I went to visit my elderly mother who lives at the foot of the eastern Sierra mountains. I try to get down there often, from Oregon, because we don't know how long she will be with us. 

 

One fine day I decided to go hike up into a canyon valley. It's an area of great beauty because of the meadow and the high saw tooth ridge tops all around. Going quite a long way up  this valley it becomes a very large canyon with huge walls of granite growing ever closer together. I then discovered a huge granite rock in the middle of the canyon about the size of 5 football fields and about 200 foot high. The oldest living organism on earth was growing out of  the rock crevices on top of this rock., the Bristlecone pine tree . It's seemed as though this big rock tried to be a mountain in geologic history but, didn't quit make it. I decided to go around the back side to see if I could go around it. There where no trails but was an easy walk since it was like  an extension of the meadow below all around it.  Only it now has become a forested meadow with some enormous ponderosa trees in amongst all the other trees, some with an 8 foot girth. Their branches alone looked like tree trunks.

 

As I walked around the big rock I saw strange and varying rock formations by way of how they broke apart or weathered over time, but were in groups or families in how they were shaped all being somewhat the same in each group. Some looked like varying sizes of pillows, some were fractured in huge curved plates as if you could choose one for using as large rain water basin. Some were smaller like you could prepare a meal on. Others were flat like for stepping stones but too large to lug anywhere.

 

As I continued around I began to notice how pristine everything was.  Untouched, as if I was invading a very special place. A place where one is not to go, does not belong. It was a strange feeling, but certain I was yet to discover something  great, I continued on. 

 

You all know how dry the eastern Sierras typically are but this year in particular is in major drought conditions Something like the worse ever according to record. Only now I discovered a small area of very green grass that was very tall but all matted down like some kind of animals are bedding down there. The matted area was very large, too large for just a few animals. As I looked around for a source of moisture uphill from there, I noticed above this area was a spring that over time had worn a large V shaped depression in the ground that would be protected from wind and cold. What a great spot for a herd to stop and bed overnight, I thought.

 

I continued further on above this spring, going further away from the big rock but was now on the backside. The ground was gently sloped but I had an even stronger, uneasy feeling that I did not belong there, like I was trespassing inside a territory one was not to go. Immediately I smelled a foul smell, not like animal droppings or dead animal, nor a skunk smell but, as if it were the smell of some kind of beast. It was like the foul smells that expert animal behaviorists report that you should stay away from. I never smelled anything like it before but I knew it was from something alive. It was as if it was warning me with it's particular gland that emits this foul order. At this point I took the warning and turned around toward the big rock again to continue going all around it as planned.

 

I got out of that area and closer to the big rock again with a somewhat uneasy feeling about that smell but felt the rock was somewhat more my territory by then.. I headed thru more of the forested easy walk that would now be about the half way point around the rock and happened on a small meadow. I then looked up over the rock between the Bristlecone pines and saw the most beautiful wild, pristine view of my life. It was a true blessing as another saw toothed ridge of mountains appeared behind the already inspiring canyon walls. It instilled as sense of wildness, an untouched world as it was meant to be. It was a very rare sight and created in me a very rare inspiration unparalleled through my whole life.

 

I got pics that I will post soon, but, none with Bigfoot or whoever, whatever it was.

 

BTW, hunters, what was that smell, or what could it be? I know it's Halloween but be honest  K?

 

Mike

Edited November 1, 201410 yr by JAG1

Excuse me deej but I don't go around trying to hug the bears out in the woods. I don't think they'd take to that too well  . Liked your post showing the poop size. Nice gun too.

 

 

IBMobile, sending you a pm.

Here is mine...some may recall my story when I first joined the forum.

 

 

 

 

 

...because of this experience, I find it difficult for me to find the true peace I once had camping in the woods.

Edited November 21, 201410 yr by hex0rz

Do you have a link to this story?

 

 

Don't feel bad Anthony, once my wife an I came within 10 feet of a male Grizz in Canada. It was heart stopping because neither one of us saw the other till we were so close we startled each other. Bear stomped and you could hear him breathing heavily mixed with a growl. Heart pounding experience. look like monsters up close. We felt lucky that he ran away not us. Except he stopped, stood up on his hind legs showing his full size while he turned around to look at us. I thought we were in for it but he left us alone.

Edited November 21, 201410 yr by JAG1

Excuse me deej but I don't go around trying to hug the bears out in the woods. I don't think they'd take to that too well  . Liked your post showing the poop size. Nice gun too.

 

 

IBMobile, sending you a pm.

Hahahahaha I'm usually more scared of them than they are of me,  ;)

Any recent rain, fog, or low temps prior to the smell? The moisture can bring out some pungent animal smells, which I rather like in the fall.

It was very cold that early morning, about 29-32 degrees F. compared to the mid afternoon, while hiking, of around 70 degrees. I thought how strange that sudden smell with no sound and nothing anywhere in sight. It was like natures warning since the smell was so strong.  Cougars are perhaps like cats so they have very little scent but, still it hit me like an alarm so I turned around. It was unmistakably something wild.

 

 Before the smell it was like entering a strange untouched protected area with surpassing natural beauty. It enticed one to go further but also had a foreboding feel, like a place only belonging to the wild. Well protected from winter cold and winds because of the location of surrounding rock and close proximity to steep high mountains gave you a stronger sense that it was separate and one of the few places left untouched and never revealed to the rest of the world.  It Felt as if I was about to deeply infringe on an area I should not venture into. Continuing just a few more steps brought on the strong smell all around and then turned away. 

Edited November 22, 201410 yr by JAG1

Wasn't a squatch fart was it??????????????   Just couldn't help myself lol.
 

Wasn't a squatch fart was it??????????????   Just couldn't help myself lol.

 

It was pretty Damn gross, whatever it was, I knew I had to get outa there.

Years ago, probably 5-7, there was a stretch of trail that a cat must have been living on. Everyone we hicked thru it when there was any moisture in the air it would smell like the cat was right there.

I will also find pockets of timber that smell of elk piss, very strong and very present... But it could be old.

Have an approx grid to the area?

Do you have a link to this story?

 

 

Don't feel bad Anthony, once my wife an I came within 10 feet of a male Grizz in Canada. It was heart stopping because neither one of us saw the other till we were so close we startled each other. Bear stomped and you could hear him breathing heavily mixed with a growl. Heart pounding experience. look like monsters up close. We felt lucky that he ran away not us. Except he stopped, stood up on his hind legs showing his full size while he turned around to look at us. I thought we were in for it but he left us alone.

The post was before the forum was converted. If Mike was able to retrieve it, it would be nice, otherwise, I could maybe take some time to recount the story if really interested. Still pretty vivid in my memory...

 

It was very cold that early morning, about 29-32 degrees F. compared to the mid afternoon, while hiking, of around 70 degrees. I thought how strange that sudden smell with no sound and nothing anywhere in sight. It was like natures warning since the smell was so strong.  Cougars are perhaps like cats so they have very little scent but, still it hit me like an alarm so I turned around. It was unmistakably something wild.

 

 Before the smell it was like entering a strange untouched protected area with surpassing natural beauty. It enticed one to go further but also had a foreboding feel, like a place only belonging to the wild. Well protected from winter cold and winds because of the location of surrounding rock and close proximity to steep high mountains gave you a stronger sense that it was separate and one of the few places left untouched and never revealed to the rest of the world.  It Felt as if I was about to deeply infringe on an area I should not venture into. Continuing just a few more steps brought on the strong smell all around and then turned away. 

 

This is no coincidence...