THREE RIVERS – On July 4th, I met a big black bear. Well, we weren’t formally introduced, but more on that later.
It all started with our impromptu trip to Sequoia National Park. After searching for lodging with no luck, somebody canceled at a hotel near the park’s entrance, and we gladly rented the room. Five hours later, we were unloading our bags at the hotel and then driving into the park for a late afternoon adventure on that fateful Friday. What happened next may be recorded in the Guinness World Records book.
AN ADDICTION
I blame Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for getting us hooked. It’s too wonderful. Trails with ocean views, trails down to the beach, trails onto a golf course (hey, I didn’t cut the fence, I just walked through an opportunity). My wife, Rosy, loves to watch a nasty fairway slice. Golfers, you’re just not getting your hips around, and the hands are late. Anyway.
I know for most San Diegans, Cowles Mountain is the gateway hike, and Mission Trails Regional Park is the supplier offering the Father Junipero Serra Trail, the Oak Canyon Trail, and the challenging South Fortuna Trail. Been there, done that.
Our latest local favorite is a lovely morning hike at Mother Miguel Mountain in Chula Vista. A solid 4.5-mile hike with an elevation gain of 1,040 feet. Afterward, eat a lot of tacos at Las Ahumaderas in Chula Vista, and thank me later.
NATIONAL PARKS
We did Joshua Tree a couple of years ago (did you know playing U2’s “The Joshua Tree” while driving through Joshua Tree is considered super cool). We loved the boulders, trees, and trails (did you know hiking in acid-washed jorts through Joshua Tree is considered super cool).
Rosy Jaurena walks through the land of giants on the Congress Trail in Sequoia National Park. (Photo by Thomas Melville/Times of San Diego)
Last year, the Southern Utah national parks beckoned, and we hiked through Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Bryce Canyon stunned us. Arches enchanted us. Capitol Reef surprised us. But Zion challenged us. Here’s where I brag about how we climbed to the top of Angels Landing in 90-degree heat. I only panicked once, after slipping down solid granite and grabbing onto the chain before a sheer drop-off of 1,400 feet.
My wife in front: “What are you doing, are you coming up?”
Me: “Ah, yeah. I guess so.”
Guy behind me: “Dude! Are you OK?”
Me: “Still here. OK.”
At the summit, my wife was taking photos at the edge, eating energy bars, and enjoying the view. I’m thinking, “We have to go back down this thing?”
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK
Why Sequoia? We’ve never been, we love trees, and it’s fairly close. My recommendation, you can do it in a long weekend. Arrive Friday evening – check out the park and get your bearings (pun intended). Spend Saturday all day in Sequoia. Spend Sunday in Kings Canyon. Go back late Sunday or early Monday. You’ll see more giant trees than you can pee behind.
Also, get off the main trails and venture through the forest. That’s what we did on Friday evening. A trail to Sunset Rock wandered through the sequoias, by meadows, and around huge boulders. We went from a trail crowded with tourists to no one around in about 40 minutes. I asked my wife, “Is it weird we haven’t seen anyone else out here?” She shrugged.
One of the many signs warning about bears throughout the park. (Photo by Thomas Melville/Times of San Diego)
Soon, the trail got muddy, and I went ahead to find ways around it. While looking down and dodging puddles, I walked around a boulder only to encounter a huge black bear sitting and staring at me. We locked eyes. I froze. He turned his head a little. Ten feet away from a bear. Now what?
I started walking backward. Then turned and walked quickly back to my wife, who was about 20 feet behind me. She noticed my face. I whispered to her: “Huge black bear in front. We need to walk back quickly. I hope it does not follow.”
My wife listened to me (surprisingly). We walked back to the main trail. I stopped a park ranger and asked about the proper black bear procedure. She confirmed that walking the other way is correct and also that black bears are not that aggressive. Whew!
Later that night, I remembered a joke my Uncle Dave told me. Now, Uncle Dave is the best joke-teller in Upstate New York, and if you don’t believe that, he will remind you.
The joke: You remember old Uncle Honey and his wife Alice? Uncle Honey would go hiking and hunt deer out in the northern Tioga County forest, and this one time, Alice joined him. Uncle Honey was a bow hunter and walked 20-30 feet ahead of Alice on the trail. Suddenly, a large tree crashes down in front of him, and he sees that a huge bear knocked it down and is looking right at him. He knows he’s outmatched. He turns and walks quickly back to Alice and tells her, ‘We have to go back to the car as fast and quietly as we can and leave.’
His wife listens to him, doesn’t say a thing, and follows him out of the forest to the car.
The next day, he tells his buddies about the encounter, and they notify the Guinness World Records book. Sure enough, he makes it into the Guinness World Records. His entry: “The only time in recorded history a wife has listened to her husband, and without questioning, did what he asked.”
Well, we might have another entry for the record book. This time, for real.
Thomas Melville is the editor of the Beach & Bay Press, La Jolla Village News, and Peninsula Beacon community newspapers.
