[pct-l] bees, mountain lions, and goats

[Len Glassner]

I've been doing a weekly out-and-back from Scissors Crossing to Third
Gate.  Yesterday, just as I left TG, an enormous swarm of bees passed
just over my head.  Just as startling and only slightly less loud as
the  low-flying jets that frequent the area.  Later on, a bit more
than half-way back to SC, what was perhaps the same humongous bee
cloud was hovering over a wide area alongside the trail.   At first it
wasn't immediately apparent what was going on, but I stopped and
watched for a few minutes as they slowly consolidated into a large
shrub perhaps twenty feet above the trail.  I couldn't really make out
a hive, but could see them bunching up in one particular spot.
Perhaps they've erected a permanent home there by now.

Also, about a mile before TG, there is a spot on the trail where it
had been muddy, but dried, preserving a two shoe prints.  Closer
examination shows a couple of equally well-preserved paw prints.  I'm
not very good at identifying prints, but these were large enough to
make me think 'mountain lion'.  Might just be my overactive
imagination, but I thought perhaps someone stomped the shoe prints to
bring attention to the paw prints.  That, or someone was out hiking
with a St. Bernard.  Might be something to look for if you're headed
up that way in the next few days, though if we get the rain that is
forecast, the prints may be gone soon.

Just couple of things to watch for as you are dodging the numerous rattlers.

Should also mention a goat sighting.  This one had a long gray beard
and was hiking with two pieces of bamboo for hiking poles, as his
regular poles had been stolen.