T+18 Cowbirds, and rabbits, and deer. OH MY!

​T+18 (June 16th, 2020) 

Navigation Report: 
Starting Point: Gren Anderson Shelter (1327.6)
Destination: Rutherford Shelter (1336.0)

All AM Brown Headed Cow Bird
11:00 Break Camp (mile 13276)
11:20 Pond (mile 1328.0)
12:20 Sunrise Mountain (mile 1330.9)
3:05 Pre-Gas line lookout (mile 1334.7)
3:10 Gas line (mile 1334,7)
5:00 Rutherford Shelter (1336.0)

Daily Mileage: 8.4
Total Mileage: 187.4

Commander’s Report:
Woke up this morning at about 6 to the sound of a faucet dripping. Or at least that is what my brain interpreted the noise that roused my slumber. In truth, it was the vocalizations of a male brown headed cow bird. I indulged my OCD of needing to identify the bird responsible. Through googling, I thought it was probably a brown headed cow bird, but I couldn't spot the booger making the calls. I spent quite a bit of time trying to catch him in the act! It wasn't until I had put on my pack and was going through my pre-hike mental checklist when the little chap unveiled himself. He flew to the lowest branch, stared me in the face, and made a series of vocalizations. He didn't leave until I reached for my phone.

I'd like to think that interaction went thusly:

   Bird: thanks for the jolly fun game of hide and seek earlier.
   Me: My pleasure. Thanks for the curtain call!
   Bird: <<Blushes>>
   Me: Mind if I fanboy and get a picture of you?
   Bird: Don't push your luck!
         <<FLIES OFFS>>

SCENE


Anyway, Dr. Google says that brown headed cowbirds greatly prefer to live at forest boundaries. I was nowhere near a boundary, which is why I was so suspicious without a visual ID. Dr. Google also said that the fact this species is a bit perplexing. You see, cow birds are brood parasites. The females lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Their offspring are raised by foster parents (if you pardon the personification). How then do the young males know to sound like a cow bird and not, say, a robin? How indeed. Dr. Google only posed the question, he didn't answer it.

I felt amenable to a wild goose (or brown headed cowbird) chase as I only have 8.4 miles of hiking planned for today. My typical pace is about 2 MPH and has been fairly consistent across terrains. Thus, I have 4-1 hours of hiking planned. I know this pacing is good for me, but it's hard to suppress my inner drive to push my body to the max.

Bonus: it yielded 2 pages of content.

First checkpoint today, a small pond that the guidebook says is stagnant and warns against using it as a water source. Having seen it, I can't believe the guidebook actually feels the obligation to tell us that. 

IT'S JET BLACK! It’s the Appalachian Trail, water sources are plentiful. I can’t imagine anyone desperate enough to look at that and dive right in!

Do not drink if the “water” is black. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

​I think the picture doesn't quite do justice to how striking blue the reflection of the sky was on the surface of that dark pond. Oh well.

Nearly 3 miles north of the pond is the summit of Sunrise Mountain. Here, there's a large pavilion and views into both the Poconos and Catskills. (I think, should check that) A couple tenths of a mile down the trail is a parking lot with a great viewing platform.

Sunrise Mountain lookout

The view from under the shade of the pavilion

​Nearly 4 miles north of Sunrise Mountain the trail is bifurcated by a pipeline. This provides a nice vantage point.

All I notice in this image is the man-made scar upon the earth.

​Though it is striking how differently one can see the world by just changing perspectives.

Problem solved. (Not really)

​For my money though, I preferred the view from an overlook a hundred or so yards before the gas line. (The scars of man are hidden from view here.) Which do you guys prefer?

Essentially the same landscape. Totally different impressions.

​A mile and a half after the pipeline I rolled up on Rutherford Cabin. The side trail is about a half mile long, so it was relieving to catch this view of the cabin off to the left.

Rutherford Shelter as first observed from the access trail

Yes, I'm tenting at a shelter. Yes, even though I'm alone here tonight. I can be Lawful Good about some things.

Rutherford Shelter with my erect tent.

​While prepping dinner, a deer ran out from the woods and down the trail to the AT. Alas, I wasn't able to be Quick Draw McGraw with my phone. Oh well, please accept this picture of a bunny instead. She was a bit more photogenic. It turns out that Mrs. Bunny has a family! I went out to pee around 10pm and there were about 5 sets of eyes peering back at me. And that is your moment of zen.

Little fluffy bunny