Cosmoline

Did a long haul (30 miles) in the in the snow. I should have been watching more closely, but I picked up some good momentum down a hill after miles of trudging. I was approaching a bottleneck where the trail dips under a road, and is bordered by a high fence. I saw what looked like a big bag of leaves on the side of the trail. Why would someone be leaving leaves on the side of the trail in the middle of January? Well the "leaves" got up as I hurtled towards them. It was a good size bull, who wasn't about to move. So I screeched on the brakes, jumped off, turned my rig around and walked back up the hill a bit. For once I had my camera ready (thanks to my new manpurse) and got some shots after I got back to a safer distance.

He never did move, so I had to man-haul across the road and through a meridian deep with snow.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DqZLe1AQ5g

daredevil

far out! Those riding conditions look nice too! Somebody plows that path apparently? Or does it get a lot of snowmobile use maybe?

Cosmoline

Yeah it was pretty much as good as it gets in Anchorage in the winter. No fresh snow for awhile and clear skies. No wind. Even so, the existing snow and hoarfrost on the ground is a major momentum-killer. I swear every mile in the winter is equal to two miles in the summer. The same route I can do with plenty of energy to spare in June leaves me totally broken down in January. I'm aching in every limb today.

AEO

I've seen deer, foxes and rabbits all loitering on the trail. until they heard me coming, at which point they made a run for it. They run so fast that
can't pull out my camera in time to shoot them.
Have yet to see coyotes, but I know they're around.

daredevil

When the bear come out of hibernation I'll need to resume my usual noise making rides as I'm sure you will too. I've encountered a grizzly before. Very exciting. Bighorn Sheep, mountain goat and moose as well. Gotta love nature!

cyclokitty 

And to think I was excited when I saw a bunch of squirrels on Sunday. Squirrels are small potatoes compared to a bull.

electrik

Good thing it wasn’t rutting season!

tjspiel

My biggest wildlife worry is an indecisive squirrel. That's pretty much year round. Not that I'd want to slam into a bear or a moose either.

nwmtnbkr

Great picture. Spring, summer and fall I'm always on the lookout for black bears, grizzlies and mountain lions when I'm in the forest (I wish mountain lions hibernated). Then there are the bigger animals that you don't want to collide with either--elk, deer and moose. We've had some wolf attacks on animals this winter so that's another I'll have do add to my list. The ones who get rather vocal and don't tend to move out of the way in the forest (maybe because they're usually in a good-sized group) are the wild turkeys. I have to say, the wild turkey's are very smart. I can sort of understand why Benjamin Franklin proposed that the wild turkey be the national bird. (I'm one of the many residents who has an ornamental crab apple tree; the turkey love the crab apples and will work as a group to get them. One of the pack will get into the tree and shake a limb so the crab apples will fall. They take turns doing this.)

tjspiel

It wasn't for their looks.

sknhgy 

Illinois is whitetail deer country. Last Saturday I was heading out for a 30 mile ride and a group of 8 bucks ran across the road no more than 50 yards in front of me. I Could have had my pick if it was hunting season. I guess they group up this time of year. I didn't know that the bucks formed groups.

badmother

A moose crosed the mup and road in front of me and the dog almost one week ago. I think they are more dangerous if you drive a car, since they do not fear the cars. On a bike you smell like a human.
Out driving a car two days ago I spotted a female with calf less than 1 km from my house. I stopped, rolled my widow down and said "hello horsy".she looked at me with big eyes and walked off. Last sunday morning three of them rested just behind my house for several houers. I`ve been thinking of hanging carrots in the trees to keep them here..

TBatty

My year-round commute includes 5 miles of forest road, so I get my share of wildlife sightings. Deer, raccoons, porcupines, even a couple of elk once. The only wildlife encounter that had me really concerned was the family of skunks walking down the road. They showed no desire to give up the right of way, and i had no desire to contest the right of way. Glad i was headed home, not going to work, since ended up sitting and watching them until they decided to move along.

Cosmoline

These encounters are pretty common around Anchorage. I was particularly worried about this guy because of the narrow confines. I didn't want to muscle past him with his back to the wall like that.

Thulsadoom

That's a freakin cool pic! Thanks.

arcticbiker

Good shot Cos. Riding's been really good this winter. A little warm today. I'm about to head out soon. I'm enjoying the increase in daylight.

Stay safe.

twiant

I was riding neer my house once and didnt even get 300 yards out of my back yard and ran into a big black bear. Needless to say i didnt finish the ride. lol

AdamDZ

Ah, that's better

Cosmoline

Sunshine? Where'd that come from

AdamDZ

They sky is blown out, I just fixed the white balance, it was too blue for me eyes

My coolest wildlife encounter was actually when driving. Down a curvy mountain road I see a black bear on the right side, it looks left and right a few times, sees my car, I stop, it looks again left and right then calmly crosses the road. It was a very intelligent bear I must say, it was watching out for cars!

A.

GriddleCakes

Danged moose just think that they own the trail, eh Cosmoline? There's a cow and a calf that've been hanging around the Chester Creek trail just west of Lake Otis for the past few days. I blew right between them on Monday, rounding a corner to fast to do anything other than pedal harder. Yesterday, mama was right in the middle of the trail, and I got to take a little walk through the woods to get by. Today they were just laying down, chilling about 15 feet off trail. I'll try and remember to pull over and get a picture to post tomorrow, if they're still there

baron von trail 

Now that's what i call winter cycling...

Chicagoan

I was riding down a dark hilly road(with lights) on my track bike at like 3am (residential st. w/ no traffic at this time). I heard a bush rustling, and picked up speed thinking it might be a dog, then a deer came running out alongside me through a few large front yards, then I looked up and they were everywhere, atleast 10 deere going every which way away from me, I quickly skip stopped to let everyone clear.

garage sale GT

I think one of the preserves in the south side within Chicago limits actually allows a bowhunting season for deer. I wonder if you can strap a deer carcass to the bike carrier on the front of a cta bus.

badmother

Went riding w son and dog yesterday. Came back and left the house by car. Came home at (by car) 20.00 and there was a wolf in the road 15 mtrs from our kitchen window. Followed it by car and snapped some crappy cellphone pix.