Category: fauna

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an elephant in the lobby

A regular occurrence at the Mfuwe Lodge in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia where the lodge was unwittingly built on the Elephant’s traditional path through to some wild mango trees on the property.    The herd of a dozen or so elephants walk through the lodge’s reception area at least twice a day for about 4 weeks and then sporadically for about another 3 weeks to feed on the trees.   No incidents reported to date! 

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more photos – Elephants march through hotel lobby after it was built on their migration trail – Gossip Rocks

I’d love to spend a night there. ($300 / night during high season.)

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larger original – flickr

Thanks Rocco.

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hike Cougar Creek, Canmore, Canada

I posted a few photos from our Saturday Autumn day hike.

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larger version – flickr

We walked to this spot in less than half an hour out the door of Kelly and Lexi’s new home in Canmore, Alberta. Very close to the headquarters of the Alpine Club of Canada. Canmore is one of the best outdoor adventure towns in the world.

It’s ideal for dog walking … except that Cougar Creek is named such for a reason. Pets are at risk in this part of the mountains.

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Ash

Fall is my favourite season for mountain walking. No bugs. Crisp, clean air. Magical.

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see all my photos – hiking Cougar Creek, Canmore, Alberta, Canada set

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What do you have that Wall Street can’t touch?

Robert Scoble shared a touching post from Michael Hyatt.

Despite the economic collapse in the USA, Michael had an epiphany after happening upon an elk rut in the wilderness.

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… Even though my financial worth had been decimated by the events of the last three weeks, I realized that nothing could touch the things that are most valuable to me. Experiencing the elk at dusk with people I love was a timely reminder.

I also realized that I have a choice: I can focus on what I have lost or I can focus on what I have. I started making a mental list:

I have my health.

I have a loving wife, who is also my best friend.

I have five wonderful daughters, two sons-in-law and (so far) two beautiful grandchildren. “I am particularly fond of each of them,” as Papa says in The Shack.

I have several profound friendships that encourage and challenge me.

I have meaningful work that I would do even if I wasn’t getting paid.

I have incredibly competent co-workers whom I truly love and respect.

I have a church that grows dearer to me with each passing year. (We have been members there for 24 years.)

I have a relationship with God that is endlessly fascinating and fulfilling.

And the list goes on. I could name a hundred more things, but you get the idea.

My guess is that the financial crisis is going to get worse before it gets better. You and I have very little control over what happens in the external environment. But we do have control over what happens inside our hearts. It all depends on our mental focus.

What do you have that Wall Street can’t touch?

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rescuing a drowning bear

… Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist Adam Warwick just couldn’t let the bear drown, so he took off his shirt and dive after it. The 375 lbs black bear had been spotted in a residential area, obviously looking for food, and was shot with a tranquilizer dart. Unfortunately, before it went under, it jumped in the water of the Gulf of Mexico. …

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click through for more photos and a video – Man Saves 375 lbs Black Bear from Drowning – Treehugger

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first bear attack on Vancouver Island

Hikers of the West Coast Trail and other great walks on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, take comfort that there are no Grizzly Bears on the island. And that the Black Bears are famously non-aggressive.

Until this attack on fisherman Blain Pharis:

… A black bear swam across Gordon River and climbed up onto the wharf as Pharis neared his vessel, said Hitchcock. The bear followed Pharis onto his boat and mauled him.

Four men armed with fishing gear including a filleting knife, gaff and hammer swarmed the bear and killed it.

The animal’s internal organs were examined in a necropsy and it was found to be elderly, at more than 10 years of age, and in poor health. …

Bear attack a first for the Island, expert says – Vancouver Sun

This was at Port Renfrew, the trailhead for the WCT.

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Since 1986, eight people in B.C. have been killed by black bears and 75 have been injured.

