? how long ... 1:03-1:04. Ran up the trail, nice morning 48F (not sunny because it was too early - but I am sure it was on its way to sunny). Wednesdays are tough because my class is in the morning ... and I usually have last minute things to do before class. So, I know I talk about coyotes a lot - but it is because there are so many of them in the mountains by our house -- I see at least one just about every day. Anyway, this morning I am coming down the mountain, the closest house is about 2 miles away. I am in my own thoughts, thinking about my lecture for today ... AND ... all of a sudden I hear a dog "bark" about 10ft away -well, it wasn't actually like a dog bark, it was different, more like a coyote bark. It startled me (both because I was lost in thought and it was so close) ... and I stopped and looked through the brush. He was sitting right there, and he "barked" again. Then, from about 3 miles away to the west there was a howl as in answer ... he did not move, and neither did I. Then he barked a third time (this is really loud, in part because there are nothing but mountains around us and part because it echoes in the valley) ... and then, from about 1/4 mile or less away comes a chorus of howls in return (from about 5-10 coyotes in the same place) ... "my" coyote then barks one more time and heads off in their direction -- which happens to be the same direction as I am running, by the way. So, about 1/4 mile (or a little more because the trail has some switchbacks and meanders a bit) down the way *right beside me* (again - about 10 ft or so away) I hear the whole pack making their "yip yip yip" noise (it sounds like a bunch of kids screaming/playing) ... my first thought was, "wow, is that cool or what" -- and then ... I thought, "oh crud (or something close), what if they think I am prey?" (I have heard that the yip usually signals hunting, but I don't know this for sure). So, I yelled out, "I know I look like a plump meal, but really I am old and stringy, take my word for it" ;-) It was SO cool though ... I still can't get over how cool it was ... just me and "the pack" Have a good day bloggers! | 