The mule deer has always been one of my favorite animals in the Rockies. With a constant look of amazement, clownish long ears, and a comic bounding run when they're moving fast, they're always good for entertainment's sake. This fine specimen started browsing along the edges of the log that I'd propped up against to write in my journal. At first it was pretty cool, but when it started nudging my leg to get at whatever it was seeking, I decided that it was time to exit the spot and moved down to the cook area in the timber. They're beautiful animals, but that is some serious looking hardware that they're packing, and I'd hate to have one of them plant it in my leg if something spooks them. When I stood to leave, the buck looked up at me as if to say, "Hey, don't leave on my account!"

From my journal on Sept. 16, 2005, the day that I headed into the Heart Lake area:
Early packup, followed by a killer breakfast at the Lakeside restaurant. That's some good eatin', and nobody looked twice at my raggedy-ass hiking garb. I stopped by the post office to weigh two cans of pepper spray - one new one and the one that I used in the encounter with the Griz back at Shoshone. The one I used still had nearly 3.5 ounces left in it. I'll empty it into a trash can back in civilization so that I can mail it home - I'm keeping that one for a souvenir. Next time I come out, I'll be packing the biggest container that UDAP sells, maybe two of them. Today, I'll settle for a new can of the Park-sized canisters - and make a lot of noise on the way in. I stopped by the backcountry office and emailed the two blurry photos of the Griz to Kerry Guenther in bear management. They do a hell of a job in investigating the encounters, and do everything possible to protect the bears. Thanks to their efforts, the Griz is doing better in Yellowstone than I would ever have believed possible. The next few years, if the bear is removed from the ESA, will tell the tale as to whether or not the efforts were in vain.
With one thing or another, it took a long time to get everything re-packed, re-loaded, and ready for the trek into Heart Lake. Mr. Paranoid! That's me... I must be the noisiest hiker in Yellowstone. To hell with anybody that doesn't like it - I'd rather mix it up with humans than a Griz any day of the week.
Made the 8 miles to the Heart Lake ranger cabin in 2.5 hours - that's some fast trucking. Most of the trail in is flat and fast, and I was being pushed along by gathering storm clouds.
I haven't been to the Mt. Sheridan side of the lake yet. It's wild, with rolling hills and a ghost forest of burned over trees that are starting to come back in places. The 5 campsites are pretty close to one another. The next one up the lake is only about 300 feet from my food area, just on the other side of the little stand of timber. I can sit on the toilet in this camp and wave at the neighbors (if I had any) or the lookout at the tower on top of Mt. Sheridan. It looks like nobody showed up at any of the other sites on this side of the lake - it's just me, the mulies, and a couple of wandering bears on the slope above camp.
There are four nosy mule deer hanging around, walking by me like I'm not even there.
By the way, the idea of camping near a climbing tree in case a bear shows up is bogus as hell. It won't help - if they show up while you're sleeping, and if they happen to be hunting humans (that's rare as brains in a vanstander,) you're toast. Better to keep a clean camp and try to avoid any area that is having bear problems." Ti