|
The Wayfarers Journal, Episode One: Journey to Katahdin, by Tommy Michel
Excerpt from pages 316-317
Day Seven in Vermont
Clarendon lean-to
Elevation: 1268 feet
Coordinates: 43.523694, -72.912133
I sleep late and then have breakfast with Lori and Judy. They arrived yestereve shortly before dark after having gone to town. As soon as Babe and I begin taking steps this morning, I see two grass snakes along a brook and afterwards we climb up to Beacon Hill where there is a great view of Mill River Valley.
Soon, we pass the Scouts and continue along a brook, logging roads marshes and then come upon Governor Clements lean-to, an old stone structure with a built-in fireplace located next to a wide rushing brook where I stop for a rest.
(m6f0-app-vt-1979-0601.1357) Governor Clements Lean-to, AT in Vermont
Babe finally shows up and there appears to be something wrong with her; I call her to me to take a look. I find stuck in her nose and snout many porcupine quills and she is especially sensitive to my touching her face.
What a situation! I decide the quills must come out right now! I leash her and sit down on the edge of the bunk, position her between my legs and then slowly I squeeze my legs around her upper body and neck to hold her still. She begins to writhe and I speak soft but firm to her in order to calm her.
This having worked, I then begin to inspect her face closely and find eleven quills. I grab the first on with the thumb and forefinger on my right hand and begin to pull. She squirms but is finally comes out. I continue to mollify her with my voice and after removing the third quill, we both settle into the tedious work at hand
I finish pulling out all of the quills in just under an hour. My right hand is worn out and I can only imagine how her face feels. Afterward, with the leash still connected, I take her to the brook and we both go into to wash her face. She gets frisky in the frigid water and I then know she will pull through this one. I really hope she learns this lesson about porcupines much like earlier it was evident she had learned the lesson about rattlesnakes.
|