Write-up: Greg Sipp
Leader: Greg Sipp
Co-Leader: Carolyn Eastman

Five kept watch on the weather throughout the week, wondering if it was going to be worth hiking in the rain and cold that was forecasted.  At the trailhead, we all agreed to be out by 1:30, regardless of mileage.

We hiked to the lean-to, from there, the goal was to bushwhack to the top of Jones Mt for lunch.  Half-way up the mountain., Cindy quietly said “bear.”  We turned to watch from about 20’ a black bear, approximately 300 lbs., run up the mountain, it moved quietly and gracefully.  It was hunkered down in a hollowed-out tree that we just walked by.

It was an amazing experience.  From that point, we followed bear footprints for a while, while hiking to the top of Jones.

From Jones, we continued bushwhacking until we picked up the trail and headed to the parking lot. No additional bear sightings.  It wasn’t the 11 miles that it was billed as, but seeing a bear so close up was more than worth the shorter trip as well as missing the rain.