Do Not Feed The Animals

A lady was killed by bears after years of feeding them.

The story of Donna Munson’s tragic death last week is a sad one. She was mauled to death by a bear at her home outside of Ouray.

The 74-year-old woman had been feeding bears on her 40-acre property for almost a decade, despite repeated warnings that she stop.

Bears, it turns out, don’t care how soft your heart is or how much you appreciate them. They care primarily about food and will attack people who get between them and their dinner.

It is sad she was killed but please do not feed the wildlife.

Smokey The Bear

Smokey the Bear Sign, originally uploaded by Neato Coolville.

Happy 65th Birthday Smokey!

August 9th is officially Smokey Bear's, or Smokey the Bear's, birthday. Today, he turns 65 years old.

Back in the early forties, the United States Forest Service used Disney characters to educate the public about the importance of fire safety. However, these characters were only on loan from Walt Disney, so in 1944, a new symbol was needed. Smokey the Bear was born.

June Carter

Ring of Fire.

More Johny Cash Show

Andy Kaufman.

Ring Of Fire

Ray Charles Style. From the Johny Cash show.

The Barefoot Sisters

Have a book out about their 2000 Southbound thru-hike. They hiked north in 2001, the year I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. It seemed I was always a day behind them. I did occasionally see barefoot prints, however from the pictures in the video you can see Teva tan lines on their feet. I suspect they hikrd in Teva's alot.

The book can be purchased through the AT Store.

Special Comment

The republicans are owned by corporate profits. So are many of the democrats. 1.4 million a day to kill health care reform. That money is not going to health care. Health Insurance companies do not provide health care.

I Am Simple

I was looking for something much more raunchy, but found this,

Beer Summit

Obama and VP Biden, had Gates and Crowley over for beers.

1. Obama Bud Light
   
2. Biden Buckler
3. Gates Sam Adams Light
4. Crowley Blue Moon

Buckler is almost non alcohol beer. Is Biden a teetotaler?

Just Wrong

Canning a woman for drinking beer. We should encourage such behavior. Damn fundemetalist religions.

Bad Gravy

OK. It really was not that bad of a gravy. I had no stock. So when I over thickened, I added some wine. But did not let the gravy get hot enough to burn off the alcohol. A little strange.

Sad To Hear

A hiker dies on Longs Peak in Colorado.

The hiker who died yesterday in Rocky
Mountain National Park has been identified as Maynard Brandsma, 61, of
Durango.
Brandsma died from an apparent heart attack near the summit of Longs
Peak on Monday morning. The Boulder
County coroner will conduct an autopsy today to determine an official cause
of death.
Brandsma was hiking with a family member when he fell ill in the
Homestretch area of 14,259-foot Longs Peak.

My condolences to his friends and family.

Good Beer Month

New York has declared July good beer month.

July is a month of cycling bliss. The weather is perfect for
long rides and, for much of the month, the world’s best riders battle for the
yellow jersey in the Tour de
France.
July is also a big month for beer; good beer, to be exact. This
month, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officially proclaimed July to be Good Beer Month
in New York City. Approved good beer bars will get a Good Beer Seal.
As a part
of the month of good beer cheer, bar owners are encouraging patrons to Bike to the Bars, where they can enjoy
artisanal beers, in moderation, of course.

Good stuff!

Why Do Today What You Can Put Off Till Tomorrow?

My foot is still mysteriously swollen. I came home to Baltimoe, to have it checked out but have not yet called the doctor.

Deep Thought

The journey is the destination.

Toe Is Better

My infection has gone away with the help of anti- biotics, rest and cleaning. Much better.

It's Bad You Know

It seems my toe is infected. If antibiotics do not work, the toe nail will have to come off. Butch, one of the guys at the Mayor's House, has volenteered to remove it. It will take a bottle of bourbon and a needle nose pliers. Ouch! Go anti-biotics go!

Sad News

Several Hikers have died since I last had access to a computer.

In Washington

A
Mukilteo man reported missing on Tuesday was found dead on Cedar Creek
Trail, west of Mazama.
Cory A. Hubbard, 48, drove across the Cascades
Mountains for a day hike Saturday. When he did not return home or report to work
on Monday, his family called the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, said Sheriff
Frank Rogers.

In The Grand Canyon.

Grand
Canyon, Ariz. – A body, presumptively identified as 69 year old Robert (Bob)
A. Williams, was found today by park search and rescue personnel in the Hermit
Basin area of Grand Canyon National Park.
On May 26, park rangers received a
report that Mr. Williams was overdue from his Memorial Day weekend plans which
had included hiking in Grand Canyon National Park. On May 27, after finding Mr.
Williams’ vehicle on the South Rim, park rangers began searching a broad
area—from Hermit Basin to the South Kaibab area—that could easily be accessed on
foot or via shuttle from the point where Mr. Williams’ vehicle was found. On May
29, park rangers were able to narrow their search to the Hermit Basin area based
on information received after issuing a public request for assistance to anyone
who had hiked in the park’s back country during the Memorial Day weekend.

Also in Washington.

Medical
examiners have identified the hiker who fatally fell from Rattlesnake Ledge
near North Bend on Saturday.
Officials say Ruben Maldonado, 28, of Snohomish
County, fell more than 100 feet from the popular hiking area above Rattlesnake
Lake about 12:15 p.m. Rattlesnake Ledge is in Iron Horse State Park, in the
Cascade foothills southeast of Seattle.

In California.

As
many as 30 horrified onlookers saw a male hiker plunge hundreds of feet to
his death Saturday as he was climbing Yosemite's world-famous Half Dome, park
rangers said.

In Arizona.

The chief pilot for the New Mexico State Police and a lost hiker died when a rescue helicopter crashed in stormy weather high on a mountain near Santa Fe late Tuesday, authorities announced today. A second officer was seriously injured

My condolences to their friends and families.

I can not figure out the html to fix the way this post looks. Sorry.

Chance Meetings

In Delaware Water Gap, I ran into Mary from NH. I had not seen her since Damascus, Virginia, during my 2001 thru hike. We are both still hiking the Appalachian Trail In large sections. Althogh her sections are linear. When she ends one section, she starts again at the same spot. There is no method to my madness.

Moving Slow

I am not in great shape. My feet and ankles hurt more than they have on other trips. I am currently staying at the Mayor of Unionville, New York's house. I am going to start writing up stories and posting them. Short internet time now.

Update: I had a nice long talk with the Mayor. He is no longer the Mayor, but was when he started taking in hikers. He takes in hikers as a labor of love. His wife was sick for many years, and died in 2006, if I recall correctly. He would tell his wife about the hikers he met in town and how interesting they were. And his wife would always say wouldn't it be nice if some one would show us kindness on our travels. If we were far from home and needed a shower or laundry. Wouldn't it be nice. Of course the Mayor said it would be nice. Out of love for his highschool sweetheart, a lady he was married to for 44 years, he takes in hikers.

It is really his story to tell. If you find yourself on the Appalachian Trail in New York, stop by the Mayors house. It will bring joy to your life and his.