Date: 2011-09-17
From: Rock Gap

To: Siler Bald 5216' Entry Two
Miles today: 7.8

Fraser Fir Section HikerGeorgia to Maine Year Eight- ¢re-section¢Rock Gap to Siler Bald 7.8 milesSaturday, September 17th, 2011 Entry two of three.(Allen, John, David) continue down together to Winding Stair Gap. We cross Hwy. 64 and enter the dark woods.As fall draws closer, the air becomes crisper, the days close earlier.I pull out my ¢magic wand¢ to filter water at Winding Stair for no other reason than to ¢show off¢. It is a fluorescent light bulb that reminds me of a ¢mini beacon¢ that will nuke giardia, etc¢¦ pretty quick.I have drawn water from this stream several times without filtration.After we have a ¢snack¢ and some Kool-Aid mix, we head toward Swinging Lick Gap. In my case I am carrying a minimum amount of water, taking my chances on finding water as we go along. This will be a calculated risk as it has been in other hikes where I try to shave ounces wherever possible.Allen starts to pull ahead and that is ok. John and I are already having some awesome conversations. This is a ¢treat¢ for me because I am usually hiking alone or ¢loosely¢ with a thru hiker or two. So, to be in a group is great.As we reach and pass Panther Gap, we catch up to Allen. Allen is pointing to the east towards Bryson City (geographically) and then placing one finger over his mouth in repetition.Allen happened upon four black bears. Two of which are pretty big.We stand in awe as the bears are munching and crunching on acorns, various nuts and foliage. I have seen some gigantic beech nuts this evening that are just loaded with protein and calories that these bears desperately need before the onset of winter.So, this makes five black bears in less than six miles. Wow!! 8--))super duper smiley face.I use my phone to ¢attempt¢ to take pictures and it is a mere waste of time.Next, John records some video (thanks John) that we enjoy later in the comfort of our own homes in getting a good laugh.We are uphill from the bears so if they want our food and our back packs, they will have to scramble to us, which for them will be easy, but none the less, they would have to climb significantly up hill.We stay until the very last second. Once all four critters are on the forest floor, they travel North East down the mountain and we head in a north-west direction towards Siler Bald.Not five minutes later, we encounter three more black bears that are off to our left or towards Hiawassee.As a group we witness a cry from a cub and know that this is not the one to stop and take in the scenery but rather to ¢move on¢.One of the fairly large bears, probably mama, drops directly to the ground from around 30 feet up.She is good to go.We press ahead focused on getting to the top of Siler Bald and set up.Wow!! Eight black bear in less than eight miles. All in about a two hour time period at most.I can hardly wait to tell Stephanie!! I think she will be jealous 8--)) just kidding.I can definitely hardly wait to tell the boys. They will love it because they went camping with their grandparents last week and saw a black bear at Fort Mountain State Park.The day that I picked them up; we tracked three white tailed deer in the woods. It was awesome!!You know I am lovin this!! 8---)-----to be continued -----------------what a day!!Thank you for reading my journal and God bless you and yours.