Date: 2014-03-01
To: Critter Tales
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Over the past few months when time permits, I have tried to do some train up hikes in preparation for my AT journey. Most of the hikes have been in Texas but one was on the Georgia Section of the AT. During these hikes, I have been fortunate, and sometimes unfortunate, to come across various critters. The following are some amusing tales of my critter encounters¢¦.-> Spiders GaloreOne of my first hikes was in Brazos Bend State Park Texas. The first day I was looking to put in some serious mileage and hit the remote hiking/horse trails in the far North side of the park. On my way to one of the remote trail loops, three female horseback riders stopped to say hello and then trotted on ahead. A few minutes later, they come galloping back my way, both horses and riders excited and out of breath. They slowed down to let me know they ran into a large spider and web across the trail and decided to avoid the area. I thanked them for letting me know and told them I would be on the lookout. I said to myself, ¢no big deal it is just a spider I will simply avoid it and keep trekking.¢ I walked quite a ways and did not see any spiders. Thinking I missed it I let my guard down and ran smack into a web with a very large banana spider essentially hanging from the bill of my baseball cap. Startled, I leaped back forgetting I have 50+ lbs pack on my back and I go down like a sack of potatoes! BTW: If you are not familiar with banana spiders they do not bite, but they are huge (3-4 inch diameter if you include their legs). After ensuring the spider was not on me, I slowly got to my feel and looked down the trail, noticing other webs and spiders strung among the trees. I probably should have turned back but I trudged forward dodging web after web. For about a mile, there was a web and spider every 15-20 feet. Finally, the trail opened up and there were no more spiders. A photo of one of those big banana buggers is attached¢¦.-> Snakes on the TrailIf it is summer time and you are in the Texas Hill Country, it is common to come across various types of snakes. Ideally you see them first before making a fateful step on them. During a three day stent in Pedernales Falls State Park, I hopped, skipped and jumped over a 4 foot racer snake (see photo). Also, came across a water moccasin along the falls, but fortunately I spotted him from a distance.-> Mighty Mouse!This true tale is from my section hike through Georgia back in October 2013. After a long day hiking, I stopped for the night at Deep Gap Shelter, about 10 miles South of the GA/NC border. There was a family from Florida at the shelter, but they had set up a tent so I had the shelter to myself that night. I had cleaned up earlier using some water from the nearby spring before crashing for the night. Since I had the place to myself, I had most of my pack contents strung about. I also hung my backpack on a shelter peg just above my head with a lightweight high absorbent hiking towel (it has the consistency of thin wool) hanging out of the pack back pocket. Usually in the shelters, I always keep my pack and other items on the floor close by me in hopes of keeping the small critters out of my stuff. Well I woke once or twice to the sound of crunching which I have heard before in the other shelters (usually mice below the floors nibbling on things that others have been left behind). When I awoke to start the day, I pulled out the towel from my back pack to find that the mice had chewed holes in the towel and pack and made a nest for a baby mouse. Not realizing the towel was a nest, the baby fell to the floor. While I was surveying the damage to my towel and pack, the mother mouse rapidly scampered down the wall picked up the baby and carried it back up the wall of the shelter (See photo of this mighty mouse and baby). Lesson ¢ keep your gear close by in the shelters while you sleep¢¦-> Other CrittersI have also encountered black bears (mother and two cubs on the AT), raccoons, pheasant, turkeys, deer, possums and alligators. I left them alone and they left me alone, which is the way I like it! The only critters I made friends with were two cats at Mountain Cross Outfitters on the AT just north of Blood Mountain (see photos).