Macho Moose

I dragged my popup camper over Cameron Pass on Thursday and camped for the long holiday weekend at State Forest State Park, one of my favorite places. I pretty much had the best campsite there. With all the late snow, there were few wildflowers out. And I woke up to 27 degrees with a layer of frost on my camper and a half-frozen water bottle.

But not to worry, because... wildlife. And snow-capped vistas. I spent much of my time wandering around with my zoom for birds and elk and moose and whatever. All told, it was a great weekend.

Well, Monday morning I'm starting to take down camp, and I spot 3 bull moose about 150 yards up the hill. Naturally, I grab my Nikon and head on up. Priorities.

I stand at the edge of some trees, along with a woman and her grade-school daughter, watching and photographing these guys as they inch down the hill toward us while grazing. I joke to the mom that we probably ought to have an exit strategy just in case they get impatient with us. And... the next thing we know, one of the bulls charges us. We bolt and fortunately, he stops short of trampling us. He just needed to show us who's boss. Cracked us up. You know, after the adrenaline stopped shooting out of our ears.

So, in case you're wondering, here's the look on a bull moose's face just before he charges someone. As in me. Ha!