Cinnamon Black Black in Ramsey Canyon

Coronado National Monument, Ash Canyon, Stump Canyon, Miller Canyon, and Carr Canyon (the entire south end of the Huachuca Mountains) remains closed due to the fire and subsequent flooding. Many of the roads and trails are washed out or covered with tons of rock and debris. So, needing someplace to go, I thought Ramsey Canyon (the canyon just north of Carr Canyon) which reopened last week, might become the "recovery" area for bears (and other large mammals displaced by the fire). I was determined to hike as far up Ramsey Canyon (Hamburg Trail) as I needed to find a Bear. I didn't get far. Not 100 yards up the trail from the visitor's center was a Cinnamon Black Bear in a tree. It was probably a two or three year old, maybe 200-250 pounds. What a delight!!! He performed all sorts of acrobatic maneuvers. He was fairly high up in the tree and continued to climb as he ate. As I have seen them before the tree sways while the Bear climbs, but once they get to a feeding point they "settle in," shifting their weight however necessary to stabilize themselves. They eat only moving their arms until all leaves are stripped clean. Then it is a couple feet higher up the tree, swaying, stabilizing, and then eating. I also knew that eventually they would come down the tree. So, I hung out there watching and taking a photo now and then until he came down -- about an hour and a half later. Here then is the series:

Here he is going to cross from one branch to another.

Here is is in the midst of crossing to the other branch.

And here you get a feel for how high up the tree he is.

Coming down the tree.

On the ground -- finally.

A quick look at me.

Off he goes.

Wait, another look at me.

And, finally off and out of sight.