canoe west home | canoeing instructors | Klamath River guidebook
canoe west home | canoeing instructors | Klamath River guidebook |
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Black Bear!
by Neil Rucker |
| The Forest Service has done a fine
job in repairing the flood damage (happened winter 1998) at Sara Totten. In fact, the
campground has been much improved: more and better tent sites, improved trails, new
tables, etc. We even had potable water this year. And other things are happening on the
river. Work at old Bailey Bridge is under way. The old Walker Bridge is being removed. I
heard rumors that it is going back to the Bay Area. I didn't hear what it is going to be
used for. The new bridge is fine, but we'll miss the old one. It was one of our oldest
landmarks. Abundant wildlife is one of the hallmarks of trips on the Klamath, and, true to form, this year we have seen deer, otters, mink, eagles, ospreys, herons, and a host of other smaller birds and animals. But last week, we had a special treat. While floating down a flat section of water above the confluence of the Scott River, I spotted a small black bear running through some high weeds on the right bank. I immediately turned my boat around and alerted the group of canoes behind me to be quiet and look for the bear. I then spun around again and started looking for him myself. What usually happen in these cases is that the animal you're looking for hides and no one else gets to see him. Or at best they get a fleeting glimpse of the animal tearing up through the timber. Not so this time. This little bear found himself a nice big rock right on the shoreline and he climbed up there and sat down so he could watch us in comfort. There were ten canoes in the group, and we all floated quietly by, some of the boys taking pictures with their little waterproof cameras. Cool! (As they say.). Neil Rucker, head instructor for Canoe West, 1998 |
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