RR: - Mountain lion in sycamore

[Abui]

(Subtitle - silent singlespeeder sneaks up on lion)

This morning at 9:45 AM I was riding the connector fireroad from Sycamore Canyon to Wood Canyon when I came around a bend and got within 10 feet of the tail end of a large mountain lion. He was walking up the road slowly but when he became aware of me he jumped off the road without even looking back.

Dang! I just couldn't get my camera out in time. I thought at least I could try to get pics of his paw prints. I searched the hard pack for prints but couldn't find any. I didn't crouch down looking for prints because you're not supposed to do that when a lion might be around (might look like prey?). No lion today. But I saw a bit of solid color in the brush. A log? NO! A lion crouching down. He was playing peek-a-boo like a 2-year old with his head behind branches. But I could see that his eyes were fixed on me.

I wasn't afraid, just awed to see a lion in the wild. I didn't continue my ride because it would look like I was fleeing - a no-no around lions. The experts say to make a lot of noise to scare lions away. The experts also say lions are not active at 9:45 on a hot summer morning. I decided to apply the first rule of survival - Never piss off anything bigger than yourself. I'd wait for backup, Sycamore has plenty of activity. Meanwhile I moved to my right to put a little more bush between us. Two minutes later a teen-age girl jogger came from the left. I yelled at her "Look out, look to your left". She flew over to the far side of the road and all that excitement was enough for the lion to flee. We agreed the lion was HUGE.

On the Overlook I crossed paths with a woman mountain biker. I told her about the lion and showed the photos. She decided to turn around and go my way. Later I learned that she passed the news to everyone.

An NPS biologist who had been tracking the lion for 5 years was able to zero in get his 3rd sighting of the lion!

P.S. Cheap but light camera.

[foofighter]

whoa that's kind of cool and scary all rolled into to one...where exactly was this? Im not familiar w/ that location

[PacMan]

Wow, I'm glad it turned out like it did--I'm glad you weren't kitty food. Good job keeping your wits about you too.

Additionally, people keep getting me confused with you. I suppose it's my fault, you had the handle first. It's funny getting the "Wow, you're really kicking @$$ on GeoLadders" comments.

It doesn't help that we are both Doug's either. We need to get together for a ride sometime. Or would the PacMan<>Pacman meeting cause a tear in the space-time-continuem??

[jeffj]

I wonder if it was P1 (the alpha male of the range)?

He's been on a caniballistic killing spree lately. I've also heard there may be a previously unknown large male in that area lately too.

Be careful out there.

[Abui]

I talked to the biologist, yes it's the alpha male.

Pt. Mugu State Park, Sycamore Canyon

Originally Posted by PacMan

Wow, I'm glad it turned out like it did--I'm glad you weren't kitty food. Good job keeping your wits about you too.

Additionally, people keep getting me confused with you. I suppose it's my fault, you had the handle first. It's funny getting the "Wow, you're really kicking @$$ on GeoLadders" comments.

It doesn't help that we are both Doug's either. We need to get together for a ride sometime. Or would the PacMan<>Pacman meeting cause a tear in the space-time-continuem??

I was considering the Harding-Holy Jim ride but it's cancelled. I don't like heat either.

[Burner]

wow, Doug.... pretty cool story. You're out there so much it was only a matter of time

[guero]

very cool story doug. you were very fortunate to see some of natures best out there and even more fortunate that you were able to safely snap a couple pix for us to see!

[tkblazer]

any pics of the female jogger and biker?

[Winger]

I keep expecting an alien to pop out of the picture as I get my face close to the screen.

Where exactly is the lion in the pix? I can't see it.

EDIT: Nevermind. I thought that was a rock. Now I see the tail.

[GOGrannyGO]

Land Shark!

Nice spot. If we all keep our heads up maybe we can avoid detrimental encounters --for us and them.

GGG