-15-2008, 13:36
At Delaware Water Gap in thick woods, I heard an awful buzzing and spun around as to see the largest yellow jacket looking wasp hovered about fifteen feet above me. As big and agile as a dragonfly about 5 inches long and black & bright yellow all over. We both got a good look at each other for a minute as he hovered like a Harrier Jet and then took off into the woods as fast as he came. I came to realize I haven't seen everthing yet. And have no explanation as to what I was looking at.

http://entmuseum.ucr.edu/insect-faq-pictures/horntaila.jpg

looked like this unfortunatly this species is only one & half inches and not big enough.

What you saw might have been a wasp called a 'cicada killer'. They are quite a bit larger than yellow jackets and hornets and tend to hover from place to place. I've never seen one five inches long, that's really freakishly large, but if it was a trick of the eye, my money would be on it being a cicada killer.

TIDE-HSV
06-15-2008, 13:48
I think they're called "ground-dwelling hornets," but we always called them "cicada hawks." I had a nest of them under my driveway and I finally exterminated them with gasoline because they frightened my two daughters. I wouldn't do it now, because they are not aggressive at all, but that was then. Before I killed them, I saw one intercept a cicada and it was impressive. Cicadas make that weird clattering sound as they fly, and this one was crossing my driveway, about 8' up. One of the hornets peeled off from the burrow by the driveway and smacked the cicada in mid-flight. When the hornet hit it, the clattering sound stopped instantly, and the hornet then flew slowly back down to the hole in the ground. The cicada must have been twice the size of the hornet...

Mango
06-15-2008, 14:27
In 2006 I met a sobo sectioner who was NOT talking on a cell phone. Really unusual.

Bare Bear
06-15-2008, 19:26
In 06' Pastor John, Dick Tracy and I were hiking NOBO near Catawba and decided to stop by a stream area for the night. While putting up tents several deer came up the streamside areas but heisitated about going on through. That night I kept seeing them all over then heard DT yelling at them. They were chewing (salt?) off his backpack hung outside. He chased them away only with great difficulty in a full rain. I reminded him how he had said early in the day "that there didn't seem to be as many deer around." Be careful what you wish for.

rickb
06-15-2008, 21:42
I hiked the Mahoosuc notch at deepest dusk last year. There was a rock that had give to it when I stepped on it. It took me a minute to realize it was a moose laying there. Took another minute to actually believe it had expired. When I got to the end of the notch it was pitchblack out and I needed a cigarette. Hiked to FullGoose in the dark. Beautiful.

Here is photo of another one that expired there. Yuk!

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=12075