Bears in TN? A Ride Story from the Past

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Sally Hafkemeyer hafke7@netins.net
Hi Ridecampers,
I’ve been reading and enjoying the postings on riding in the dark, encountering wildlife (human and otherwise), and ride stories.  They gave me flashbacks and inspired me to contribute my own 100 miler story which encompasses (believe it or not) all of the above.  To introduce myself, I’m probably best described as a Re-Newbie.  I completed aprx 3000 miles between 1982 and 1992.  Took a few years off, and just renewed my AERC membership this year. I’ve discovered and enjoyed Ridecamp as a great source of info and updates on what’s new..... thanks to all of you who aren’t as shy as I was about posting.

In the mid-eighties, I was asked to take a part-bred gelding named Bo on his first 100 miler.  An IAHA ride on the edge of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.  Can’t really remember the exact location or ride name.  Bo’s owner, Jan Worthington, was entered on another of her horses.  Grace Ramsey was crewing and her daughter Wendy Mattingley was also riding a good horse named CL Shurwill.  For me, it was an exciting trip.  I was honored that Jan and Grace would trust me to take their horse on his first 100, and I’d never been to this part of the country before. We arrived with no incidents and set up camp.  Vetted through just fine, and Friday night I rode Bo (for the first time) on a short pre-ride warmup.
Saturday morning dawned early and sunny.  A beautiful day.  We were ready to go with my only  mission being to help Bo complete his first 100  healthy and sound.  Even though I was  riding for completion only,  Bo got so hyper that we decided to start out with his stable buddies.  Let him use the energy going forward on the trail rather than fighting me.  The ride started with a shout, and we were off.  Now,  Jan and Wendy were riding sweepstakes horses, so they planned to stay close to the front runners.  My endurance horse in those days,  Zoey,  was one that needed to go to the back of camp and hide out until all horses were out of sight,  ( a few stories there, too) so this up-front start wasn’t really my style, but away we went, with Shurwill’s rear in sight.  Bo’s personal goal was to run as close to his buddy as horsely possible, so I was working hard to hold him back to a dull roar and keep a safe distance from Wendy and Shurwill.  The first loop was a single track switchback around the
mountain.  Up and steep on my right and equally steep going down on my left.  Bo was so worried about being left behind that while Wendy and Shurwill cruised around the turns, he’d take little short cuts.   Bo didn’t see any need to bennnd around those curves when he could just skip across the end of those ravines and stay that much closer to his best buddy in the whole world.  Fifeen minutes into the ride and my honored’ feeling is gone!   My imagination has taken over and I know what will happen when Bo missteps................tree bowling, the  latest in extreme sports.
I’m feelin’ like survival!

We made it to the first check at 25 miles and vetted through with no problems.  Made sure I used the bathroom and
we were ready to go out for the next loop.  Jan and I left this check together with Wendy out ahead of us.  This loop
was less eventful and I remember a much more enjoyable ride.  It was just the two of us now, and the horses were settled down and happy to move along at a saner pace.  Both horses vetted through the 50 mile check just fine. This check was back at camp, so we took the horses to the trailer and let them eat and rest.  Time’s up and Jan left.  We let Bo stay a few minutes longer to eat and forget that he had a buddy ahead of him on the trail..  Poor Bo!  He thought he was all done.  He seemed pretty surprised when I put the saddle back on and rode to the out timer.  Then he pouted.  Kept looking back to camp and didn’t want to go.  In spite of the morning’s ride, I  took sympathy and
let him walk and get mentally rearranged.  After a few miles, he picked up a trot and was fine about it.  We were also
starting to bond into a better team by now. ( I’ve always enjoyed riding alone for this reason.)  We kept up an easy trot  into the 75 mile check.  He vetted through in good shape and I was pleased with his new, improved attitude. He was eating and drinking well.  By now, I’m in love with him (I get attached so easily) and telling him what a good boy  he is.

