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Peak(s)  San Luis Peak  -  14,023 feet
Date Posted  09/16/2024
Date Climbed   09/14/2024
Author  jrepphun
 Moose Warning!   

Hiked from Stewart Creek trailhead on 9/14/24. Perfect weather and an enjoyable walk most of the way. I couldn't help but notice the first few miles all cross moose habitat. I had no issues on the way up. On the way down, I was in my own little world and looking forward to the snacks in my cooler.

I was looking down when I heard some large slashing noises. I looked up in time to see a young moose run away and I was about ten feet from what I presume was it's mother. I hid behind a tree for what seemed like forever. I kept peeking around the tree and the large moose was just standing there, looking right at me. Eventually, she moved down the creek. I then bushwacked through a deadfall trying to be as quiet as possible. I met back up with the trail and hustled back to the truck with visions of the moose charging down the trail behind me. Probably the scariest moment I've ever had hiking. Nothing will make you feel as vulnerable and powerless as staring down a huge moose.




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Comments or Questions
greenonion
User
Wowza!
9/16/2024 6:33pm
I had a very similar experience in the willows last year descending Blue Sky. Those big dudes do get your attention. Or you might D I E


Boggy B
User
Tactics
9/16/2024 9:46pm
Sounds like you did right to hide at that range. Once there's some distance though I think making yourself known is the way to go. A couple years ago there was a huge alpha moose lying right on the trail in a willow thicket approaching our climb. We just hollered all the while slowly moving into the brush towards him and succeeded in annoying him enough to GTFO before we got too close. Suppose mama might be less obliging though.


NovaDevi25
User
Yikes!
9/18/2024 1:20pm
We had a scary one this summer while hiking to Blue Lake in Indian Peaks. We knew we were in moose territory so we kept scanning for them, didn't see any. Came up on someone on the trail who said there was one close and we look up to our right and it's maybe 15 feet off the trail, completely silent. Talk about a brown-pants encounter!


mtngirl99
User
More moose on the loose
9/23/2024 9:52am
Thank you for the heads up, as I'm looking at doing that one soon. So glad you got out safely! Had a similar experience last fall on the way down from Crystal and Peak 10 in the Ten Mile range. I didn't see them behind a tree until they heard me and spooked, and one was a bull. I also hid behind a tree and thought maybe they had left until I heard an annoyed snort, then tiptoe ran from tree to tree until I'd cleared the area. Definitely gets your heart pumping!


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