[pct-l] cougars cripple entire party

[David Hough on pct-l]

There are warnings from Yogi and Erik the Black but not Wilderness Press.

However the opportunity for tasteless hilarity aimed at any mature women
in a group might distract the entire party from a critical routefinding
job.

Thus it is that almost everybody traveling in a mixed group
seems doomed to take the Cougar Crest
Trail halfway down to Big Bear the first time they come this way
northbound (actually westbound here).     If they looked at the map
earlier they may be aware that they are generally heading down to the
next gap (at Poligue Canyon) and so think nothing of heading down here.
The polished benches could be a clue that this is not the PCT, as could the
presence of bicyclists who we glared at silently thinking they were 
illegal.

Aggravating the problem is a pile of down timber across the critical
point of the PCT, so the walkaround trail doesn't look like much.

If there were ever a point near the PCT that warranted a clear sign
saying "PCT Hikers - turn around and go back" this would be the place,
attached to the Cougar Crest trail sign.
If you do turn around and go back you might see the old PCT sign.
Heading westbound you aren't likely to see it without a clue.
If somebody does make up a nice sign, maybe a stern admonition against
hilarity directed at mature women companions would be appropriate too.


The next day we didn't see any cougars at the Predators in Action site.
There were lions, tigers, and grizzly bears inside, as advertised,
and perhaps surprisingly, a plain old wild black bear outside nearby.