![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Let's tally up the wildlife encounters:
-1x Black Bear
-1x Baby Rattlesnake
-1x Domesticated dog (Pitbull), with owner (friendly)
-1x Badass Salamander or Newt (His name is now Gingrich)!
-239762893569812571837598157981751x tiny flies that look like Fruit Flies (I killed many of them)
-80 bazillion x Crane Flies (those giant-mosquito-lookin' guys)
-3-4x Millipedes
The bear scared the shit out of me, so I booked it back and figured-8'ed to set up a counter-ambush. 8) I didn't see him again, but talked with a guy shortly who saw it.
Overall, left parking lot at 0555, made it back at 1233 or so. Thought I'd be back at 1300, so I went faster going back, as usual.
I might also add that my new camera (which is insanely badass), is an Olympus 1030 SW. Waterproof to 33ft... freeze and drop resistant and a buncha other things. It will last a bit longer, I hope! Watch, I'll lose it.
Pictures with the rest of the info:
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150033.jpg)
Millipede numba wun, on the road to Bear Creek. I had an African Giant Millipede a few years ago. His name was Pete. lulz.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150038.jpg)
Main Campground with TRASH!
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150044.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150050.jpg)
My only views of the final objective.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150055.jpg)
Number two, in West Fork.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150065.jpg)
West Fork.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150066.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150067.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150068.jpg)
Maybe some Canyoneers can enlighten me... this doesn't look like typical rope. Not nylon, no sheath. Hemp?
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150077.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150079.jpg)
Baby Rattler
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150087.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150086.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150085.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150082.jpg)
Salamander or Newt! Really cool, with some shots taken underwater. I have a video as well.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150073.jpg)
Cow Killer (AKA Velvet Ant, a wingless wasp). THey are supposed to feel as painful as to be capable of killing cattle, hence the name. I had tons of these in the hills of Diamond Bar and CHino Hills, where I hiked as a wee lad. I've not been stung by one, and I intend to keep it that way! They can also be gold and black (Ranger Ants!).
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150102.jpg)
Cool mastadon-tree. There's a bee hive in its' mouth.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150101.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150100.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150099.jpg)
Underwater pics
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150097.jpg)
Inside a waterfall
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150091.jpg)
Draw heading up towards Little Mermaid Peak (or subpeak)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150109.jpg)
Our Lord's Candle on the way out.
IDENTIFICATION TIME
WTF is this:
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150070.jpg)
WTF are these little creatures?
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150107.jpg)
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/20080515%20West%20Fork%20Bear%20Creek/P5150108.jpg)
Video later on. GOtta put it all together and edit it up and such.
Learned this: Do Triplet Rocks from the NORTH!
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Yesterday, wanted to try Smith Mountain from a new perspective that required some gear. Forgot that R39 was closed, and i didn't feel like walking. I figured I could go check on the fire status near Baldy, and possibly do some climbing around Sugarloaf Peak. That was a no-go.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/P5140002.jpg)
Burrito Peak South Face
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/P5140018.jpg)
Road closed (R39) just north of West Fork lot. Please do not park here. My Honda Legend had all of its' windows broken out with rocks here in April 2006.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/P5140008.jpg)
Glendora Mountain Road, and Glendora Ridge Road closed.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/photobucket/i6/albums/y222/TacoDelRio/DSC06266-2.jpg)
Glendora Ridge Road. An awesome road. Photo from a while ago.
So, for you downhill skateboard dudes, and bicyclists, now is the time to go ride. No cars to worry about.
VIDEO (Salamander):