Whenever we go off the beaten path, chance sightings of “charismatic megafauna” are treats to be savored. A glimpse of a grizzly, an eyeballed eagle, an encounter with a wayward whale or wolf, a momentary exchange of glances with a meditative moose—these are the stuff of travelers’ tales. (Provided, of course, that the meeting ends with all parties keeping their distance. Grizzlies and moose have uncertain temperaments, and maritime authorities do not look kindly on boaters who get too near to whales and other sea mammals.) Most of the time, however, our close encounters in the backcountry involve more mundane creatures, animals rarely showcased on glossy posters or coffee mugs.

Here’s a for-instance: On one of my earliest solo overnights, I was tucking into a steaming plate of stew while seated on the sill of an Adirondack lean-to. Suddenly, I heard an explosion of noise from the dense woods behind me. No, it wasn’t a bear making such an unholy din, but a solitary chipmunk. With cheeks stretched taut, he popped up out of a deep drift of autumn leaves like a jet-assisted jack-in-the-box, shot me a stern look, lifted his tail high in the air, and scurried noisily away to the safety of his subterranean home.

OK. I admit that this story isn’t likely to get me so much as a line in the local paper. Chipmunks are cute, to be sure, and they’ve been known to rob paddlers’ stores—that’s another argument for “bear-proof” containers!—but backcountry encounters with chipmunks aren’t really newsworthy. Too little dramatic tension. The same thing can’t be said for skunks, however. They may not have quite the same gravitas as grizzlies, but there’s no doubt that skunks can get up your nose.

Sooner or later a skunk will cross your path. They can be little stinkers, to be sure, but they don’t go looking for a fight. A few simple precautions will save you from too-close encounters of the wrong kind. And there’s another side to these much-maligned creatures. I’ve always been impressed by the industry of skunks, and I invariably enjoy watching them go about their business—from a safe distance, of course! Read more…

Tags: skunks

 
A bike is a bike is a bike, right? Well, not exactly. Bicycle design varies widely, and about the only general statement you can make about them is they all have wheels. Technically, two wheels. But then there are tricycles. Yes, adults ride trikes, and not just members of the Over the Hill Gang. I’ve heard folks lump recumbent (or ‘bent) trikes in with bikes when discussing the topics that interest avid cyclists. Why not?

There are racing bikes, mountain bikes, comfort bikes, ‘bents, cruisers, tandems, crank-forward bikes. Bike frames made from steel, alloy, titanium, carbon fiber, and even wood. Fixed-gear bikes and multi-speed bikes. Bikes with skinny tires and those with balloon tires and everything in between. A great many books have been written about all the different ways to make and ride bikes. But the important thing is that bikes expand your world. Bikes can be used for sport or recreation, and they can be used as transport or as a mechanical mule.

If you use your bike for work, chores, or transportation, then whatever its design, I’d say that it’s a utility bike. Some utility bikes are clunky rusty beaters, while others are carefully maintained and proudly shown off. Alan at EcoVelo has been assembling a gallery of such bikes since late July. And what exactly is this gallery? In Alan’s words:

 
The EcoVelo Bicycle Gallery is a community project comprised of photos of transportational/utility bikes submitted by readers from all over the world. Any bike used for day-to-day transportation is welcome. It doesn

Tags: bikes, ecovelo, utility