I took this picture this week in the Grand Canyon.
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Here is the link to our photo album: http://picasaweb.google.com/shutterb...eat=directlinkOriginally Posted by Dave McClung
Dave:
Did you even consider getting into a head butting contest with that dude?
I predict you would have lost!
BILL
Bill, I didn't consider head butting, but there was quite a war of wills. He was standing in the middle of the trail and didn't want to move over. The rules in the Grand Canyon (and common sense) say not to approach wild life too closely. Usually when one moves closer, the wild animal will run away. This ram would not give way. He didn't threaten me in any way, but just wouldn't move over far enough to let me pass.
After about 5 minutes of stand off, another hiker broke the rules and approached the ram. He moved over just enough so that we could pass.
The ram never appeared to be frightened in anyway. The look in his eyes said, "This is my trail and I have not yet made up my mind if I am going to share it."
Dave:
I had a similar experience in 1975. Kay and I had spent the day in Yellowstone and saw several moose but kept a safe distance, close to the car taking pictures. That evening we left our cabin just outside the East gate of Yellowstone at dusk to take a short hike into the woods. As we walked along the trail, we heard a tremendous noise on the embankment to the right of the trail. A bull moose was sliding down breaking branches and trying to maintain his footing. He came to a stop on the trail about ten feet in front of us. Problem was there was a rushing mountain stream to the left of the trail and the steep embankment he had just slid down to the right. Both the moose and us were trapped staring at each other. I was sure we were dead. Even at age 24 your life does flash in front of you.
I whispered to Kay to climb the nearest tree. She didn't move...told me later her legs were like jello. After what seemed to be 5 minutes of staring at the moose and seeing his breath as he snorted, he sauntered to the water's edge and began to drink. Kay and I moved very quietly and swiftly by him and ran to our cabin. We collapsed on the bed and probably didn't even say anything for quite a while. Face-to-face encounters with nature can be an incredible experience.
My Dad had an even better story about an encounter with an animal though. In 1954 he was pastoring a church in Hamilton, Ohio. The parsonage had no indoor bathroom. Dad was handy so he constructed a crude shower in the basement. One day he stepped out, naked dripping wet and no towel, looked down and at his feet was the biggest rat he had ever seen looking up at him. He said it was about the most helpless feeling he ever had. He couldn't even stomp the thing.
Fortunately the rat, like my moose, eventually got bored and ran off.
BILL
One thing I have learned from prior experience is to remember to take a picture whey you confront a wild animal.
Back in 2002, I had my first confrontation with a bear. I actually had my camera in my hand -- just in case I saw a bear. I came around a curve in the trail and a bear was right in the middle of the trail about 50 yards from me. He stood up on his hind legs and looked at me before running off into the woods. When the encounter was past, I remembered that I had the camera in my hand.
Since then, I have remembered to get the picture first, then run if necessary.
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