Not from here but something to think about:
Apparently the mountain lion was starving and there is a great chance that she had cubs to feed.
The woman in question represented an answer to both problems.
I would have suggested that the hiking party be armed but that wouldnt have worked either. The cat would have been on them before they could have drawn a weapon.
Did I miss something in the article?
Draw and fire does not take more than a second or two.