High Sierra Topix

The recent post of bears (beautiful photos!) makes me curious how many have encountered a mountain lion or two in the sierra, and maybe been lucky enough to photograph it? I have never seen one in the wild, only finding tracks several times in the Santa Monica Mountains, including rural property I once lived on. A sighting is near the top of my bucket list!

I'm in the same boat as you, as far as seeing a cougar. I've seen plenty of tracks and even heard one roar loudly one evening just as the sun was going down, but no actual sightings. I think I've seen just about everything else in the Sierra...well...except for maybe a wolverine.

Mountain Lions are very rare to see in the wild. I personally have never seen one. An older guy I know put it like this "I have been doing things out doors and in the backcountry for 60 years and you know how many times I have seen a mountain lion? Once. If you do see one you better enjoy that moment because you may never see one again for the rest of you life."

Sometimes people will tell me they see them all the time but I doubt that allot. They probably see bobcat.

I have seen mountain lions twice in the wild. The first time was while deer hunting in the Greenhorn Mountains above Lake Isabella. It was just after daybreak and a couple of other hunters spooked it up the canyon and past me. They never saw it and I'm sure the only reason I saw it was because he was in such a hurry sneaking away from the other guys.

The second time was on Lake Hughes road between Lake Elizabeth and Castaic. As I was approaching Warm Springs Rehab a huge moutain lion came up and crossed the road into WSR. The local racoon population there was well fed by the WSR resedents and when the population got out of hand Mother Nature sent the lion in to knock the numbers down. It seemed to happen every couple of years.

I see bears 3-4 times per year. Mtn lions maybe once every other year or so. Usually a fleeting glimpse at a distance.

Both my wife and I are quiet hikers, and keep our eyes moving 360 x 360 at both the middle and long distance with binoculars handy.

Scat and tracks are so common they are not noteworthy.

I've never seen one, but sure want to. Haven't been lucky enough yet.

What I always wonder is, how many mountain lions have seen ME?

Yes, I have always wondered how many have seen me! Decades ago I was lucky enough to play with a captive one, but I assume my heart would give a little flutter at a wild encounter, just as it does when I am hiking alone and see mom and her cubs.

Not one but 2 HUGE mountain lions just a few feet away.

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Lucky you, what a sighting!! Hmmm...McGee Creek ought to be showing some great color soon....

My friend and I saw a mountain lion as it made a giant leap across Highway 4 (and in front of our car). It looked like it was in pursuit of something. My first response was: Why is there a tan horse leaping across the road - with a LION'S head?

Seen plenty of bobcats; but the sheer size and power of the mountain lion was simply hard to take in. Awesome. Fearsome. Breathtaking. LARGE.

Saw mountain lion tracks at the upper Barrett Lake last year. For some reason I hadn't realized they ranged so high (tracks were at 11,500 feet).

- Elizabeth