Today as I was hiking down the Sandwich Mountain Trail, between the summit and the Smarts Brook Trail junction, I heard some sounds on my right. Looking I saw, maybe 15 feet from the trail, a mother moose and her child munching away. Since I felt that I was an intruder in their home, I moved away quickly while they continued munching.
I have seen very many moose on roads; in fact we have our own "neighborhood moose" on Rt 175 not far from where I live. But this is only the third time that I have seen moose while hiking.
The first time was several years ago, on the Davis Path between Stairs Mountain and Mount Davis. A single moose, left quietly when s/he saw me.
The second was more exciting, perhaps scary. Last year there was a mother moose who chose, unwisely, to raise her child near Chimney Pond. Surprise, she ran into very many humans!!! There was a sign warning that she had charged hikers in the past. Well, one day I met her, and she was standing in the middle of the trail, looking at me in a very unfriendly way. I back off, she followed me a little, then just stood there in the trail. Obviously I was not going to try and pass by her; she finally walked off into the woods.
I have seen bears twice while hiking. The first was on the Dickey Notch Trail, near the beaver pond. I saw a pair of young bears chasing each other playfully, just like kittens except that they were 100 times bigger. I never though about their mother until I left; she must have been on their side of the pond, so I was no threat.
The other sighting was less interesting; I was hiking down the Smarts Brook Trail when I heard the sound of a big animal moving through the woods. Sure enough, it was a bear, several hundred feet from the trail. I went my way and, fortunately, so did s/he.
I have seen very many moose on roads; in fact we have our own "neighborhood moose" on Rt 175 not far from where I live. But this is only the third time that I have seen moose while hiking.
The first time was several years ago, on the Davis Path between Stairs Mountain and Mount Davis. A single moose, left quietly when s/he saw me.
The second was more exciting, perhaps scary. Last year there was a mother moose who chose, unwisely, to raise her child near Chimney Pond. Surprise, she ran into very many humans!!! There was a sign warning that she had charged hikers in the past. Well, one day I met her, and she was standing in the middle of the trail, looking at me in a very unfriendly way. I back off, she followed me a little, then just stood there in the trail. Obviously I was not going to try and pass by her; she finally walked off into the woods.
I have seen bears twice while hiking. The first was on the Dickey Notch Trail, near the beaver pond. I saw a pair of young bears chasing each other playfully, just like kittens except that they were 100 times bigger. I never though about their mother until I left; she must have been on their side of the pond, so I was no threat.
The other sighting was less interesting; I was hiking down the Smarts Brook Trail when I heard the sound of a big animal moving through the woods. Sure enough, it was a bear, several hundred feet from the trail. I went my way and, fortunately, so did s/he.
. BTW, for those who are afraid of wild animals, the best defense is a camera. Nothing will make a wild animal run away faster than trying to take its picture 
