Re: Mountain Lions - Danger Stalks the Foothills

Dan Stephenson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> 
> And if I see the mountain lion, and it sees me, and it knows I see it,
> and I "make myself big", what are the odd it will just not try anything
> in the first place?
> 

Firsthand experience.

I was hiking solo in the Olympic Mountains a few years back. It was
the last 1/2 mile of a 40+ mile trip. I came over a slight rise smack
into a cougar no more than 50 feet in front of me (in the middle of
the trail). Talk about your adrelinin rush! Making myself big (and
loud) was instinctive. Didn't have to think - just did it. I didn't
have any weaponry, other than my swiss army knife. It was a startled
as I was, but it didn't move away. So, I looked for a rock or stick as
I was yelling at it. Found a good 2 1/2 foot long 2 inch diameter
stick and started banging it on a nearby log. This got him to move a
bit, but not enough for me to get by (I was *really* craving a burger
and a beer!). Finally banged the stick one more time, but since it was
in a rainforest, the stick broke, leaving me with a five inch stump.
By this time, the cougar was probably 15 feet off of the trail and I
was inching forward. I decided since he wasn't moving fast enough for
my tastes, I'd throw what was left of the stick at him. Wearing a full
backpack, this wasn't easy. My throw was way wide left, but
fortunately it deflected off of a tree and landed near him. That got
him to move enough for me to get by.

I never really felt that he was going to jump me. You could tell he
was curious, but he never assumed a position to strike. I'll tell you
what, though. When I got back to the trailhead, I pretty much broke
down with relief. An awesome experience and I look forward to the next
time (although I doubt I'll get that "lucky" again)!