NewWest has a story about mountain lions. It begins:
In rural New Mexico, trailheads leading into cougar country often are posted with signs that explain what a hiker should do in case of an encounter.
Maybe Robert Giannini had read such advice, because he did the right thing—eventually.
In June, Giannini and Parker Smith, 23, of Georgia were cycling at night in the New Mexico backcountry for a fundraiser when they encountered two lions. Smith tried to pedal faster to get away, and then realized he’d made a mistake when one lion gave chase.
“I knew we couldn’t outrun it,” Smith told the Athens Banner-Herald, “so I jumped off the bike and held it up between me and the mountain lion. Then I just started jumping around, yelling and screaming at the top of my lungs and trying to make myself as big and scary as possible.
“It was growling. I was screaming. It was intense. It probably only lasted about 20 seconds. But it felt like forever.”
Note: Author seems to have confused the two riders, but whatever, it’s an interesting article.
Sound like the guy had it right the first time. He didn’t have to outrun the lion, just the other cyclist!
I’ve probably old this story before, but Kenny encountered a mountain lion on the trail when he was a kid, about 12 or so. (I think he was out hunting, but I’m not sure.) He stopped in his tracks while the lion crossed the path a few feet in front of him. It paused momentarily to cast a glance in his direction, and then proceeded along its merry way. End of story. I’m not sure what his underwear looked like after that encounter, but obviously not every mountain lion is out to eat people.