Posted on 09/09/2007 3:36:17 PM PDT by Lokibob
Lotta big cats out here in Cal. Many encounters go unreported — especially the kind involving .357 !!
Also lots of information here:
www cougarinfo.org
Envirobots like to down play the number and blood thirts of predators.
Sorry — off track here. Sounds like the gal slipped off the cliff - RIP.
Oops, I see that you are familiar with this. Sorry!
It's interesting you say that; I was in your neck of the woods a few weeks ago and went on a night hike (because it was so darn hot during the day). Along the way I passed by some unidentifiable scat from a large animal and said to myself "No need to worry, certainly the austere desert environment is unable to support large predators". Turns out I was wrong. My loved ones have counseled/reprimanded me, and I have since re-evaluted the wisdom of hiking:
1) Out in the desert miles from help,
2) Alone,
3) At night.
That said, it was an awesome hike, and I got a good photo looking down on the lights of Phoenix. This was at Quartz Peak, in the Sierra Estrella range.
“Along the way I passed by some unidentifiable scat from a large animal and said to myself “No need to worry, certainly the austere desert environment is unable to support large predators”
How big was it, and what shape?
Depending on where you were and the size, it could have been
Cow poop (lots of rangeland)
Mule deer poop (lots of these suckers around)
Large dog poop if on a well traveled trail
Leopards don’t make it this far north... no worries.
Did you see other sign around? Prints, etc? THe photo of Phoenix sounds good - shoulda taken a photo of the poop too though. :)
The estrella mts are beautiful but hiking in the desert at night is not advised. Neither is hiking alone. I only do it on terrain I know inside out, where I know I have cell reception... and I’ve lived here since 91.
Glad you had a great time though! I love AZ. Beats the crap out of metro NY where I used to live.
"...How big was it, and what shape?.."
Hard to tell, it was night time. However, since it was found way up on the side of the mountain, I rule out cow patty (lots of that down in the valley floor, though); in retrospect it may have been coyote.
This was about the time I was scrambling up the rocky trail and almost put my hand on a rattlesnake, so I was a bit rattled, pardon the pun.
"...Glad you had a great time though! I love AZ..."
I love it too; I make it a point to hike/explore the mtns every time I get out there; it is a lot more hilly than Houston!
Rattlers are another reason not to hike at night.
Next time you visit, try the McDowell Mtn Park ‘scenic trail.’
Also near the top of the Four Peaks is the site of North America's only Amethyst mine. If you go up there and no one is around, you can scavenge for amethyst among the tailings.
Except for the despotic, brutally oppressive heat, you are truly blessed to live in God's Country!
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