Walking Alone

There is something to be said about walking alone in a remote area. I find I walk more consciously and my senses are keyed into my environment with a heightened awareness. I find I smile inside and outside and take great joy in choosing my own route, be it a game trail or a ridge-line. I have a healthy respect for the less travelled trails leading high above the trees. People ask me if I bring along a fire-arm. The answer is no, however, I do bring bear spray and a knife. Human behavior actually worries me more than Kodiak brown bear behavior. The likelihood of my being shot by accident along a trail is far greater than my being charged by a grizzly.

Kodiak is great for astounding day hikes. The attached images are from a walk I took up Kashevaroff Mountain and a little farther beyond towards Center Mountain. The view across Salonie Creek is amazing as is the view toward “town”. (Notice Kodiak’s three new windmills on Pillar Mountain). The tracks in the mud were great as it had rained the night before my walk. The five-toed prints are from a small, likely juvenile, bear.

I am so very thankful to live on this amazing island…