@ml58n2

Since age 21, I have hiked hundreds of miles each year. Only saw two mountains lions in the Olympic Mountains at age 22. Since then, I have seen their kill: bloody deer bones, entrails and carcasses.

While snowshoeing, I rarely see cougar tracks. Mountain lions are elusive. For safety, I never hike alone.

I heard on the news a while back that they had a mountain lion attack in California. but I have heard that It;s rare that they attack humans, they say to put hands up and act big to scare them off and make alot of noiseI almost stepped on a rattle snake when I was a teenager growing up in California, hiking up in the hills.@LiterateHiker

@ml58n2

Fight an attacking mountains lion like crazy. If you put up a big fight, they usually give up.

You are a brave adventurer!

@BestWithoutGods

Thanks.

I had fun after it warmed up and the ice and snow softened. Could relax after we got through the scary section again.

Lengthened my poles, swung them forward, and walked between them on the descent. Felt strong and confident. This speeded me up, too.

@RoyMillar

Thank you. Compared to Karen, 72, I feel like a weenie.

@BudFrank

Hugs. Thanks.

@Jolanta

It's Karen's dog, Bonnie, an Australian cattle dog who is well-trained.

Bonnie is a wonderful hiker and climber. She alerts us when people or animals are around.

Karen and I got separated while steeply descending last summer. Whistles are built into the chest straps on our packs. We agreed on a signal: three long blasts. Stop and listen. Repeat.

Bonnie heard my whistling first and led Karen straight to me.

@LiterateHiker How great was that. Can you imagine getting lost from your hiking companion? Rather scary I would think.

@Jolanta

We were descending to the car and went down different gullies. Couldn't see each other.

Oh you flatterer, but you are right.

@DenoPenno

Thank you.

Karen, 72, is so brave and bold, I feel like like a weenie when I refuse.

@ToolGuy

Wow! I tip my hat in your direction. You are braver than me.

"Monkey" was my childhood nickname because I loved climbing trees.

Shoved a book and board into the back waistband of my shorts and nimbly climbed a tree. Settled the board in a tree crotch. Read to my heart's content.

@Moravian

Spring hiking in the mountains means blue skies, warmer temperatures, and melting snow and ice.

You never know what you will get.

I had fun after it warmed up and the ice and snow softened. Lengthened my poles, swung them forward, and walked between them on the descent. This speeded me up, too.

@LiterateHiker You didn't answer my question.
My son did a solo hike about a month ago. It was still proper winter conditions requiring crampons, ice axe etc. He put some amazing photos on facebook and was lambasted for being irresponsible and that was before the lockdown was fully in force.
The message from the mountain rescue services is do not go into the hills.

@Moravian

In Washington State, mountain rescue services have not warmed people to stay out of the mountains.

We were not irresponsible.

We used microspikes and brought hiking poles, extra food, water, clothing, first aid kits, survival blankets and more.

Since age 21, I have hiked hundreds of miles each year. Never broke a bone or needed rescue.

@LiterateHiker [reneeroaming.com]

I think it is interesting to note the difference in attitude between the UK and the USA. We tend to do what we are told to mostly whilst in the USA (the land of the free)the attitude is different. Churches still open, drivers gridlocking Lansing town centre in Michigan to protest at the lockdown.
Hikers driving to the mountains to hike against advice from the authorities.
I live in a small village where half of the houses are holiday homes or holiday lets. Usually at Easter the place is buzzing but this year very quiet. One group of people ignored the instructions not to travel and came up from England for a break. Some of them went int the local butchers to buy supplies and the owner chased them. Well done that man.

@Moravian

Right-wing, gun-toting idiots who protested stay-at-home orders, screamed "Lock Her Up!' and waved Confederate flags and Trump signs have NOTHING to do with me.

As a Democrat, Trump, Republicans and racists horrify me. Do not generalize about Americans.

In Washington State, citizens have been asked not to gather in groups. I hiked with another woman, not a group. She and I stayed at least six feet apart and did not share food. We drove separately.

@LiterateHiker As I said, the diffrence in attitude is marked both by the authorities and indivuduals.
All our national parks, scenic areas are closed. Yours appear to be mostly open.
Only essential journeys are allowed here. Police are stopping drivers and asking if ther journey is neccessary.
Hundreds of people have been fined for breaching the instructions.
The lock down has been extended for a further three weeks'
Trump is going to lift some of the restrictions.

Although all the car parks are closed I could quite easily drive to the hills find somewhere to park and go for a hike but when I think of the milljons stuck in apartments with hardly any access to any green space I think maybe that would be a bit selfish. I am fortunate to have hundreds of acres of woodland and miles of tracks I can access from my front door so that will do me until the lockdown is lifted.

Oh don’t piss on her parade.

@Jolanta

Thank you, dear. Well said. My thoughts, exactly.

@ToolGuy

You are astute and very funny! Good point.

Barefoot, I broke a toe tripping on a chair leg. Striding forcefully into the bedroom with clean sheets in my arms. Hooked the chair leg between my toes, I tripped and fell forward. With good balance, didn't fall.

Instead I hopped to the bed and threw myself on my back. Bad word.

Hopped to the window, gripped the windowsill and groaned loudly. Another fine job.

@Jolanta Aw diddums. I'm envious because I can't get out in the hills in this glorious spring weather.

@Moravian you are right. This is about individuals wanting what they want.

From the state of WA website

[governor.wa.gov]

*This Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is similar to orders that other governors, in places such as California and New York, issued last week.

This proclamation will:

Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.Ban all gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes.Close all businesses except essential businesses.*

[wdfw.wa.gov]

Outdoor recreation during "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order: Do outdoor activities only with people in your immediate household - not extended families. Enjoy the outdoors close to home instead of traveling. General rule of thumb: If you have to drive, it's too far.If you encounter others, maintain a minimum of 6 feet of physical distance.Gatherings of any size are not allowed outdoors, just as they are not allowed indoors. 

All state parks and wildlife areas in WA are closed, but much of the open space is technically under a mix of federal and state jurisdiction and can't be closed without the feds. That being said, just because you can doesnt mean you should. A different cultural attitude for sure.

@Moravian its on an honor system. At this point most governors (each state has its own rules) are focusing on business that don't "follow the rules" but some businesses are allowed to be open and people do need to go places, eg either work at those business or need to go to visit those businesses. There is no order that people carry papers as to why or where theyre going, so theres really no way to police the thjngs people do. Some states have been more agressive about ticketing cars parked at trail heads n such, but its still mostly an honor system since the police are needed else where. Vandalism and burglary are surging, plus misc stupidity by bored people who take this opporunity to drive really fast on the less crowded roads n such. Plenty of people think the rules shouldnt apply to them for watever reason. Some are more organized, like the protesters that were mentioned above, some are just "rugged individualists" who want/take the right to do as they please.

@Burner Same here. there have been cases of people driving at crazy speeds on empty roads and some people driving to holiday homes. Apparently some were driving to their country home and having their luggage sent by courier in case they were stopped by the police.
On the whole though I think we are better at following rules here in the UK. All churches are closed. there have been no mass protests and people are generally kepping away from the hills and beauty spots.
There are always some as you say who think the rules are only for other people and of course accidents only happen to other people.
I note that Literatehiker hasn't respondent to your earlier post. I wonder why ?

@Moravian just some schadenfreud [komonews.com]

@Burner Oh dear !!