Actually, this warning has been posted in the canyon behind our neighborhood on the hike and bike trail for nine months or so... trail walkers have allegedly sighted a mountain lion around the Cal State San Marcos campus twice in the recent months; the campus is about four miles east of our area. I've occasionally looked for footprints along the trail which might be that of a big cat -- or even "Big Foot," but no such luck. (Hey, have you ever fantasized about making a paw print and "planting" it along the trail... Ok, I admit, I have, but just a couple of times.)
Each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, I ride the trails on my Trek mountain bike and when I enter the isolated canyon, I pass the sign dutifully reminding me of the potential hazard. I have become extremely familiar with this canyon: I've watched it change over the course of 10 years. New growth of vegetation, the trail bed has changed location due to a sewer line construction, terrible erosion on the new trail makes it look like how the grand canyon must have been formed, the fluctuation of the bunny population -- depends on how many coyotes are roaming about, and the singing of the morning birds has increased with the dense cover. The trail winds east, down a steep bank to a point where it dead ends, then I reverse course and head to another area which eventually leads to the top of Rancho Dorado. All-in-all, a good work out.
But I digress... This morning, the 2nd of January -- see, sort of New Year's Day -- I found myself trundling along the path, trying to navigate the deep ruts of the trail and then swooping down the muddy slope, around the bend to the spot where I turn around and usually stop to take a swig of water. I rested for a moment, listening to a talk show about new year's resolutions playing in my headset -- the caller had an interesting twist to resolutions -- and looked up, soaking in the bright, warm sun. Moments later, I shoved off and started up the steep slope. It has been warmer than normal lately, the sun directly off my left shoulder laying down a distinct shadow of my form combined with the bike on the ground to my right.
I was concentrating on pedaling up the slope and listening to the discussion when I became aware of another shadow competing with mine! At first I was confused... no one was at the dead end, except for me. The radio noise in my headset prevented me from processing any of the surrounding sounds which might tell me what was happening. I saw the shadow of a leg extended in pursuit; the head emerged, dark and eerie on the ground. I twisted my head to the right and saw the tanish, brown hair: I let out a yell which I heard over the chatter of the talking heads and I jerked the bike to the left in a defensive instinct.
It was at that moment I processed the scene as the Labrador sped past me up the trail. I stopped to catch my breath, looked behind me for signs of another human being... and started calling the dog back to me to assure myself that it was a friendly! A moment later, I saw the top of a head jogging up the trail, then coming into full view.
She said, "Happy New Year" as she came closer. (Yeah, Happy New Year to you too... you just scared the crap out of me.) So I said, "Hi... can I ask you where you came from?"
"Oh, I ran down that big hill up there to get on the trail." (No wonder I didn't see her.)
Then I told her what I just experienced! She was still laughing as she climbed the slope, calling her dog to her.
As I pedaled away, I noticed I was going faster than normal to get out of the canyon.
Happy New Year to all!
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