NOWHERE TO RUN

The sun wasn’t having much success working its way through the overcast skies.  

The Grand Teton Mountains still have plenty of snow, 

but the long wet winter means a lot of water moving into the rivers.

The Teton River is near flood stage and was almost over the road in a few places.  

I was walking along, getting ready to take some snapshots with my pocket camera 

when this happened.

Holy, crap!  A young moose wandered into my view finder.  

A young moose is really not much of a threat, but at this time of year 

a young creature of any kind often comes with a defensive momma.

 I stood very still and looked around.  If Mrs. Moose came charging 

out of the trees I was in deep trouble.  I had the choice of a flooded river
on one side, or boggy woods and scraggy old cottonwood trees on the other.  

Or I could run.  I haven’t tried running for a couple of months, 

but I had a feeling that a shot of adrenaline might give my feet some help.

Moose Jr. made quite a show of being tough.  He raised the hair 

on his hump, put back his ears and lowered his head as he crossed the road.

I finally guessed he was alone.  He walked on a little farther 

and turned to check me out. 

I must not have seemed to be very intimidating because he decided 

to forget me and get some breakfast. I carefully continued on my walk.

When I had moved on, Moose Jr. went back across the road 

and returned down to the river.  I hurried home, 

thankful I didn’t have to find out how fast I could run.

(The photograph of the Grand Tetons is from an unknown source.  It arrived in an email.)