Apatuni Falls. (or The Bear.)

we came to realize there were certain monologues that every single ranger was instructed to perform at the beginning of every single event.  Mike caught one of them on film....

well, now, i've already spoiled the surprise.   but that's okay.

i don't really like surprises.

we decided, after lunch, to hike the little one-mile climb to Apatuni Falls.

short. do-able. & would give us the satisfaction

of tackling a hike on our own.

yes, yes.  we know.  but this is just such a short little hike.  & we can see all around us in the lovely meadow.

i spent a little time admiring the pretty flowers right next to the trail.

we saw a couple coming down the trail towards us, and they settled in for a rest beside the trail before going the rest of the way to their car.  when we got up to them (which was still within view of the road), we stopped to chat - mainly to ask them what kinds of animals they had seen on the trail (i.e., did you see any bears?).  nope, not a thing.  quite a steep climb but nice.  they asked if we had bear spray (no) & then said they were waiting for the rest of their group, one of whom did have some.  we started to walk on up the hill.

just then, i heard a whistle.  Mike later said he looked up the hill and saw one or two people waving their arms.  we both simply imagined they were trying to let their friends (the couple we'd talked to) know they were on their way.  until we, simultaneously, realized that wasn't it at all.

there was a bear.

not sure if you can see the bear in this photo (by Mike), but it gives you some perspective on distances.

while the folks coming down the trail came towards us (and the bear) at a jog, we four & the couple started backing UP the trail.  the bear initially was, we think, about thirty yards from us.  i leave judging of distances to people who have played football.  i never have been good at either.

can you see the golden brown oblong down on the right side of the meadow?

photo by Mike

 

 my photos make it look like the bear was a lot closer than it was.

but it was close enough.

when we first spotted the bear (i'm sure it had spotted us much earlier), it was coming across from the left side of the meadow.  it glanced our way briefly before crossing the trail - i guess to see what we were going to do (um, give the bear its space?) - then ambled over to the right side of the meadow, where you see it in all of these pictures.  it finally occurred to me to take a video, but i was zoomed in so much it is quite wobbly.  that is not due to nerves, which were heightened but okay.  after the bear skeedaddled, why so did we.  no Apatuni Falls for us.  we left with the group of young people who had watched the bear with us.  thanks & good-bye.

we ended up seeing about eight bears during our four days in Glacier, but we were either in our car or very far away (like miles) from all the others.  here are some of those encounters...

a dinner of flowers, it appears.

bears lolling about on the hillside one evening.

 see the little dark cub bouncing along behind the mama bear?

a different, fairly shaggy-looking, bear

 on the hunt for yummy grubs & flowers

one of the 'jokes' at Many Glacier is what they are going to call the area when all the glaciers melt (which they will within the next ten years or so).  they're going to call it Many Bear.  i don't find that very funny.

Joseph worked on this puzzle, that was sitting out in the lodge one day.  (photo by Mike)