05/06/2019
This is week four of sharing my work of Mike Murphy Park Ranger, "The Bear". Comments welcome.
Chapter Four
Morning came and Mike turned over one more time so he could see the alarm clock sitting on the bedside table. He always had an uncanny habit of waking up at the time he mentally set the night before and this morning was no exception; the clock read 5: 55 which meant he had five more minutes of sleep. Closing his eyes, he drifted off into what is known as combat sleep where you are fully awake, but your eyes are closed and you are aware of everything around you. Five minutes later he threw back the warm covers and sat on the edge of the bed. He yawned and stretched his arms over his head. "Well, time to get the day started," he said to no one in particular.
The floor was slightly cool as he walked barefoot to the bathroom to begin his morning routine. Even though he was at The Valley Center, where water was convenient he saw no reason to waste it in taking a long shower. The term 'Navy Shower' came from a procedural to conserve water aboard ships at sea and consisted of quickly rinsing down, turning the water off, soaping and then rinsing off. The time involved was usually around six to eight minutes and only using five gallons or less. Feeling clean and refreshed, he went downstairs to find some breakfast and a cup of hot coffee. A half hour later he was driving out of his parking spot and on the road. According to what Gladys had said the previous evening there had been two bear sightings at Backpackers Camp, about ten miles away. Backpacker's was close to the West entrance of the park and was well named with roughly ninety-five percent of Yosemite being declared as wilderness. There weren't any designated parking spots at Backpacker's and you had to park a short distance away and walk in. After parking the jeep Mike walked until he smelled bacon and then just followed his nose. Arriving at a campsite he saw two adults sitting at a small four-foot square table, with a cup sitting in front of them and they both were holding books. Mike inquired," The Franklin party?" The man looked up from behind his sunglasses and answered, "Yes, Sir, Tobias, Betty and our three sons over by the fire, left to right, Joseph, Aaron and David." Mike Murphy, Yosemite Park Ranger. I understand you had a bear sighting yesterday?"
"Actually, the boys saw the bear while hiking, just before breakfast. They ran back to camp and I called it in. They are all three Life Scouts and working on their Eagle merit badges. My better half, Betty convinced me we need a vacation so to help the boys earn a few badges we decided on Yosemite.
As they sat and chatted, Tobias talked about his family as having solid, Christian beliefs. Early in their marriage, they had decided to home school their children as neither of them liked what was being taught in public schools and discipline was often a foreign word. His wife had Bachelor's degrees in both biology and chemistry and he had a Master's in Business Management.
Tobias went on to explain he was a policeman from L.A. and a Sergeant. "I can call the boys over if you want to talk to them about the bear?" Tobias asked. Mike looked over to where the three were sitting on logs around a small fire. They each had a plate of food sitting on their knees and were busy eating. "Thanks, but I think I'll go over and join them. After we finish I'll chat a little more with you, if that's okay?" "Sounds like a plan." "Good morning gentlemen," said Mike as he stood by the boys. "Good morning ,Sir," they said in unison. "May I sit down?" " asked Mike as he motioned with his hand towards an unoccupied log across from them. "Sure," answered Joseph. As he sat down Mike introduced himself and asked, "I understand you had a bear sighting yesterday? Can you describe it, Aaron?" "Yes, Sir. We were taking our morning hike, right after sunrise and she just appeared on the trail in front of us. She didn't bluff charge and passed by us about five yards away. We observed the rule of standing still around bears." "Any tracks to indicate size, David?" "None that we saw on the trail as the ground was too hard, but the day before Josh, uh, Joshua discovered some along a small creek bank in the mud." "Joshua?" "Yes, Sir. There were a pair of tracks, zigzag fashion. One pair was slightly smaller than the other, possibly a cub, but we didn't actually see any and the smaller tracks didn't look as fresh as the big ones. The larger tracks were about four and a half inches across. Using the formula of one equals one plus one, the bear would probably stand five or six feet." "Aaron, you said she, earlier. You didn't see any cubs so how did you know and please explain using the formula ?" "Well, Mr. Murphy as the bear passed by us we had a clear view of its rump and there was nothing to indicate it as being a male. The formula is one inch equals one foot and add a foot."
Mike chuckled at Aaron's observation and said," Very good gentlemen, accurate descriptions and detailed information. Your father mentioned something about some merit badges to become Eagle Scouts? What's the boy scout motto?" "Be prepared," came the immediate response from all three. Backpacking is one of the merit badges for Eagle. You like camping out so tell me about preparing your packs, David?" "That one's easy," David answered as he smiled, then continued," FISHFRINN or first-aid, insulation, sunscreen, hydration, fire, repair-kit, illumination, navigation and nutrition." Mike mentally checked off the items on David's list and shook his head in approval. " Well, gentlemen, you know your stuff. Thank you for your time and I hope the remainder of your vacation is filled with having a good time" "You're welcome," said Joseph, "So far it has been awesome!"
