| Previous :: Next Topic |
| Author |
Message |
rubywrangler
Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 511 | TRs | Pics
|
Tyler and Baldy have been on my list as an early season destination for awhile, but never at the top. After a very indecisive Saturday morning I decided to cross them off. But I missed the 12:20 ferry by a hair and had to wait an hour for the next one. Then had to stop in Poulsbo for gas, lunch and supplies. Ruby dog and I finally started hiking at almost 5pm from the Upper Dungeness trailhead. I guess I should have been doing trip research instead of reading a novel on the ferry, because later I figured out that starting here added about 4.5 miles and 1600' of elevation gain to the trip.
Anyway, we took the Upper Dungeness trail to Maynard Burn trail, which is as steep as advertised. We hit solid snow around 5400-5500'. At 5600', where the trail begins to contour along the slope, we left the trail and went straight up to the ridge, much easier travel. I had left snowshoes in the car. We arrived at the very windy Baldy summit around 8:45pm and were surprised to find a handful of other people there including Matt, Cartman and Dicey. Matt pointed out the less-windy place to camp (thanks again!) and Ruby introduced herself and searched for crumbs from everyone's dinners while I set things up.
 first view from the ridge  gray wolf + baldy  tyler  pano from ridge  going up to baldy for sunrise  spot the nwhikers  spot the nwhiker  olympus  baldy sunrise pano  steps  up the ridge  stairway to summit  gray wolf summit pano  views  views  views  staying  looking back to baldy  ahead to tyler  soak feet here 
 ahhhhh
|
| Back to top |
  
|
|
RichP
Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics
Location: here |
|
RichP
Member
|
 Fri May 18, 2018 6:37 am |
|
|
I always think of this cougar encounter when I see a report from that area. 
| Quote: | | The Story:Half way up the trail to Mt. Tyler one day, I had a close encounter with a cougar. I was walking up a steep portion of the trail which bent around a large fir tree. I stopped to catch my breath, enjoy the views and mark the trail for the return. When I stepped around the tree, my hiking pole hit within 12 inches of a cougar’s paw. He had sneaked up behind the tree while I had stood there. The cougar exploded from behind the tree and ran down the trail about 50 feet and stopped. There was dust flying everywhere. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. When the cougar crouched down and came back toward me a few steps, I made myself as big and aggressive as possible. I waved my arms, my hat and hiking poles. I never took my eyes off of him nor made myself smaller by bending down to grab a rock or stick. The cat took a couple more steps toward me, then stopped. We stared each other down for a few minutes. Then, like a ghost, he disappeared into the trees. My adrenaline was so high that I almost flew down the trail, albeit backwards for the first half mile.
The next day I went back to the area, with a hiking buddy, to take pictures and reconstruct what had happened. We found his tracks coming over and down the ridge toward the tree and then digging in the last 15 feet, as he sneaked up behind the tree. It appeared to be a coincidence that he was coming down as I was coming up. The hiking poles scared him. Most likely he came back at me to test whether I was prey. I say him because he looked like a big tom, weighing about 150 lbs or so. I remember being struck by the fact that his head was bigger than mine. He was probably 3 or 4 years old and was still in his testy years. His movements were the most graceful and agile that I have ever seen in an animal. I have since learned that only 10% of cougar encounters happen in the wilderness. Most occur in rural areas where people and younger cats are more prevalent. In the wilderness the older toms are dominate and don’t want to be seen. |
http://exploreolympics.com/reports/?p=1823
|
| Back to top |
|
|
reststep
Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2001
Posts: 4757 | TRs | Pics
|
|
reststep
Member
|
Fri May 18, 2018 9:42 am |
|
|
Thanks for the report and great pictures of one of my favorite areas. It looks like it is time to head up that way.
Thanks for the cougar story Rich. I had not heard about that encounter previously. Going by the date of the comments it looks like it took place in October of 2011. Very interesting.
Can't wait for Matt's report.
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
"The mountains are calling and I must go." - John Muir
|
| Back to top |
|
|
geyer
Member
Joined: 23 May 2017
Posts: 463 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle |
|
geyer
Member
|
Fri May 18, 2018 10:03 am |
|
|
I tried to get people to go back here with me all winter and suddenly Matt/Eric asked me if I wanted to come with their group and you were out there all on the same weekend... and of course I have other plans. D'OH!
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cartman
Member
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 2800 | TRs | Pics
Location: Fremont |
|
cartman
Member
|
Fri May 18, 2018 10:54 am |
|
|
Good to meet you and the Ruby-dog on Baldy, she's very friendly. That's amazing you have her trained to stay put when she could run off wherever if she were of a mind to.
|
| Back to top |
|
|
rubywrangler
Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2015
Posts: 511 | TRs | Pics
|
| RichP wrote: | | this cougar encounter |
is right!
| geyer wrote: | | of course I have other plans. |
Well, upside, now you know what it's like to hang in a crevasse by your skis. (ok with your skis... but that doesn't sound quite as exciting)
| cartman wrote: | | That's amazing you have her trained to stay put |
Ha! I wish. That's just her being an old tired dog. Anyway good to meet you too. I saw on WHC that it was a milestone trip for you - congrats!
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gb
Member
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Posts: 6310 | TRs | Pics
|
|
gb
Member
|
Sat May 19, 2018 7:17 am |
|
|
| RichP wrote: | I always think of this cougar encounter when I see a report from that area.
| Quote: | | The Story:Half way up the trail to Mt. Tyler one day, I had a close encounter with a cougar. I was walking up a steep portion of the trail which bent around a large fir tree. I stopped to catch my breath, enjoy the views and mark the trail for the return. When I stepped around the tree, my hiking pole hit within 12 inches of a cougar’s paw. He had sneaked up behind the tree while I had stood there. The cougar exploded from behind the tree and ran down the trail about 50 feet and stopped. There was dust flying everywhere. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. When the cougar crouched down and came back toward me a few steps, I made myself as big and aggressive as possible. I waved my arms, my hat and hiking poles. I never took my eyes off of him nor made myself smaller by bending down to grab a rock or stick. The cat took a couple more steps toward me, then stopped. We stared each other down for a few minutes. Then, like a ghost, he disappeared into the trees. My adrenaline was so high that I almost flew down the trail, albeit backwards for the first half mile.
The next day I went back to the area, with a hiking buddy, to take pictures and reconstruct what had happened. We found his tracks coming over and down the ridge toward the tree and then digging in the last 15 feet, as he sneaked up behind the tree. It appeared to be a coincidence that he was coming down as I was coming up. The hiking poles scared him. Most likely he came back at me to test whether I was prey. I say him because he looked like a big tom, weighing about 150 lbs or so. I remember being struck by the fact that his head was bigger than mine. He was probably 3 or 4 years old and was still in his testy years. His movements were the most graceful and agile that I have ever seen in an animal. I have since learned that only 10% of cougar encounters happen in the wilderness. Most occur in rural areas where people and younger cats are more prevalent. In the wilderness the older toms are dominate and don’t want to be seen. |
http://exploreolympics.com/reports/?p=1823 |
Rich P on the menu. Well that is quite an encounter! But I'm sure you weren't scared. 
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RichP
Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2006
Posts: 5634 | TRs | Pics
Location: here |
|
RichP
Member
|
Sat May 19, 2018 7:26 am |
|
|
| gb wrote: | | Rich P on the menu. Well that is quite an encounter! But I'm sure you weren't scared. |
Not my encounter but it is someone that puzzlr knows who lives in Sequim. I'm sure he had to change his underpants that day though. 
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our link(s). |
