Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

First Mountain Lion Encounter

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

First Mountain Lion Encounter

Old 07-14-06, 12:45 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
furiousferret's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Redlands, CA
Posts: 6,313
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 842 Post(s)
Liked 469 Times in 250 Posts
First Mountain Lion Encounter

I was riding up a secluded mountain road at about 11% grade and I look up and about 30 yards away this mountain lion trots across the road. I stopped and at first thought it was a bobcat, but now comparing his size to the rocks it went by, I think it was a juvenile mountain lion, about the size of a large dog. I felt somewhat safe and rode on up the hill.

Of course if he did attack me I wouldn't have any help; the road is gated and no one knows where it is at.

It didn't seem too bothered by me and from the way he crossed it appeared he was following something. Still, it was pretty damn cool seeing wildlife like that out in the open.
furiousferret is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 12:48 PM
  #2  
At War With Myself
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 142

Bikes: Trek 1200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Cool, we need pics next time.
sfend002 is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 12:50 PM
  #3  
works for truffles
 
pigmode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,037
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That was way cool.
pigmode is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 12:50 PM
  #4  
Bring That Beat Back
 
Old Dirt Hill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: I lost my legs
Posts: 937
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sfend002
Cool, we need pics next time.
Pics?! I'd like some new mittens.











Just joking of course, I'd probably wet my pants at the sight of a lion.
Old Dirt Hill is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 12:51 PM
  #5  
Globo Gym lifetime member
 
Cypress's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 5,204

Bikes: Fast ones

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times in 306 Posts
I raced a deer yesterday. Sprinted about 500 yards before it decided to jump the fence next to the road.

It's hard to NOT see animals here in MT.
__________________
Cypress is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:13 PM
  #6  
Its Freakin HammerTime!!!
 
C_Heath's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Off the back lol
Posts: 2,375

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix and Giant AnthemX

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
Off the topic, I was hunting (yes, lol hunting ) once in the mountains of NC. It was 6 am, snowing and like 12 degrees. The treestand box I was suposed to get in was frozen stiff so I set up shop at the base of the tree until light. Its was 40 minutes till light so I caught a quick nap.

The whole time, I heard something like a motor running really faint. Sounded like it was nearby but I was atop the eastern continental divide. Around 3500 feet. No houses roads etc. I at first light, I sit there 4 2 hours, no Deer. Another hour no deer, a few squirrels.

At 11 I was frozen. I was like, screw it Im gonna ground hunt. I stood up and turned around and there lies about a 130 pounds Mountain lion bedded down about 75 feet from me :0 . He was yellow in color and must have came in to bed down after I set up shop. He stood, I drew my 30.06 Rifle just in case. I was ready to blast his ass for sure. He was there for at least 3 hours. I never made a sound and was on the other side of a 4 foot diameter tree so I was invisable and I gues they dont have a good smell sense.

He looked away, looked at me and bolted up into the thicket. I hopped on my ATV and headed by down the mountain to clean out my underwear. Never EVER seen a ML in person. Scared me to death.

PS, the motor running was him. If you have a house cat, sometimes when you rub them, you hear there motor running, its the voice box quivering. Where this ML had a big, deep Voice box and man, it ran for hours, I jutst didnt hav a clue what it was.

__________________
Originally Posted by rousseau
I don't like any other exercise or sports, really.
....

https://www.xxcycle.com/logo_w150h100/bmc.jpg
C_Heath is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:22 PM
  #7  
Whateverthehell
 
Chucklehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: U.S.S.A.
Posts: 7,432

Bikes: '06 Blue Competition RC5AL w/ritchey pro fork, spinergy stealth PBO, etc.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
saw a dead crow yesterday.
__________________
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo daVinci
Chucklehead is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:27 PM
  #8  
Dagger Boy
 
Extort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,247

Bikes: 1999 GT 5.0i mountain, 2004 Basso Reef road

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
to bad it was not a murder of dead crows! those birds annoy the crap out of me, freaking scavengers! (Vultures are cool scavengers, crows are just disgusting)
__________________
Women think they're so clever because they can fake an orgasm for the sake of a relationship, but men can fake a whole relationship for the sake of an orgasm.
Extort is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:30 PM
  #9  
Whateverthehell
 
Chucklehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: U.S.S.A.
Posts: 7,432

Bikes: '06 Blue Competition RC5AL w/ritchey pro fork, spinergy stealth PBO, etc.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i dunno, man... i kinda like crows. they've got personality. not as much as a magpie, but they definitely have something going on in their heads unlike most other birds. i can't be critical of their hunting/eating habits, though. that's their own deal
__________________
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo daVinci
Chucklehead is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:38 PM
  #10  
Burning Matches.
 
ElJamoquio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 9,714
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4074 Post(s)
Liked 997 Times in 672 Posts
Originally Posted by C_heath
I was ready to blast his ass for sure. He was there for at least 3 hours. I never made a sound and was on the other side of a 4 foot diameter tree so I was invisable and I gues they dont have a good smell sense.
I guarantee he knew you were there. You probably don't smell like food to him.
ElJamoquio is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:41 PM
  #11  
Whateverthehell
 
Chucklehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: U.S.S.A.
Posts: 7,432

Bikes: '06 Blue Competition RC5AL w/ritchey pro fork, spinergy stealth PBO, etc.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ElJamoquio
I guarantee he knew you were there. You probably don't smell like food to him.
yeah, its final thought before falling asleep was probably something like, "good lord, something smells like crap!"
__________________
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo daVinci

Last edited by Chucklehead; 07-14-06 at 01:48 PM.
Chucklehead is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:46 PM
  #12  
works for truffles
 
pigmode's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,037
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
How did it feel being lowered down the food chain, if even for a second?
pigmode is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:59 PM
  #13  
Cubicle warfare
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 202
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Dude I saw a squashed deer with a squashed vulture on top of it. On top of all that there was a squashed skunk. Like some sort of illin turkducken thing. F-ing nar.
Contra Fixie is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 01:59 PM
  #14  
You Know!? For Kids!
 
jsharr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Just NW of Richardson Bike Mart
Posts: 6,165

Bikes: '05 Trek 1200 / '90 Trek 8000 / '? Falcon Europa

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 15 Times in 15 Posts
Originally Posted by Cypress
I raced a deer yesterday. Sprinted about 500 yards before it decided to jump the fence next to the road.

It's hard to NOT see animals here in MT.
If you want to impress me, bunny hop the fence and chase the deer down.
__________________
Are you a registered member? Why not? Click here to register. It's free and only takes 27 seconds! Help out the forums, abide by our community guidelines.
Originally Posted by colorider
Phobias are for irrational fears. Fear of junk ripping badgers is perfectly rational. Those things are nasty.
jsharr is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 02:16 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 284
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I too passed a mountain lion cub last year, but sadly it was dead after being hit on the road. Beautiful animals,even when dead! Last week, had my first back bear encounter while biking. No more than twenty feet away, but it had to go around the corner of a guard rail so I had a "buffer". Biggum, no fear of me and was kind enough to show me it's pearly whites! Stomp on the pedals! Sorry, no pics. Had the phone cam but was not ready to shoot seeing the 'tude given me by Yogi.
jqnj is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 02:18 PM
  #16  
Its Freakin HammerTime!!!
 
C_Heath's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Off the back lol
Posts: 2,375

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix and Giant AnthemX

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 6 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by ElJamoquio
I guarantee he knew you were there. You probably don't smell like food to him.

glad I didnt, It was dark, i would have been ML breakfast.
__________________
Originally Posted by rousseau
I don't like any other exercise or sports, really.
....

https://www.xxcycle.com/logo_w150h100/bmc.jpg
C_Heath is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 02:23 PM
  #17  
Globo Gym lifetime member
 
Cypress's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Salem, Oregon
Posts: 5,204

Bikes: Fast ones

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 410 Post(s)
Liked 614 Times in 306 Posts
Originally Posted by jsharr
If you want to impress me, bunny hop the fence and chase the deer down.
And smite him with a 5mm allen?

