[pct-l] OT: cougar sightings on San Gorgonio (near Section C)

[Timothy Nye]

With all due respect,  encountering a mountain lion, an apex predator, on
the trail is not cause for celebration, but caution.  I had a work
acquantance with whom I did business, Barbara Schoener, who was attacked,
killed and eaten on the Western States 100 trail in an unpopulated area.
The mountain lion was a mother and used the carcass to feed her cubs.

The truth of the matter, as I see it,  is that if you see a lion, it's
because it doesn't care if it's seen.  That's bad news for you in that
instance in that they've lost their fear of man.  The prevelance of mountain
lion attacks on Vancouver Island, and their increasing frequency overall is
indicative of learned behaviour.  True, most bear attacks are the result of
a decline/failure  of traditional food stocks, but this is not necessarily
the case with lions.  The deer population in California, for example, is
high. Similarly, livestock and or pets would seem to be an easier mark for
an inured lion than a human would be.

Of course, there is some solace in the fact in that if they are going to
take you, you probably won't even know they're around until it's too late.
Stalking behaviour is common on the trail.  I believe that the use of
trekking poles, broad brim hates and back packs themselves, may well serve
as a deterrent as they serve as a shield to the back of the neck/skull.

(AsABat - Thanks for helping with my daughter's blisters on Sec P)

On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 10:24 AM, MAXINE WEYANT <weyantm at msn.com> wrote:

>
> If you look closely, those were cubs, which was probably why there were 3.
> And his caption suggested that they hadn't seen his full form yet, had only
> seen his head bobbing along from below the trail when he took that photo, so
> this probably wasn't a stalking, just a lucky photo of 3 juveniles.
>
>
>
> From: asabat at 4jeffrey.net
> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:05:16 -0700
> Subject: OT: cougar sightings on San Gorgonio (near Section C)
> To: steeleye at wildblue.net
> CC: 5418610024 at vzw.blackberry.net; pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net;
> weyantm at msn.com; pct-l at backcountry.net
>
>
> I've only had one sighting, while safe in my car, but here's a story from a
> guy who was stalked by THREE:
>
> http://www.mtsanjacinto.info/viewtopic.php?t=2462 - scroll down a bit for
> the pics
>
> This pic is particularly awesome - and a bit terrifying:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/pitownpi/4883080748/in/set-72157624576684691/
>
> AsABat
>
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 6:40 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net>
> wrote:
>
> Anyone who sights a cougar along the PCT should feel truly fortunate rather
> than be frightened.
>
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