So I woke up yesterday morning and it was just too nice for work and I promptly decided to call out sick*cough*. Since I had the entire day, I figured I'd try a place I haven't been to before. From the description, Deer park seemd like a good place to get my feet wet with riding the Allamuchy area and it was. Really nice park, great trails, I actually expected it would be hillier and rockier. Got there about 10:00, and since no one was around I took my sweet ass time getting set up to ride. I'm standing at the back of my truck with the back door open, fiddling with my cat eye and I hear the sound of a heavy breath. I turn around and wouldnt you know it, about 1-2yr old Black bear is walking slowly up on me like he is about to roll me(prob about 15ft away). He wasn't a cub but he wasnt very big either, I think the little bastard was after my peanut butter powerbar. Close encounter yes, rare in north NJ no. So I yelled at him and he took off running in the direction of the yellow trail entrance. Then I decide to wait about about 10minutes longer to allow him to fade back in to the forrest and vacate the area around the trailhead(and to clear my head and convince myself to man up, keep going with the ride). A few deep breaths for relaxation and I'm off on the ride. I enter the yellow trail slowly because there was a little mud. Not 10ft down the trail, the damn bear explodes out of that little pond, crosses two inches infront of my tire, moans, and runs off down the trail like lightening. So now I am offically spooked, and heart pumping, adrenalin, feet shaking. But I could tell that little bear was 1000 times more scared of me, as I have never seen a bear run that fast nor heard one make that kind of noise. Turned around, rode back to the car, and took a momment to relax. Told my self to stop being a p***y and that I didnt drive an hour, only to turn around and go elsewhere. 5mins later I'm off and had no more bear encounters for the rest of the day. Had a great time and didnt see another soul on the trails. If anyone was out there though, I was the idiot shouting "Go On Bear" every 2minutes. Next time I roll deep with the dog pack. I love the wildlife in NJ, so figured I'd share this with the board. Fun times, just can't get that kind of excitement at Hartshorne or Allaire.
Deer Park...more like Bear Park...
- Thread starter JWill
- Start date
Red Mosquito
Formerly RLB the Scrapple Boy
In all the times I've been to DP or SSP (which isn't a whole ton of times, only started riding these parks about 1 yr ago) I'm surprised that I've yet to see a bear.
I do love that you can spend hours here and not see another soul on the trails. That can also have it's drawbacks at times I suppose. But the solitude is enjoyable. It also has given me the creeps, too 😀
I do love that you can spend hours here and not see another soul on the trails. That can also have it's drawbacks at times I suppose. But the solitude is enjoyable. It also has given me the creeps, too 😀
Ha welcome to bear country. Bears nose is stronger then there fear. I had the same happen at ssp where I startled a yearling in the twisty pink and he almost knocked me over. having grown up around them all my life you learn they are more afraid of you then you of them unless of course you are stuffed with PB&Js 😀...
Almost hit one
I came within a foot of hitting one once in Deer Park. I came over a little rise, and there was a good sized one right in the trail. Luckily, he was headed the same direction as me, and was able to trot off before we collided, but if he'd been headed toward me we'd have had a head on.
Always a thrill to see one. I recently saw three in a one week span. I had a little one run across my path when I was coming down Snyder Rd on my road bike, then saw one on in Deer Park a couple days later, then one by my driveway a day or two later. Then you might go a year and not see one.
I came within a foot of hitting one once in Deer Park. I came over a little rise, and there was a good sized one right in the trail. Luckily, he was headed the same direction as me, and was able to trot off before we collided, but if he'd been headed toward me we'd have had a head on.
Always a thrill to see one. I recently saw three in a one week span. I had a little one run across my path when I was coming down Snyder Rd on my road bike, then saw one on in Deer Park a couple days later, then one by my driveway a day or two later. Then you might go a year and not see one.
Seeing them is always a nice rush, and this one was only a youngin. If they were all this size, I'd never worry. Has anyone every seen the one who likes to hang around over near the terrace pond/backside waywayanda parking lot(clinton rd)? He's bigger than my xl bike( I think a fair guess would be in the 600lb range). Ive seen him consistently every summer for the past 5years in generally the same area on clinton road and always on watershed property. He's the biggest black bear I have ever seen by far, even comparing zoos and animal planet. Completely indiffrent though, if you see him he will look at you and then act as if you don't exist. Don't bother yelling and keep any dogs on the leash, he's too big to mess with and doesnt care what you or your dogs have to say. Every year I think he'll be shot by hunters but each summer I see him again. He is the King around those parts. I'm sure the houses on clinton have had run ins with him.