The trees are larger here and grow to great heights.
The canopy is so thick in areas that light is unable to filter through. I stop to rest in a small clearing. Moss and lichen cover the stumps and some tall shrubs are overtaking the smaller stumps. It’s impossible to see for more than 100 feet between clearings and the lack of visibility makes me restless. I am gnawing on a piece of sourdough bread when I hear a commotion in the distance. The sound of flapping wings can be heard long before I see them. There’s a deafening whishing sound that’s moving quickly in my direction.
I quickly pull Jast into a thick bank of trees and when I’m satisfied that he is hidden I creep to the edge to see what’s going on. I hope that the moss I have rubbed all over myself and Jast has hidden our scent.
It’s a trick Jen’s dad had told us about on one of many camping trips. He said that the elk could catch human scent from great distances and rubbing with moss or other forest scent make it more difficult for our scents to be picked up.
