[pct-l] Mountain Lion Attack

[Steel-Eye]

Good evening, Bill,

Here is a quote from a very experienced outdoorsman with a view that I
share.  Oh, and by the way, don't roll up in a ball and play dead.

Relax,

Steel-Eye


"It is certain that if such (cougar) attacks occur they are altogether
exceptional, being indeed of such extreme rarity that they may be entirely
disregarded in practice.  I should have no more hesitation in sleeping out
in a wood where there were cougars, or walking through it after nightfall,
than I should have if the cougars were tomcats.

- Theodore Roosevelt,
HUNTING THE GRISLY AND OTHER SKETCHES

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Batchelor" <billbatch at cox.net>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 2:02 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mountain Lion Attack

> Okay folks,
>
> The only animal that gets into my psychology when hiking alone is the
> Mountain Lion.  All this chat about Lions will not help me sleep on the
> PCT  this summer.  When these beasts get in my head walking at dusk,
> sitting by
> my stove, lying in bed...  Every snap or sound is a small jolt - my head
> swivels and I wonder, "am I being watched".

> And to defend
> 1. curl up in a ball, play dead, protect your neck (I think this may only
> give you a chance if a hiking partner is also busy beating the crap out of
> the cat with a hiking pole.  Solo, you may just be putting off the
> inevitable)
>
> Is there any other information out there?  Has pepper spray ever been
> tested?  A loud whistle?  A PHUKING GUN... How about my head mounted on a
> spinning lazy susan! Sorry, carried away there.  I do not own a gun and I
> know they are illegal on the trail.  However, this string of emails has me
> again considering a small weapon - even if all it does is help me sleep.
>
> BillB
>
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