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Reader Participation Day: What Was Your Most Surprising Encounter On a National Park Trail?

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Tommie (middle) was flabbergasted, and so was I. Jim Elder photo. 

Surprise encounters can add spice to hiking in our national parks. Consider this one, for example. Last August I was hiking the Hidden Falls Trail on the far side of Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park when I bumped into my old friend Tommy. We were next door neighbors for nearly 30 years, and even though I've moved to a different neighborhood now, Tommy and I still stay in touch. Neither of us knew that the other had made any travel plans, and it was a tossup as to which of us was more stunned by this chance meeting more than 1,700 miles from home.

This was not my only memorable encounter on a national park trail. Another one I'll never forget is our encounter with Naked Guy and his friend.

It's your turn. Tell us about a particularly memorable thing, person, or situation you've come upon or met up with while using a national park trail or walkway.

Comments

I was hiking with my in-laws on the South Kaibab trail and we came across a Grand Canyon Pink Rattlenake swallowing a wood rat almost a third its size.  I stood guard over for almost an hour it to keep anyone from killing it, scaring it, or stepping on it.  Whenever a hiker came by, I warned them to move to the far side of the trail.  Some of them said, "Neat!" and took pictures.  Some of them squealed and jumped several feet.One lady crossed herself and muttered something in French.
The rat slowly vanished, until both legs were left, then one leg, then the tail.  When the snake was finished, I was able to persuade it off the trail to digest in peace, then ran out to catch up with my group.   I sent the pictures to my son who complained, "I never get to see stuff like that!"


Sadly, although I've seen many beautiful things on National Park trails, the most suprising had to be when my dog, who was not being allowed to mark his territory on a near-by sign, decided to lift his leg and mark ME!  I saw it was going to happen and couldn't move fast enough.  The people around me just stared with their mouths hanging open.
Yep, that was strange alright!


We were at Naural Bridges National Monument on the trail down to the bottom of one of the canyons. They were repaving the parking lots and the No Dogs signs had been taken down so we had our dog with us. She didn't have much trouble getting down but we were struggling a bit with the ladders on the way up. Along came a very nice German man who picked her up, threw her over his shoulder, and carried her up the ladders. And when we met the ranger near the top of the trail she gave us a pass because there was no sign. I was pretty impressed with the way he handled our 70 pound dog. And just so all of you know, now that we know that dogs aren't allowed on trails we don't do that anymore. 


Yellowstone National Park, upper geyser basin.   One of the geysers that seldom erupts suddenly burst forth.  My family and I sat and watched it for awhile when I saw another family come up the boardwalk.  The man put his hand in the steam and I laughed at how silly people were to check if the steam was really hot.  I looked again.  It was my cousin's husband!  My cousin and her kids were close behind!  We had come from California.  They had come from Indiana.  Neither of us had any idea we were planning a trip to Yellowstone.  Another minute or two either way and we would have missed each other but for the unexpected eruption of one of the geysers.


Anon:  Perfect timing is my favorite!!  Don't believe in coincidences:).


An encounter similar to one above was memorable for us. It was USFS property rather than NPS, though, on a trail probably some 12 to 14,000 foot up in Colorado just a few years ago. Sitting on top of the mountain there, and gazing down several thousands of feet at a scattered bunch of moving white spots on the mountain flank - mountain goats - we suddenly noticed a couple coming down the trail towards us. It was what appeared to be a battle-weary mama mountain goat, with one horn broken off, and her kid trailing behind her. She approached us cautiously and paused when about 10' away to watch us, they then continued on, as did we - a few photographs the richer.


While hiking the Mariscal Rim Trail in Big Bend NP. About 3 miles into the hike i meet up with 2 guys who had blooded arms and legs and white thirsty mouths. I offered them some water to quench there thirst. They began telling me how they went up for a easy day hike the day before. But that they gotten off trail and could not find there way back. As night descended on them they had little water and food. Wearing only shorts and tee shirts and no jackets. They told me how they found a small overhang shelter to huddle in for the night only to have a cougar chase them out and have them running for there lives thru cactus,brush and mesquite. What a night they went thru. I walked back with them were they was happily greeted by there very startled and stressed out wives. I was glad they made it out safely. I bid them a safe farewell as i turned and headed up the trail wondering if i would be met with the same fate as they had. 


In the summer of 2000, like so many other visitors to Yellowstone, we had searched and looked for days to catch a glimpse of any of the elusive wolves in the park.  On our last day in the park we were hiking up Mount Washburn.  We had stopped for a rest. Less than a hundred yards a solitary wolf trotted right across the trail we had just hiked.  It stopped for a moment and gazed upon us, then disappeared over the ridge.  We were so surprised and enthralled at finally seeing a wolf, I completely forgot to take any photographs.
 


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