Subject: Angry Moose
Date: Feb 29 12:10:04 1996
From: Tully Hammill - hammill at lib.washington.edu



OK, here's the stepped-on moose story.

In the 70's I was approaching a solo climb of Rock of Ages in the
Tetons and had to bushwhack to timberline. At one point I found
myself completely enmeshed by a willow/alder slide and was trying
to walk along the bending saplings, falling off, getting thumped between
the legs, cursing -- everyone has done it. Making a lot of noise
too. At one point, as I fell I found myself suddenly rising to the
sky. The horizon tilted, grunting and puffing filled the air, my
pulse rate soared, and I fell face first into flailing boughs and
brown fur.

I had stepped on a sleeping moose. How it could have remained
asleep as I thrashed around I don't know. Moosie rushed off
at high speed. Luckily it had no horns. Otherwise, ouch!

Don't ever ask me about a *friend* who has petted Harbor Seals
from a kayak and once, to his intense chagrin, tried it on a
California Sea Lion. *He* says, 'Professional kayaker; do not
try this in your home pond!'

Tully Hammill hammill at u.washington.edu
Library Systems, Box 352900 (206) 543-8034
University of Washington Libraries Seattle, WA 98195