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trek Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

… widely considered the crown jewel in the extensive system of national parks and biological reserves spread across the country. The ecological variety is quite stunning. National Geographic has called it “the most biologically intense place on Earth”. Not only is the park very popular with tropical ecologists, a visitor can expect to see an abundance of wildlife. …

Wikipedia

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Wikipedia

Simon Thomsett posted a terrific trip report with photos:

Five of us, led by Guido Sabario, walked 18km into Corcovado National Park, to stay 2 nights at Sirena, the park’s central HQ. I was impressed by the lack of vehicle access to the park. It was only accessible by foot, or by boat or plane, no cars. To back-pack without park or local community guides among potentially dangerous wildlife is a luxury these days and virtually unacceptable in now over-regulated Africa. …

The reptiles had their fair share of lethal contenders, first and foremost the dreaded Fer-de-Lance, a pit viper responsible for more deaths than any other animal here. You do not mess with the Fer-de-Lance because it lies like a Puff Adder and chases like a Mamba. It strikes readily and boots are the formal wear. Being an old bush hand familiar with snakes, I wore sandals at first and scoffed at the chances of being hit. But as the days went on, I saw more snakes than one ever would see back home. I began to notice that macho young men strode about in gum boots and wore a huge panga (Machete) that hung from the belt almost to the ground. “Good for whacking the Fer-de-Lance” said Juanky. We were up in the hills one day and I was briefly allowed to lead the way when I saw, to my horror, that my left sandal was coming down in slow motion upon the back of a Fer-de-Lance. God intervened and I was able to …

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Fer-de-Lance – larger image – flickr – puroticorico

read the rest of the trip report – Trekking through Corcovado NP

related sites:

  • Corcovado National Park
  • Trekking, Hiking and Camping information
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    meeting a bear on the Juan de Fuca Trail

    In preparation for the longer West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, Matt made a 2-day dash on the adjacent Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. That’s 47km (29mi) of tough hiking.

    One part of his trip report struck home:

    …on the trail around 9:00. Sombrio River was quite low, so I opted to wade through it rather than trek up to the suspension bridge. The sun was shining, so I wasn’t too worried about wet feet. After a bit more beach walking, my spidey-sense was tingling. In a field of grey boulders, I saw one furry black boulder that looked out of place. Sure enough, a small bear was eating something, probably a dead seal. Luckily, the tide was out, so I was able to give him a wide berth. I had a chat with him on the way past, and we came to an understanding. I wouldn’t eat his dead seal, and he wouldn’t eat me. …

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    larger photo

    read the entire trip report with more photos

    On my only hike on the JdF I had an encounter, as well. A small black bear decided to climb a tall tree in the middle of the campground. I was the only camper.

    A quick exit was prudent.

    There are a lot of bears in that part of the world.

    I just subscribed to Matt’s blog: Take a Load Off – Lightweight Backpacking

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    bear visits U.S. Senior Open Golf

    The Broadmoor’s East Course was quite a bear Friday.

    Difficult pin placements and faster, drier greens flustered the field and only five golfers managed to shoot below par, including Fred Funk, whose 1-under 69 gave him the lead at the halfway point of the U.S. Senior Open in Colorado Springs, Colo. …

    Stealing the show, however, was a black bear that ambled out of the mountains in the morning and crossed the 13th fairway before checking out spectators outside the ropes.

    Nobody was harmed, and neither was the bear.

    “(Jack) Nicklaus isn’t here, so I guess that’s a substitute,” cracked Funk. …

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    Associated Press

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    Llama trekking in the Alps

    Mellow mountain walking. But be careful not to get a stream of llama spit in the eye while on a narrow trail.

    … The Eagle Way is a 1,480km trail through some of Europe’s most heart-stoppingly glorious scenery: distant clutches of chalets and spires engulfed by manicured, velvety meadows, verdant hillsides veined with tumbling glacial brooks and iridescent bursts of midsummer Alpine flora. And above it all a rearing backdrop of jagged, piebald peaks, among them Austria’s highest, the mighty Grossglockner. The sky was huge and blue, the air as crisp as apple strudel; it could not have been more Sound of Music. High on the hill with a lonely Guy-herd. …

    read the article – Stick your neck out, Llama trekking in the Tyrol may sound like a joke but it’s seriously good fun, says Tim Moore -The Guardian

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    Tim and his new friend go for a stroll in the Alps. Photograph: Jan Erik Burger

    Dolomiten Lama Trekking … dolomitenlama@aon.at) runs three day llama treks with half-board accommodation in mountain huts from €240pp for a group of seven minimum. Day trips from €38pp.