But it’s time to leave this check and what fun..............it’s getting dark.  The nearest horses are an hour ahead and more than an hour behind.  All alone.  The good news is that the last 25 miles is the same as the first 25 miles.  Always a plus in the dark.  But just when I was starting to have fun,  the husband/pit crew of a  rider behind me started telling about how many black bears his wife saw that morning.  Front runners scared them  up,  he guessed.  I tried to cover my ears, but it was too late!   A new worry to carry with me in the dark.  Bears!  We don’t have bears in Iowa!!   We don’t WANT bears in Iowa!  And I did NOT want to meet any on the last 25 miles of a trail I barely know with a horse I barely know when I can barely see and I’m all ALONE!!!!  But, this is why it’s called endurance. If I don’t die, I’ll complete.  So we left with a heartier than felt goodbye.   The next 10 miles or so was on the road, easy going, but getting darker.  My pit crew met me for moral support and food for Bo.  What a pig he was.  Good horse!   Shortly after turning off the road, we had to cross a wide, shallow river/creek.  By  then it was simply dark.
As I started into the water, I noticed a  new trail attraction on the other side next to where the trail comes out.  A fun group of loud drunks!  They heard me coming (I tried to tiptoe with no success) and started calling out, "Come on over!  Join the Party!  We’ve got plenty of beer to share!"   Very hospitable of them.   Not wanting to offend my "hosts", I called back  "Thanks,  but I’ve got to run.........................!"    Bo, hope you’re not thirsty,  ‘cause we’re out of here!!!!!    We kicked it in long enough to get to the other side and picked up a good strong trot up the hill. (Tennesseeans sure are a hospitable bunch, aren’t they.)  Well, all’s quiet again as we can now take our time and work our way back around  on the same trail I found so exciting this morning.  I like it better in the dark.  Can’t see what I’m missing.  But now my thoughts turn to bears.  What do I know about them?  Nocturnal.........not good.  I’m pretty sure they’ll stay out of my way if they can.  But have you ever noticed how you can get so much closer to wildlife when you’re horseback?  Not good.   I’m sure Bo would overreact, and down the mountain we
go.....midnight bowling.  We’re not making much noise either.  It would be kinda nice.........if I just hadn’t heard about the bears.  What can I do to make noise?  No one has ever described me as quiet, but I can’t think of a thing to say.  But then, Eureka!  I remember my Catholic school days.  Those nuns wouldn’t let me sing with the class.  Used to tell me to just "mouth the words".  Welllll............maybe my singing is bad enough to scare a bear.  Might work and no one else to hear.  Bo promised not to tell.  What song..........hmmm, everyone's favorite, no problem
remembering the words to "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"!  So I launched into a stirring, make up for my childhood, rendition.  We walked and jogged along in the dark until I was down to 2 Bottles of Beer on the Wall when Bo stopped dead in his tracks.   No, not a bear.  Two kind and wonderful ride volunteers stepped out onto the trail to let me know I had arrived at the last on-trail vet check.  Hooray!  They gave me a time card and then said, "Wow, what a brave person you are.  We heard you coming in, just singing without a care.  We would have been
scared to death to be out riding all alone in the dark like this."
Tell me, would you have told them the truth?   I didn’t.  Just smiled, thanked them for being there, and went to find
my pit crew and vet in.  By now, Jan has been long finished and came back out to lend support and see how we’re doing.  A quick vet through and on to the last 5 or so miles of trail.  Through the woods, out onto a road, down the hill and a left turn back into the woods for the last mile to the finish line and base camp.  Bo seems to know we’re close as he’s picking up his pace.  Or he understands when I tell him we’re headed HOME!  We turned into the very dark woods (especially after being on the lighter gravel road).  I’ve forgotten all about bears and hillbillies, etc.  All of a sudden Bo looks sharply to the left and shies hard to the right.  I heard something crackling in the brush about the same time Bo takes off at a run down the trail.  I couldn’t see a thing, but I leaned over his neck and let him run.  I
don’t know what scared him and didn’t want to.  I knew we were close to home and let’s just get there.  As the trail circled around behind base camp, I slowed him to a trot.  He realized where we were, and started loudly calling out to anyone who’d listen. (No sneaking in late at night for us!)   I unsaddled at the trailer and took him to the vets for final check.  He closed his eyes and acted as though he was sleeping through the vet check.  I could have sworn I heard him snoring softly.  He finished in great shape, although tired and ready for bed.  Me too.

I hope this wasn’t too long.   I got on a roll writing it.  A good memory for me.
If you hung in there to the end, Thanks for "listening"!
Sally Hafkemeyer








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