Whatever

Story Time.

I dunno if I've ever seen Marine One.
If I have, it's been from a fair distance.
I presume the usual flight path would be northwest from DC, then up the folds in the mountains over Catoctin State Park.
I'm maybe 15 miles away to the northwest of Camp David.

Between Catoctin State Park (MD), a couple smaller adjacent state parks, and Michaux State forest, that's a fair chunk of forested mountain land.
Running from Harper's Ferry WV, almost to Harrisburg in central PA.
The Appalachian Trail runs right down the middle.

I'm sure I've been within a few miles of Camp David when hiking the Trail.
But you'd never know it.

One time a buddy was out Morel hunting and evidently got too close.
Suddenly he was looking down the gun barrel of a masked guy in dark camo.
The security guy never said a word.
Just pointed at my friend, made a circle in the air with his finger, and pointed back the way he came.

It's hard to describe to someone who hasn't been here.
Not very high in elevation, but very steep and up and down.
Boulders all over, heavily forested, lots of Laurel Hells (almost impassable thickets of Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron.)
Deep dark ravines full of Hemlocks, shutting out the light.
So-called "Benches" on the mountainsides with open stands of Poplar and Oaks.
The Trail runs mostly along these benches and the crest where it's more open (comparatively).
Trail hikers say PA is where hiking boots go to die.

I once made the mistake of shooting a buck a mile from any logging road.
No problem, you say?
Borrow a 4 wheeler and come back, right?
Fuggetaboutit.

 

You talking IWB or let it hang out?

 

You actually can never tell if you’re seeing marine one. They always send 3 to travel together and you don’t know which it is. So it deters fine citizens from taking a pot shot with an RPG.

 

Either. But probably will be out most often.

The reason I got it is for wildlife protection when I get deep into the mountains. Mostly for mountain lions. We have a large population here.

Steve went up into the management area I go to all the time last night and spotted one watching him. So he continued horn hunting but kept his sidearm in hand and watched his back. Said he followed him for a while from a good distance. Most likely out of curiosity but cant be too careful.

 

You so pretty!

 

You too dawlin’!!

 

Fun fact #11 I lived overseas when I was younger and we had armed guards that rode the bus with us and did a bomb sweep before coming on the base. I remember waving to the guy hidden up in the tower at the entrance.

 

That's what I figure.

 

Have you ever seen a lion in the wild?

 

We’re on 11 now? Gotta search!
What, you lived in Africa?

 

I have only seen one a few times. But tbh I really only have gotten back into being an outdoorsman this year. Been a while since the injury to get back to this point but I'm enjoying the fucking fuck out of it.

 

No, wrong continent. Technically.

 

Uae?

 

I never used to carry when just hiking and not hunting.
But now that there are so many Black Bears...
They're not very dangerous actually...except if you somehow get between Mama Bear and her cubs.
Then all bets are off.

 

That's how I think it is for most wildlife here also. Last thing I want to do is shoot a lion, wolf, or bear. But better safe than sorry.

 

Nope.

 

Nature rocks right Tate? Phk yeah!

 

D’awww thank you

 

Madagascar?

Technically Africa?

Hmm...

Jordan? Tel aviv?

 

Turkey!!?