It was September 24, 2007 when this hike was done…………..
In the last three weeks my car seems to end up at the Lakes Loop Trail near Reflection Lake whenever it enters Mt. Rainier National Park. The lure of sighting a bear in this area has absorbed my thoughts this fall season. As the bear sightings continued to pour in from the Valley Road near the Lakes Loop Trail, the more obsessed I became over seeing a bear for myself.
It’s easy to revisit Lakes Loop Trail over and over during the months of September and October. There are both blueberry and huckleberry bushes tightly interwoven with abundant ripe berries. The small dried tarns in the meadows are rimmed with long golden grasses. In the distance the Tatoosh Range wears the same autumn wardrobe as the foliage in the Lakes area. And, most important, it is where the bears hang out!
On this particular day, I was hosting my class of ‘63’ high school Juliet’s group to a Mount Rainier visit. Interesting how I once again rationalized that the Lakes Loop Trail would be the best place for our hike. I told everyone about the bear sightings and how I really wanted a bear photograph.
The four other Juliets followed my lead and we went upward from the Valley Road on the Lakes Loop Trail giggling and telling stories as we hiked. The berries were still ripe, the colors had brightened and the sun warmed us after a very chilly autumn morning.
It wasn’t long before we noticed large flatten areas obviously used by some animal or animals as a bed. The giggles and stories were replaced by investigative surveillance. Next we found bark on a tree ripped downward to the ground. More flattened bedding areas appeared along the trail leading us to believe that these meadows were popular places for either elk, deer or more than one bear. Sneaking carefully off trail to check out the tracks in a dried up but muddy tarn, we found large heavy bear tracks. We changed from investigation mode to lots of nervous giggly noises. Anticipation and excitement prompted me to stride faster now with bear on my mind.
As we neared Artist Pool and Faraway Rock we met four other hikers that were running up the trail. My own Mount Rainier Drive or Hike to See book was tightly clutched in the arm of a man and it was opened to the Artist Pool hike. They quickly told us that a bear had appeared down at Faraway Rock by the pool and that they were searching for another a way back to their car because of the bear. This explained the reason for the opened book in the man’s arm so he could check the map. My girlfriends introduced me as the author and I directed them around to the other side of Reflection Lake. They had not planned on a three mile loop hike but they had no choice. I found out everything I could about the bear and where they had seen it before they left.
While two of the Juliets glued their feet to the ground vowing that they were going no further, I ran down the trail with my camera attached to its tripod and one brave Juliet girlfriend following at a distance to safeguard me. Since the bear had been sighted on the other side of Artist Pool, I had no fear of recklessly racing down the trail.
Then suddenly as I burst around a blind curve in the trail, my eyes met two other huge dark eyes. As we stared at each other I loudly shouted “Hi Bear!” I began to back away unable to break my eye contact with his warm animal eyes, massive black head and thick fur that was shinny in the light. The reality of my situation caused me unstoppable shaking. I touched the tripod to the dirt and snapped a quick photo. It was then that I realized this bear was telling me I was in HIS TERRITORY and I needed to leave. He went back to eating berries in the bushes blocking the trail at HIS Artist Pool.
After backing away slowly and quietly I then began to run up the trail with my heart pounding from fright. All of us Wilson High Juliets gladly retreated back the way we came without seeing the lovely Artist Pool.
Artist Pool and Faraway Rock belonged to the bear that day. I had always envisioned zooming in my camera lens on a bear in the distance. Therefore, I always had my tripod attached to steady the camera’s close up shot. But the lesson I learned on this bear sighting day was that I am a visitor in the bear’s world. It is my responsibility to make enough noise so the bear can decide whether to welcome a view or hide as he wishes. I will respect the blind curves and spaces where trails wander to allow both of us plenty of space in the future.
The single attempt at a photo turned out a messy blur from all my shaking. But my mind holds an awesome photo of that magnificent black bear.
Sally Johnson
Author of: Mount Rainier DRIVE or HIKE to SEE Book
www.mtrainierphotos.com
