[pct-l] Just about scariest sounds

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

Not a scary sound, but...

Camped one night between Barrel and Warner along side of Santa Ynez
throughout a rainstorm.
Pitched under a tree on a bed of fallen leaves.
All night long, just mixed underneath the sounds of falling rain,
dripping rain from the tree and the wind was the very distinct sound of
footsteps JUST OUTSIDE THE TENT...
It would wake me up and I could SWEAR it was human footsteps close
enough to trip over my tent. I'd wait to hear a thud, then I'd pop open
the door and shine a light out...to see nothing!
The only thing I could think of was that maybe some cow had wandered
close by, but I still couldn't see a thing...

The natural sounds of weather and animals don't bother me. In fact I'm
soothed by the sounds of nature around me.
It's the thought that humans are nearby that I get concerned about.



Michael Saenz, Associate Partner
McLarand    Vasquez    Emsiek   &   Partners,   Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e  |  P l a n n i n g  |  I n t e r i o r s
MVE       MVE    Institutional       MVP    International
w  w  w   .   m  v  e   -   a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s   .   c  o m

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net] On Behalf Of
Lonetrail@aol.com
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 12:37 PM
To: susanstar3@msn.com; pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Just about scariest sounds

 
Sounds we heard when we were kids around twelve in the woods.
Here is the way we use to describe those creepy sounding noises. They
were called Just about', just beyond and just behind
 
Usually around just after dark they started. . Did you hear that. Yes
it was Just-A-bout there Yes, the sound just-about came from over there.
No! it came from Just be-yond  there No! I'm sure it came from just
beyond there.  No your both wrong it came from just behind us.
 
Then the movements started. Did you see that, Were!  just beyond, no  it
was just about there. No, your both wrong it was just behind us.
 
So we all laid awake all night long
 
.Lonetrail
:


Hi  folks of the PCT=L  Ive been reading along with you for a number of
months.  Planned to do some section hiking and KO last yr, but plan
changed due 
to illness. Learned lots from this group. Thanks.    
Scariest Sounds- the softest snuffle next to my head on the other side
of the tent wall with occasional "nose indentations", from the
following:
-  deer licking salt off the t-shirt a partner draped on the side of the
tent to  dry over night (instant salt lick) eventually found trees are
better to for  this function - far far from tent ( now his shirts were
well vented rags- better than the tent), -a  very large porcupine
looking for  love?, food?, salt?- making sweet humming noises.
-snuffling and sniffing  of a large moist nose of a black bear lurking
thru camp in Glacier Bay  sniffing way to close to my head (in REI half
dome tent 2 
person tent).   Attempted to silently reach and grab the silly bear
spray 
however, instead  accidentally stuck my fingers right into the eyes of
my hiking partner twice -  luckily did not awaken her screaming (as she
is partial to not being assualted  in her sleep) - also never got the
can of spray in time for any potential  antibear use. The bear did visit
the next camp site and obtained a margine  bowl the these folks use for
something and tore up some stuff as well as  attempt to enter the
laundry room the next day. Never assume your only  vulnerable in the
wilderness = while doing laundry at the lodge suddenly the  bear came
down the side walk and attempted to enter to laundry room.  I bravely
announced that we should both hold the door closed then choose a place
to escape (hmm bright ideas??? ok very humble now- after watching griz
having  
popped open car trunks like tuna cans)- I spied an empty dryer and
actually 
thought about making a quick entry = however the forceful pounding
changed and seconds later pounding repeatedly at the door was not the
bear but  a fellow who needed his clean socks awaiting the next empty
dryer - clearly  deniying that a min ago there was a bear attempting to
enter.  Laughed so  hard.  Poor fella. Wonder what he thought about two
gals attempting to  keep him from his clean socks... bear was eventually
relocated due to freq  human contact.  
Humbling experiences/or lessons learned - no tent styled  salt licks,
bear spray may not help you, and dont leave your clean socks  unattended
in the laundry rooms.
-Susan in Seattle

-----  Original Message -----
From: Jim Keener
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005  9:30 PM
To: pct-l
Subject: [pct-l] Scariest  Sound

Greetings:

Slow night on the PCT-L and I'm watching a  re-run of "My Cousin Vinnie"
as
I'm working on a project. And there was  this Screech Owl in the movie
that
Vinnie tried to shoot - and missed.  Anyway, it reminded me of a night I
spent at Hawk Camp in the Marin  Headlands. At about eleven, an hour or
so
after I got to sleep, an owl let  go with the most horrible sound I've
ever
heard. LOUD. About 15 feet away.  It was on the ground and was making a
strange sound with its wings, as  well. It took all the nerve I had to
look
out the tent to see what was  going on. That was the scariest sound I've
heard while sleeping on the  ground. What's yours?

J  J


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