Current Park Conditions

[badknees]

From today's daily report:

Current Park Conditions:
The Window Trail is now open.

Does anyone know why it was closed?

[Medic]

Bear feeding on a javelina carcass close to the trail.

[chisos_muse]

Bear feeding on a javelina carcass close to the trail.

 

[badknees]

Bear feeding on a javelina carcass close to the trail.

Thanks Medic, figured it was bear or cat related.

[takeahike]

My 11 yr. old daughter was hiking with my husband and myself and spotted the carrion while we were fixated on the bear yearling sleeping under the tree.  I took a couple pics of both the carrion and bear and shared them with the ranger upon our return to the basin.  The ranger told us that standard precautionary procedure is to move the carrion a couple hundred ft. off the walking trail and reopen the following day.  (We regretted being the "cause" of the trail closure for those who were anticipating a hike to the pouroff and back, but assume it was in everyone's best interest to report it.)

We just returned to "civilization" after nearly a week in the basin.  Missing it already and impatient for our next trip to the park.

[uh_clem]

Maybe you could make amends by posting the pictures here.

[takeahike]

I'm afraid the pics may serve to further disappoint but I've posted them just the same.  In my defense, they were taken hastily with my Kodak Easy Scare digital and it was after all my first bear (and a mere 15' away.)  The first two pics are of the javelina carrion, the 3rd is a quick snapshot of the bear (its left ear is identifiable in the pic as it is sleeping on its side).

[RichardM]

Hey, it's better than any bear pic I've taken!  Very cool experience for you and your family.

[dkerr24]

You did the right thing to report that to the rangers.  You never know, a family with small children running ahead of the group could have came across the carrion while the bear was feeding, leading up to a tragic turn of events.

[takeahike]

Thanks for the affirmation, DKerr.  We talked with two different groups on our way down to the pouroff (who were cautiously making their way back up after having spotted the sleeping bear).  No one mentioned the kill, I'm sure, because they hadn't spotted it.  My daughter's sharp 11 yr. old-eyes discovered the carrion.  I forgot to mention that before we encountered the yearling (which was located within several ft. of the first bench on the window trail as you make your way down to the pouroff), we got a view of a full-grown bear walking the mountainside about 300 yds. from the window trail across the road from the basin campground (just past the convergence of the two trails). One of the returning hikers walked back down the trail with us to point it out.  It was an exciting experience and won't soon be forgotten.  This was our best trip out of our 5 yrs. of hiking BIBE largely due to the bear sightings.  Would love to see a cougar, albeit at a SAFE distance.  

[chuckyd]

Thanks for sharing your adventure and the pics...

My wife and I are headed to BB from Dallas next week. We will be spending 3 days (June 19-21).

This will be our 6th trip to the park since our first ever in June of 2005.

Hope we have some exciting times too...

[takeahike]

I'm envious already.  Have a wonderful trip!  We missed one of our favorite easy hikes, Santa Elena Canyon, this year as the creek had filled up the night before after an awesome light show and thunderstorm. (We weren't sure our daughter could easily cross the creek.)   My favorite sound is the canyon wren as I make my way down the Santa Elena. Be sure to let us hear from you upon your return.  I've included a pic of my husband crossing the creek at Santa Elena among some others.