Mentor Trek Day 1 – Mount Roberts Tram

The Mount Roberts Tram station is on the waterfront, literally a stone’s throw from two major cruise ship docks, and within easy walking distance of all other docks, big and small. Our group planned to go up the Tram for a brief hike, the “cultural” shoot, and dinner. Noel and Robbie came along. Once up the tram, Noel went on the hike with the group, and I stayed behind at the Visitor’s Center entertaining Robbie. Turns out I also sat out on the first of two bear sitings of the trip. Michelle, one of the Mentor series coordinators, was apart from the group but only a few feet off the very public path when she spotted a bear, much too close to her for her liking. She knew what to do (speak assertively, move slowly, don’t run…) but she somewhat panicked, shrieked, and hightailed it up the hill to catch up with the group. And didn’t get a picture. A cardinal sin with this group, one for which she would be teased about the whole trip. It was during the Tram outing that Noel would see and make a mental note about a mountain trail snaking up the hill that he wanted to explore – and where he would later have his own bear encounter!