Wow…aspen season is always spectacular in Los Alamos. While Santa Fe is buzzing with tourists, I am hiking alone. There are a handful of people camping and some ski hill staff preparing for winter operations. I smile in anticipation as the empty chairlift above me creaks and groans uphill after a long summer of silence.
I love to hike alone. Somewhat ill advised up here. I have never encountered anything other than deer and birds on my ski hill hikes. I’ve seen two black bears on separate occasions. From the safety of my car on the road up. Coyotes are more common along the trails bordering White Rock Canyon down the street from my house. Mountain Lion sightings, according to locals, are rare. They are even rarer at the ski area.
I carry bear bells. These warn bear and lion you are in the area. If they hear you…they avoid you and you avoid surprising them. This is especially important when they have babies or food in tow. Of course there are always outliers, the injured, old or especially hungry. According to a retired wildlife biologist I know, bear spray provides a layer of protection but prevention is number one. Although bears are cute, round and often seen lumbering. They are surprisingly fast. Mountain Lions pounce from above. He researched and tracked mountain lion during his career. Seventeen total sightings over 30 years is all he had. They generally prefer to avoid us. Additional recommendations, hike in groups, avoid dawn and dusk, be extra vigilant when hiking with children and off leash dogs.
In a million years, a lion was not what I expected to see on this hike. I broke my rule. Decided to cross through the forest via a mountain bike trail on my way down. Ear buds in…no bells that day. It’s steep…I’m looking down to avoid tripping. Shifting my gaze up I see a lion 30 feet away, flickering through the aspens, weaving it’s way towards the trail. Instantly ear buds off, heart pounding, adrenaline surging. It never looked at me although I’m certain it knew I was there.
Experts tell you not to run, turn your back or bend down. Get big, yell, make noise, throw stuff but instinct made me recoil. I turned and started running hard, heart beating out of my chest, gasping for air. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally broke through the forest onto the open run I had foolishly chosen to leave. Chest heaving, limbs shaking, adrenaline receding I descended quickly towards safety. The mountain lion must have been full that day.
I haven’t hiked up there alone since then. The lion humbled me, spared me. I’ve done some research since then. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. They occasionally take pets around here. There have been two non-fatal bear attacks in the last 20 years. Odds are in our favor and less in theirs as we build houses and roads in their habitat.
I’ll hike alone again in the future. I’ll be leaving the ear buds at home, bring the bells, avoid the forest and if I see another lion…try not to run.
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