Penn and Vicky’s Bear
December 11, 2007 at 12:00 pm 4 comments
The last weekend in September was “Take a Child Outside Week” (and actually, I’m sorry to admit I did not know that week existed until one Ryan Somma alerted me). Of course, I was traveling most of that week, but on the very last day, I took five-year Penn out for a quick hike in celebration. I choose Poverty Creek as our destination and as we drove there, we saw a black bear running along Forest Service Road.
I was, of course, thrilled for Penn. But I was also a little miffed. It was my first LIVE bear that I have seen in the area and I have hiked tons and tons and tons of miles (I saw a dead one once on Potts Mountain). Penn’s done a lot of hiking for his age, but no where near as much as me and he already gets to see a bear?!?! No fair. 🙂
Anyway, now our bear sighting is included in the Roanoke.com’s interactive “Black bears in the Roanoke and New River valleys” map:
Penn and Vicky’s Bear on the Roanoke.com Map
We may only be the third most famous hikers in the world… but we’re slowly working on increasing our exposure. 🙂
Entry filed under: black bear, Hiking, Penn, Poverty Creek.
TGAW 
1.
geekhiker | December 12, 2007 at 12:00 am
Congrats on seeing your first bear! Heh, the last time I saw one he was in the process of stealing all of our food on an overnight backpacking trip (we decided to let him have it, too).
You’ll be the most famous hikers in the world soon enough, I’m sure. I will envy your famous-ittude! 🙂
2.
chriggy | December 12, 2007 at 1:15 am
If you want to see bears, go to Shenandoah National Park. I’ve seen quite a few bears there(maybe 4 or 5), in my life, and I have not been there more than 10 times. However, most of them have been near one of the 2 lodges.
3.
tgaw | December 12, 2007 at 11:29 pm
@chriggy- The Great Smoky National Park is a pretty good bear spotting place as well. Fall of 2006, I got to see a bunch of black bears there– including some way high up in a tree.
I’ve just been denied in this area. If I had to pick a scapegoat– it would be the dogs. it is my humble opinion that they make too much noise. 🙂
4. Reminder – Take a Child Outside Week! « TGAW | September 22, 2011 at 1:01 am
[…] you are, have a great Take a Child Outside Week! Perhaps you’ll luck out and get to see a black bear like five-year old Penn and I did in 2007. If not, don’t forget there is adventure to be found in the little things– as young […]