Sahale Arm, North Cascades National Park, Sep 7, 2004 - Sep 8, 2004 page 5 / 35
We arrived in the camp about 5:45. Dad quickly went to work putting up a bear line in which we could hang our food. It was near the campsite, about 40 feet away. I helped him, but kept an eye on our packs just in case any curious critters should arrive to look through them for our food. I checked often, but before I saw her, a doe began examining my pack. I had loosely placed my snack bag in the top of the pack. She had gotten into the pack far enough to begin licking the stuff sack I kept all my trail food in. I raced down toward her, waving my arms, and yelling. She just kept licking, getting salt from the bag, I suppose. She didn't leave until I was five or ten feet away! I had never seen this kind of behavior from a deer before. She didn't seem scared of us at all. We had to chase her away a couple of other times that evening. Even throwing rocks at her didn't seem to phase her much.
We had a bite to eat, laid out our bivy sacs and sleeping bags, and hung our food. After dinner we took a short walk into the basin, getting some water while there. The setting sun turned some of the clouds pink. Fantastic!