Our Friend, the Elk

Excitement ran high in our household as we prepared our camping gear, bedding, clothes, and all the rest. We were going camping at the Buffalo River! We were going to spend time with some very dear friends on this camping trip. We talked of the fun we would have, the things we would do, and how good it would be to spend three days with friends. After we successfully stuffed everything into our minivan, we finally drove away. And the fun began.

A few hours later we met our friends and crossed Bull Shoals Lake (in Arkansas) on a ferry. Shortly afterwards we stopped for a delicious picnic overlooking the lake.

As we drove along the dirt road near the river bed, we noticed that there was not even a puddle in it! Our plan was to canoe to our campsite, but it would take a lot of pushing and pulling to make any headway on that river! Obviously we had to be content with the regular campground. (We later learned that stretches of the Buffalo River go underground in the driest part of the year. However there was some slow-flowing water behind our camp.)

We arrived at our campsite shortly before sundown and set up camp before it got dark. As we were putting up the tents, someone noticed that there was an Elk roaming around our neighbor’s camp. All of the children ran over to see him, and we chuckled with glee as he smelled the dishes, startled the horses, and finally, surprised the lady of the camp by rounding a corner and staring at her from a few feet away. It was a young Elk, probably a yearling, or Spike. He hung out around the campground all that evening. After a wonderful evening around the campfire and an after-dark walk to the river, we retired to our tents.

          We awoke that morning ready for fun, and we got lots of it as the day progressed! Early that morning, before breakfast, and while the fog was still rising from the water, some of us went down into the woods behind our camp a little ways. There we found my Dad, who is an avid photographer, getting some close-up pictures of the Elk we had seen the previous night. As long as we didn’t surround him or get to close, he didn’t really mind our presence. After tarrying at the waters edge for a little while, we went back up to our much desired breakfast.

          We enjoyed a nice Sabbath hike that morning, and greatly enjoyed the view from a cliff called the “Narrows”. This massive rock is rightly named, for it is extremely narrow! It rose up straight from the river on one side, and our trail hugged it on the other. Our band of exploring boys found a way to safely climb on top of this cliff, and most of us followed. It was indeed very, very, skinny. One section, I noticed, was only about three feet wide and a sheer drop on both sides. Needless to say we didn’t go there. Still, it was only a few feet wide where we were standing. From our lofty perch we could see two majestic cave openings. A Bald Eagle flew over our heads in the clear blue sky.

           We returned to camp and partook of a delicious lunch. My Brother Dublin discovered the Elk behind our camp. He was laying down chewing his cud. Apparently he liked our company. Dublin sat down near him and slowly got closer and closer to him until he was only a few inches away. The Elk didn’t seem to mind at all. Soon he was scratching him under the chin and behind the ears and he acted like he was enjoying it. One by one we all took turns rubbing, scratching and loving on him until everyone had gotten a turn, and then we did it all over again. While my Mom and I were petting him he laid his head in her lap and fell asleep. The crickets and cicadas were singing, and the younger children played in the sand. He stayed in that comfortable position for quite a while, and we all sat around and visited while he enjoyed our human company. After some time he slowly unfolded himself and walked a few feet into the woods, where he started eating. Needless to say, he got more portraits taken in that short amount of time than many people do in their whole lives!

          We wonder if perhaps this Elk was hand raised, or at least had some association with people before we saw him. We may never know, but we are glad we were able to have such a wonderful time with him!

          Our Heavenly Father loves to make us happy, and he will give you special experiences in nature if you let him. This is exactly the type of experience we can have in heaven every day if we follow Jesus.