Date: 2010-07-04
From: Leroy A. Smith Shelter

To: Delaware Water Gap
Miles today: 20.2
Weather: clear sky

July 4, 2010 ¢ Day 91 ¢ SundayThe rocks continued to twist and turn my ankles. This was going to be my last day in Pa and the Pa rocks said, "We were not done with you yet." The trail was relatively flat but every size, shape and sharpness of rock was ready to greet my departure from Pa. It took what seemed like forever for me to cover the 9 miles from the shelter to Wolf Rocks. Then, as a grand finale(sp) I had to scramble, climb and work my way over the boulders and rock face of Wolf Rocks.One of the biggest surprises ever to happen to me while hiking any trail occurred in the afternoon. I was walking down an old jeep road listening to a bizarre baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. As the third base runner got tagged out at home plate, I was suddenly aware of a movement to my right about 50 yards in front of me. I stood perfectly still, not twitching a muscle as I watched a golden brown, sleek and very muscular cat-like animal emerge from the forest, and then silently disappeared into the forest on the opposite side of the road. This lasted for all of about 5 seconds. I could not believe what I just witnessed. Every detail of the animal was etched into my mind. At first I thought it might have been a bobcat, but I realized it was way too small. Second, this cat had a long tail, unlike the stubby tail of a bobcat. The cat walked with its head down, ears up and alert for any sound. Around its mouth there was the distinct color of a line of black and another line of white. My first thought of the head was that it looked like a female lion¢s head. The large cat was at least a 100 to 150 pounds in weight. As it moved across the road I could see each shoulder and hip protrude above the body as each leg rose up and then touched the ground. My next thought was the animal was a possible escapee from a zoo. The hairs on my arms rose as fear suddenly overcame me at seeing this magnificent animal without walls or cages separating us. I was in the forest, in the wild and given a gift from Mother Nature. As quickly as the animal appeared it was gone. I stood in amazement not believing what just happened. I knew I was the only one to witness this event, but I just had to turn and look around to see if there was anybody else. I kept talking to myself and then thinking out loud, blurting out "What the #$*% just happened?" I then realized I had to walk across the animal's path and from watching too many movies I pictured the cat waiting for me in ambush. Instinctively I grabbed, opened my knife and picked up a short, thick tree limb for defense. Once I realized what I¢d just done, I felt silly and put the knife away and dropped the wood. I just stood there for minutes in disbelief, trying to comprehend what I¢d just witnessed. I had to tell someone, anybody. I called Lady Kritter and left a message. The person had to be real time. I called my parents and shouted into the phone. Pappa Kritter wanted to know if it was a bobcat. I cursed for the first time I can remember into the phone at my dad. "I know the #$%?*&! difference between a bobcat and a mountain lion!A couple of hours later I reached Delaware Water Gap and reported the incident to a National Park ranger. He took my information and told me the state biologists of New Jersey and Pennsylvania refuse to except reported sightings. Typical government; I thought about reporting it to the newspaper. I called Greyhound and we talked in over. We both agreed I was given a gift. Reporting anything further on this magnificent animal would bring out the hunters wanting bragging rights that they had the first kill of a mountain lion in over a hundred years. Second, the public, as they always seem to do when it comes to wild animals, would want something done about. Government agencies claiming there are no mountain lions in their states protect the citizens. What a blind eye! So I say thank you to Mother Nature for again providing me with wonderment. my silence as to the exact location will protect not only the people but the mountain lion (or cougar, panther, puma).Steve, Jake and I are spending the night at the Church of the Mountains hostel. The hostel was full so I pitched my tent outside towards the back of the church property. We went to a small jazz concert at the church gazebo. After the concert we went to the backyard of the outfitter who was showing movies on a large screen setup between two trees. Fourth of July fireworks and loud bangs could be heard. During the first movie a house cat walked in front of us. Steve said he had to leave to report a mountain lion sighting. I looked at him with a smile and said, "see if I tell you anything again." The three of us broke up in laughter.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe