It’s a busy summer here in Little Cottonwood. Congestion as we enter Oktoberfest and as fall prepares to find its way into the mountains. Just this week Canyon Blog had a difficult time finding a good parking spot.
No, it’s not Highway 210 or the ski resorts that are the cause of concern. Spending a day meandering through upper Gad Valley it seems that your correspondent couldn’t find a good shady spot to stop and read his book that wasn’t already occupied. By moose.
On this particular August day three bulls, three cows and at least one calf seem to have staked out all the good places to perch and read. Perhaps they had the same idea, it’s hard to say with moose. They can be a bit enigmatic. That is, right up to the point when they become very clear about their intentions, but more on that in a moment.
The thing about moose is the dog days of summer are particularly acute for them because they overheat easily. Afternoons are meant for resting in the shade and napping. You might do this more yourself if you weighed 800 pounds and always wore black. Perhaps that’s what promotes moose reading selections. Then again, Canyon Blog’s never actually observed a moose in the act of reading. They may simply delight in preventing bipedal readers from finding good spots.
Though on this occasion Canyon Blog spied (from a safe distance) what looked like Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass next to the biggest bull of the group.
In the off chance you do unexpectedly encounter Little Cottonwood’s largest resident at an uncomfortable distance remember these tips:
- Don’t run away. Talk to them. Try something like, “Nice first addition you got there.” Back away slowly, and in the direction from which you came.
- If a moose charges you find the biggest obstacle you can and get behind it or keep it between you and Bullwinkle.
- If you can’t get away, curl into a ball and protect your head. Typically, moose will stomp on you for a bit and then move off.
Regarding our bull’s reading selection: Was it a first addition? Recent reprint? Alas, the mystery shall never be resolved for the simple fact that what is known is this: don’t approach a moose when he’s napping. Or reading a book.