As they sat and chatted about hiking, backpacking and being outdoors, Mike looked at the young men sitting across from him and it was almost like seeing carbon copies; they all had clean-cut blond hair, light brown eyes, a few freckles and deep suntans. Then the four of them stood up and shook hands.
"Mr. Franklin, Betty," said Mike as he approached them at the table. "You have raised your sons well, congratulations." "Thank you Mr. Murphy, said Betty. "We have tried to instill in all of them to be courteous at all times and conscious of other people's feelings. Even being young adults they aren't interested in drugs or alcohol, however, that being said, last year they began to notice girls and going on modified dates together. Before we allowed them to leave the house one of us would talk to the girl to find out their values and what they expected from the date. Most of them also came from Christian families so we felt relatively safe that everything would be fine and so far there hasn't been any exceptions."
"Excellent principles," agreed Mike. "It is refreshing to hear young people express themselves with confidence and not use slang words or vulgarity. Mr. Tobias, if you know your son's troop number and council, I can forward a letter of recognition and recommendation stating I think they are ready for their backpacking and camping merit badges." Thank you, Mr. Murphy, they would appreciate that." Then Mike shook both Tobias's and Betty's hands and said," Have a good day and enjoy the park."
As Mike sat in the jeep driver's seat he took a last look around the camp and an idle thought crossed his mind; Mr. Franklin was wearing a lightweight jacket over a loose fitting shirt and long trousers, was he wearing an under the arm shoulder holster and gun?
Alanah and he had talked about having children, but she wanted to wait until she finished her degree. That way she could devote all her time to raising them properly until they were nine or ten and then employ a nanny. Mike had agreed it was a good plan and as he sat there he shook his head and could only hope they turned out as well mannered as the Franklin children. The second bear sighting was less than a ten-minute drive from the Franklin camp at McGurk Meadow. The caller had said he was hiking and the bear charged him, then disappeared off into the trees. There was a small wooden bridge near where the incident took place. When
Gladys had informed him about the two reports, yesterday afternoon, she mentioned the second caller had an English or European accent and sounded very cultured. Mike's main concern was the caller had used the term, charged. Usually bears bluff charged and stopped a few feet away, then retreated or pass at a safe distance. There had never been a fatality concerning bears and guests at the park and he made a concerted effort to see that if it did happen, it would not be on his watch.
At The Meadow Mike quickly located the area described by the caller and the wooden bridge across the stream. It had not rained in a few days, but the dirt and mud along the stream bed was still soft and the tracks were clearly defined and led off in an easterly direction. Kneeling beside the tracks Mike reached into an inside jacket pocket and produced a small, metal encased tape measure.
As he stretched the tape across the prints he measured four and three-quarter inches. Using quick math he calculated the bear stood between five and six feet. He wondered if this could be the same bear seen by the Franklin boys, the one reported at the Saxon camp and the tracks he had seen Monday morning? If that were the case the bear was ranging pretty much in the Northern parts of the park and according to the Franklin boys it was a female without cubs. Mike decided he had better call it in.
"Mike to base?" "Yes, Mike. Good morning. Did you check out the bear sightings at Backpackers and McGurk's?" "Yes, Gladys and a good morning to you too. Louise out again?" "No, actually she's in the restroom and I'm holding down the fort." "Both sightings appear to be of the same bear," said Mike. "Probably a female without cubs and a big one." "As in, how big Mike?" "Five maybe six feet." The pause at the other end of the radio told him Gladys was digesting the information she had just heard.
"Wow! That is big, for a female anyway. None of the ones we captured and tagged with GPS were anywhere near that large. A few males, yes. You want to put out an alert?" "Yes, Gladys, please and while you are at it, pass along I would like to try to capture and tag her." "Will do Mike. Are you coming in tonight or staying out?" "Will most likely stay out. The weather has warmed up a little and the night sky is just gorgeous with constellations. Two nights ago was a hunter's moon and you could easily navigate by its light, if you chose to after dark, of course. Anything for me?" "Tomorrow is Wednesday and that means traffic personified, so if you don't mind helping out at Tuolumne, you would be my best friend?" "No problem. Glad to help out. If the higher-ups choose to capture and tag that bear I suggest using a culvert as it is more humane and easily transported." "Will pass it along Mike. Have a good evening. No need to call in the morning unless something comes up." "Thanks, Mike out."
