PCT Pacific Crest Trail 2024 Thru Hike | EP 33 | Stalked By A Cougar

[@ChristyHikes]

Papa Bear is becoming Papa Beard! lol I've said this before, this video was one of my favorites! I've seen a few other PCT hikers videos but you have a special way of presentation. Thank you for talking about the burn zones, when I see burn zones it's very sad, as I feel for the trees. It's wonderful that areas in California are giving land back to our Native Americans to help with preservation. My thoughts were with Mama Bear with you being stalked by a mountain lion. Excellent Video!

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Thank you for the kind words 🙏. The burn zones are depressing to walk through and extremely unsafe. For some reason she thought it was going to be something worse I was about to tell her - that was bad enough for me!

[@suzannemarshall7458]

Glad you just had a deer. Cougars are out at dusk and dark and they are the only animal that scare me when I hike You’re awesome in that dreadful heat

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Oh I figured out it was actually a cougar 😱

[@lelandobryant9550]

Seems to be a good many deer in that area, probably why the mountain lion is hanging out there. I know it has to be brutal hiking in them open sections in that heat but looks like you're handling well. Carry on buddy and safe travels.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Very good point 👍. I saw at least 30 deer witin a 24 hour period of that mou tain lion incident. So far I seem to be adapting good enough to the heat.

[@skibum6220]

Most people would be shocked to realize how many times they have been watched and sometimes followed by mountain lions on a hike like this without ever knowing it. Lots of kitties out there!

[@lelandobryant9550]

Yep, very true.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Yeah I’m sure that is a lot more common than I realized. I was stalked one other time by a bobcat when walking with my dog.

[@stevep7785]

What a grind! Great work!!!

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Thank you 🙏

[@bluegrassbodhisattva9839]

Glad your mountain lion encounter ended safely! Be careful out there with the heat and the animal dangers.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Thank you 🙏 Hopefully no more of those encounters.

[@jakeva9802]

Deer wanted your trekking poles

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Possibly. I pulled my pack, shoes, and clothes all inside thinking they’d eat them for the salt.

[@RhodySeth]

Should have stopped in Belden and gotten your trance/dance on! That mountain lion encounter was freaky! Did you take that picture? Glad it left you alone.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Too freaky and too close of a call! Was glad to make it alive though the night!

[@biker_trash922]

You looked a bit shocked during your accounting of the mountain lion being confirmed. 😮 whew! Good luck with the rest! 🙏🙏

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Yeah a little! I mean I knew it was a mou tain lion - certainly no deer but think maybe it was best I didn’t know for sure 😂

[@lauriejorgensen3692]

I believe fires cleared out the underbrush to preserve the environment for deer populations for Native food source. Should have never stopped the practice.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

I would most certainly agree 👍 It’s very clear to see where the problem areas are where the forest floor has an abundance of the forest floor covered in following tree limbs.

[@jwerickson67]

😎

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

That's pretty terrifying to be stalked by a mountain lion! I'm sure I'd have to change my exficcios if it were me. Glad it turned out good for you but that would be a hard thing to shake off mentally. With all that sun exposure you're gonna be the most tan guy in all of New England when you get home LOL

[@b_rose_goes]

That is why you should always have at least 2-3 pair of underwear! 🤣

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

@@b_rose_goes 🤣🤣🤣

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Most terrifying experience I’ve ever had! Mentally it’s still messing g with me - mornings and evenings I’m a bit paranoid!

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Wait you guys take underwear 🤣. Where is the UL mindset in that 🤣. Way too heavy! 🤣

[@WALKITOFFDavidSmith]

@@BearTrekAdventures hahahaha you’re so right!

[@pmm1044]

Wonder if they could change the PCT to not go through burn areas 🤔

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Not sure. Each year it will get worse and worse - I suspect until more preventative measures are put in place as opposed to being reactive.

[@don-qh7fx]

Nothing to do with this really, but California has a bear overpopulation issue, about 2/3rds more then we can handle (limit is 30k we’re close to 70k) and they’re taking about 70% of mountain lion kills, leading them to kill more deer leaving us with only 5% of female deers making it to 1 year old. (From our F&W) it’s honestly crazy how we’ve let the problem go for so long.

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Wow thanks for the info! Very interesting. I was wondering how much hunting restrictions are in place causing over population.

[@DesertNebula]

106...... I wish my weather was that 😅 122 should be illegal. Rattlesnakes and mountains turn deer....... WENDIGOS!!! 👀

[@BearTrekAdventures]

122 🥵🥵🥵. Now that’s brutal!

[@MarlinMurray-z3g]

Hernandez Melissa Thompson Ruth Jones Gary

[@vs123]

Fire forestry

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Yes very depressing walking through thise fire areas.

[@CASH-THE-NERD]

@@BearTrekAdventureseven tho it’s depressing it’s really healthy for the Forrest’s to have fires.

[@DanClaude-j2n]

Johnson Amy Clark Paul Gonzalez Frank

[@CASH-THE-NERD]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m carrying a 40. Mag with me on trail

[@BearTrekAdventures]

Haha 🤣. I see your point now 🤣