[pct-l] Animal Questions

[zoroastr at pioneernet.net (john cain)]

Whoah....that's bizarre.  I'd freak out too.  Your reaction was was
consistent with what the Rangers tell you you're supposed to do in such
situations.  I love the way the tell you to stand still as if you had a
choice to do something other than freeze in panic.  I like to do long day
hikes in areas that sometimes are well off the beaten path, but I've never
encountered any big creatures apart from deer, elk and other
non-people-eaters.  In fact, yesterday I enjoyed a nice 27-mile stroll
through the Enchantment Lakes area here in Washington and I got very up
close and personal with several whole families of mountain goats who tend to
follow people around because they crave the salt in your urine--gross but
true.


>
> > I need some help and would appreciate any info or recommendations.
> >
> > Recently, my wife, my 2 year old, and myself were packing out of Lane
> Trail
> > Camp at Big Basin. About a mile out of the camp, something resembling a
> wild
> > boar jumped across the trail in front of us and went into the brush on
our
> > right, while what appeared to be four small bob cats who were chasing
> it(?),
> > fanned out and stayed on our left. The animal on our right stopped and
was
> > growling, while the ones on our left continued to approached. We didn't
> move
> > for a few minutes, and eventually, everyone went their separate ways,
and
> we
> > continued on.
> >
> > However, ever since, I've been rather freaked about going back out, and
> > especially about taking out 2 year old. I don't really know what to
think
> > about the whole thing. I've never really thought about carrying anything
> for
> > "defense", not that that would really help, but I'm really kind of
> spooked.
> > Is it a good idea to have some kind of mace type product or something?
> > Anyone have any suggestions? Any recommended books I should read? I've
> never
> > carried more than a leatherman, so the idea is pretty new to me. May be
> I'm
> > just overreacting?
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>
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