We are seeing signs of “Moose Crossing” (no… not the “Moose Crossing Signs” that one sees while riding down the roads of Maine) via all the Moose Poop we are stepping around-and-over on the trail, that it is obvious there is A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE nearby.
We have been told that A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE will often be spotted around water (be it a stream… pond… or bog) and so whenever we are passing by any of many displays of H2O, we are on the lookout for A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE.
Even when we are scrambling over rock to put our crocks on (after an afternoon swim in the stream), we are always on the look-out for A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE.
We discover a perfect campsite at the edge of a pond (see Feature Photo) and after setting up camp… swimming, bathing and filtering water from the pond… and crawling in our tent for a good night’s sleep from an enjoyable day of hiking, we are lulled to sleep by the sounds of loon in the pond and “Freddy-The-Frog” (see above photo) calling out to his buddies at night. As I lay there listen to the familiar calls of the loon, I swear I can hear these frogs saying the words: “Bud-Wise- Err.”
A few other Hikers make their way, at dusk, into this pristine camping spot and we are all quietly asleep and enveloped by the darkness of the woods around 8:30 pm.
Just over a few hours later, I hear the sound of two other Hikers making their way into camp. You can hear the sound of their feet as they walk around camp (back and forth) obviously looking for a flat spot to set-up their tents or two trees to set-up their hammocks.
They are quiet… not talking… being considerate of us who are asleep, but I can still hear them walking around camp… not saying a word.
Then it struck me! Wait a minute! These late arriving Hikers have no headlamps! I don’t see any light by which they are navigating around our tent. I hear their footsteps, but I see no light! How in the world could these Hikers get down to and around this camp without any light to guide them.
About that time, Slipper and I hear the snorts of A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE!
Directly behind our tent, no more than 15-20 feet, we hear A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE snort at us (as if to say, “Yeah… it’s me… I am here… and you are in my territory.)!
Hearing this deep and loud snort, five times at the head of our tent, I am tempted to quickly unzip our tent… shine my bright headlamp… and catch a glimpse of Mr. Moose! Then I envision scaring this massive creature and him charging the tent with antlers down, only to end our hike (and lives) here and now.
So we both just lay there… still and quiet… knowing that somewhere close by is A MOOSE ON THE LOOSE.