The thought crossed my mind more than once.
__________________
Cypress is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 02:47 PM
  #18  
late braker
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: venice
Posts: 335

Bikes: eddy merckx majestic ti

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by furiousferret
I was riding up a secluded mountain road at about 11% grade .
Saw one on mulholland above the rock store in malibu three weeks ago. It crossed the road, then stood at the edge of the woods and stared at me. Must have weighed over 200lbs. It was as tall as a large dog (akita) and much heavier. He didn't seem hungry fortunately. Very cool moment.
dangerman is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 08:08 PM
  #19  
swamp biker
 
uga8589's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Rural South Georgia
Posts: 499
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I see deer regularly. We live quite near the Okefenokee Swamp and I rode out there last week and you can be as close to an alligator as you want to be. Snakes are a regular as well, but only one rattler. The coolest thing I have ever seen was a HUGE beaver cross about 30 yards ahead of me. I would guess that he was 70 to 100 pounds. I know that we have some panthers and bears, but thank God that I have never seen any. Can you put an AED on your bike?
__________________
"The most difficult journey is back to the place where you failed" -Max Lucado


2006 Bianchi L'una
uga8589 is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 08:15 PM
  #20  
swamp biker
 
uga8589's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Rural South Georgia
Posts: 499
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I see deer regularly. We live quite near the Okefenokee Swamp and I rode out there last week and you can be as close to an alligator as you want to be. Snakes are a regular as well, but only one rattler. The coolest thing I have ever seen was a HUGE beaver cross about 30 yards ahead of me. I would guess that he was 70 to 100 pounds. I know that we have some panthers and bears, but thank God that I have never seen any. Can you put an AED on your bike?
__________________
"The most difficult journey is back to the place where you failed" -Max Lucado


2006 Bianchi L'una
uga8589 is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 08:27 PM
  #21  
Crankenstein
 
bmclaughlin807's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Spokane
Posts: 4,038

Bikes: Novara Randonee (TankerBelle)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by dog hair
i dunno, man... i kinda like crows. they've got personality. not as much as a magpie, but they definitely have something going on in their heads unlike most other birds. i can't be critical of their hunting/eating habits, though. that's their own deal
Crows are EXTREMELY intelligent. One of the few animals that can actually fashion tools.

There was a study done one time.... food in a long tube, in a basket with a handle on it. Wire with a hook on it left next to the tube, the birds pick up the wire and use it to lift the basket and food out.

Left a straight piece of wire next to the tube on another test, and the bird actually bent the wire into a hook and used it.

They're good mimics, too! My grandma was wandering around the front yard one time, trying to figure out where the baby was that was crying... it was a crow up in one of the trees!

I've heard them meow at cats, too!
__________________
"There is no greater wonder than the way the face and character of a woman fit so perfectly in a man's mind, and stay there, and he could never tell you why. It just seems it was the thing he most wanted." Robert Louis Stevenson
bmclaughlin807 is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 08:40 PM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
mister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Posts: 787

Bikes: Checkpoint SL 7.5, FX 4

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 8 Posts
I saw a squashed squirrel halfway inside a Dorritos bag a couple days ago.
mister is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 09:12 PM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
mike9903's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 1,465

Bikes: 09 Orbea Orca

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
One time I was riding and a butterfly was pacing me, that is almost the same as a mountain lion.
mike9903 is offline  
Old 07-14-06, 10:04 PM
  #24  
Whateverthehell
 
Chucklehead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: U.S.S.A.
Posts: 7,432

Bikes: '06 Blue Competition RC5AL w/ritchey pro fork, spinergy stealth PBO, etc.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by mister
I saw a squashed squirrel halfway inside a Dorritos bag a couple days ago.
now that's just terrible..
__________________
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo daVinci
Chucklehead is offline  
Old 07-15-06, 03:24 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
classic1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,022
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by furiousferret
about 30 yards away this mountain lion trots across the road.
I probably would have shat my pants. Literally. And screamed like a little girl. And cried.

We might have plenty of killer animals out here in Oz, but at least most of them either live in the tropics or they are small enough to squash or outrun
classic1 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.