This photograph of a mountain lion in Buckskin Gulch was taken and freely distributed by Dave Boehmer of Gilbert, AZ, along with the following statement:
On 5-24-2013, my buddy and I bumped into a mountain lion in Buckskin Gulch on our Paria backpack trip. We backpacked the Paria from Whitehouse to Lee’s Ferry over 5 days. We started at Whitehouse the day before and camped a couple hundred yards up Buckskin from the confluence. We woke up early that morning and decided to hike up Buckskin a few miles before continuing on our journey down the Paria. We bumped into him approx. 1.5 miles up Buckskin from the confluence. We were hiking along when he stepped out and froze for what seemed like a couple minutes. We also froze and snapped some pics. Then, in a flash, he took off up the canyon. We were amazed to bump into him down there. There were a couple hikers at the confluence headed to Whitehouse so we told them to let the ranger station know so that other hikers are aware there’s a mountain lion in the canyon (just to be alerted to it). I know there’s mountain lions up in that area but would never guess they’d be down in that narrow canyon. Maybe he got in somehow and was working his way out. Don’t know if anyone else saw him or not. Regardless, it was cool!
I can't think of a worse place to encounter a mountain lion!
And three videos of less than a minute apiece showing a flash flood in the Gulch filmed by some very lucky ("..blessed..and a little bit unwise.") hikers who were able to find a safe place to evade the waters. Safe places there are very few and far between, as many of you know:
Lots missing here. I would crop out all the ft prints and concentrate on the subject. The red channel is basically blow out too. Just not enough sweet light for my taste. Lastly, where the hell is the focus stack!!!!
I think I would have passed out and been eaten by the beast. I encountered one of these kitties in the Black Hills one night a few years ago. I was in my vehicle and he was 20 yards away sauntering down the road. He had no way to access me and it still made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
What an amazing and hair raising experience! I've seen several mountain lions around Moab but honestly, the most scared I've ever been was not seeing one - just the tracks, on top of my own tracks in sand, a mere 20 minutes after I'd passed through the area. I was so very relieved when my truck came into view that night!
The photo: I like it as is. It captures the moment as it occurred.
The three videos: What caught my attention, other than the water, occurred in video three: The one guy twice threw what appear to be seed hulls into the area. Certainly not leaving only footprints.
Thanks, and good to know about the cats in there - ok, maybe got trapped. Having a buddy is useful in some areas.
On the flood.. well, it reminded me of my own flash flood experience.... I am in the gray Touareg KF6VOM in the lead and seen mostly in the second video. We were at Poughkeepsie Gulch in the San Juans when we heard the thunder, and by the time we made the main Mineral Creek trail it was a downpour. As the lead of 6, I made the shelfs way fast and then down the switchback area toward 550. Well, the first switchback turn down you see the mountain pumping mud; and in the second video one level down I saw a small mud stream, paused - and then saw the area explode right in front of me (second video). Needed guidance to back up. We left the vehicles there for the night after hiking out with other friends in the group a few hours later.
Point is - expect the unexpected, especially during monsoon season. The flooding in Buckskin; or the cat; or the flash floods elsewhere can turn a nice trip into a deadly one. Sometimes only dumb luck gets you through.
Posted by Les Barstow on July 18, 2013 at 10:50 AM
Have to go with you, Bret. Nothing like coming back to an area 20 minutes after you've been there to find fresh cougar tracks. That happened to my wife and I one year, but not while hiking - stepped out for a short trip to the store, came back and found fresh tracks in the snow by our house. Just glad it didn't step out to say 'Hi... Yum!'
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on July 18, 2013 at 12:32 PM
WOW! Hope they brought a change in underwear.
Posted by Scott Fricke on July 18, 2013 at 8:29 PM
Wow, that would have been a memorable moment! My closest encounter with a mountain lion was in Bandolier National Monument. My brother and I camped there one winter, right after we set up our tents for the night it started to snow. Around 4:00 in the morning I heard a noise outside the tent but thought it was probably my brother. Just before sunrise I woke up and got out of the tent to find mountain lion tracks circling my tent and then over to my brothers tent and circling it. Glad it wasn't hungry...
Posted by Doug Beezley on July 18, 2013 at 9:37 PM
The lion looks well fed - filet of photographer, perhaps.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, Ga
Posted by Kalin Wilson on July 21, 2013 at 1:13 AM
Both stark reminders to be alert and prepared. I've encountered a couple of lions on different occasions at a distance. Gets the adrenaline pumping!
Discussion
15 repliesOn 5-24-2013, my buddy and I bumped into a mountain lion in Buckskin Gulch on our Paria backpack trip. We backpacked the Paria from Whitehouse to Lee’s Ferry over 5 days. We started at Whitehouse the day before and camped a couple hundred yards up Buckskin from the confluence. We woke up early that morning and decided to hike up Buckskin a few miles before continuing on our journey down the Paria. We bumped into him approx. 1.5 miles up Buckskin from the confluence. We were hiking along when he stepped out and froze for what seemed like a couple minutes. We also froze and snapped some pics. Then, in a flash, he took off up the canyon. We were amazed to bump into him down there. There were a couple hikers at the confluence headed to Whitehouse so we told them to let the ranger station know so that other hikers are aware there’s a mountain lion in the canyon (just to be alerted to it). I know there’s mountain lions up in that area but would never guess they’d be down in that narrow canyon. Maybe he got in somehow and was working his way out. Don’t know if anyone else saw him or not. Regardless, it was cool!
I can't think of a worse place to encounter a mountain lion!
__________________________________________________________________
And three videos of less than a minute apiece showing a flash flood in the Gulch filmed by some very lucky ("..blessed..and a little bit unwise.") hikers who were able to find a safe place to evade the waters. Safe places there are very few and far between, as many of you know:
Flash Flood #1-The Beginning
Flash Flood #2-The Flood
Flash Flood #3-The Aftermath
Thanks for sharing this, John!
The three videos: What caught my attention, other than the water, occurred in video three: The one guy twice threw what appear to be seed hulls into the area. Certainly not leaving only footprints.
On the flood.. well, it reminded me of my own flash flood experience.... I am in the gray Touareg KF6VOM in the lead and seen mostly in the second video. We were at Poughkeepsie Gulch in the San Juans when we heard the thunder, and by the time we made the main Mineral Creek trail it was a downpour. As the lead of 6, I made the shelfs way fast and then down the switchback area toward 550. Well, the first switchback turn down you see the mountain pumping mud; and in the second video one level down I saw a small mud stream, paused - and then saw the area explode right in front of me (second video). Needed guidance to back up. We left the vehicles there for the night after hiking out with other friends in the group a few hours later.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z1eRETwIfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfT97f1t8Bk
Point is - expect the unexpected, especially during monsoon season. The flooding in Buckskin; or the cat; or the flash floods elsewhere can turn a nice trip into a deadly one. Sometimes only dumb luck gets you through.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, Ga