For four days in September, explorers Joe Tortomasi and Chris Kasten toured a remote, wild and forested part of rugged ridge and canyon country called Devil's Canyon. Their cross-country journey followed an uninhabited swath of territory that runs for miles through the San Gabriel Wilderness – an area that contains thick forests, swamps, rivers, lowlands, an incredible array of wildlife, and few, if any, permanent human settlements. The land is too foreboding for most. It's hot, infested with insects and snakes, and home to large animals that can be dangerous. For Joe and Chris, its paradise.
We had the opportunity to talk with Joe and Chris as they remembered a frightening moment on the trip when they encountered a ferocious black bear!
"We approach within a hundred feet of an oblivious female as she works her way through a wild berry bush, nipping off the tender red fruits, tossing the rest aside. Her face is tranquil, with dark eyes shaded beneath the protrusive brow. The long nose sniffing out the sweetest bulbs. Her paws are huge but she tread carefully in this ritual. When she suddenly raises her head to look straight in our direction, the intensity of her stare seems to bring the whole forest to silence. For a minute or two she looks puzzled, wary, menacingly stern. Then she resumes eating. Every muscle in our bodies froze during those seconds she glowered at us. We couldn't lift the camera, not daring to move, while mosquitos were dining on our arms and legs."
So, unfortunately there is no photo of this particular moment but we are assured that treacherous river rafting as well as an exhausting battle with a black rattler have been well documented.
Well, someone's got to do it.
Until next time.
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