I saw a Cougar in the headlights last night!

[JackOfAllTrades]

I was driving down the road a short distance from the Church Mountain trailhead.  http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/church-mountain   For the evening hike I tried to make the summit before it got dark but was turned around by the amount of snow above 4000' where the meadows start. (I don't have snow gear for these icy/consolidated snow conditions) Hiker's, shorts, T-shirt and day pack, it was getting chilly too. I hiked back down on a trail that was in good shape by flashlight to the truck. Way cool to see the cat in the headlights as I rounded a bend in the road. Mature cat. Long tail about at least a 4" hook, but not a big cat. 90 pounds would be a stretch for him/her.

-Steve

[CAMPMEAT]

Another reason to bring back hound hunting and baiting. We have too many of 'em. Lucky we didn't read about the attack in the paper, huh !

[JackOfAllTrades]

Funny you say that, as I did hear some rocks fall off the end of the last switchback in the trail which would have put him (if it was), right above where I saw him/her in the road. Could have been a blacktail though. I did see a few zigzag trails toward the creek that runs up the ends of the swithbacks. Still pretty cool to see'm in the headlights. This is a no permit open tag area in the winter for cats. 'I'll be back'...

-Steve

[CAMPMEAT]

I would be too.

[littletoes]

Here kitty, kitty......   

[bearpaw]

It's always fun to see a cougar....