[pula58]

We went up The Sitka Spruce-> green mtn trail to the "last promontory." Didn't want to camp there with a steepish -snow slope above us (and fairly high avalanche potential), so we went back down and set up our tent on the CCC trail. No sooner had we set the tent up when we heard a sound that can only be described as a scream. We knew we wouldn't sleep after that, we'd be up all night listening to all the little forest sounds, and envisioning a cougar. So, at about 8:30 PM we took down the tent and hiked back down to the car, and drove home. We did a little googling this morning and are now fairly certain that what we heard was a cougar. It's not so much that we thought we were going to be attacked at camp, but, we knew we wouldn't sleep, and would be constantly watching behind our shoulder. Anyhow folks, talk to me about Cougars. My impression is that the areas kind of in-between highcountry and towns, are where most of the cougars live, or, at least, have been sighted. addendum: I forgot to mention this: On the way down from the absolute last promontory we came across a lot of blood. We saw some bloody dear footprints, in the snow, heading down (South) off of the trail, and as we followed down the trail the footprints continued, bloody, interspersed with patches of blood, more than I have ever seen in the backcountry. So, that set us off a little, and some worry crept-in. So, when we heard the "scream" a little later we were already a little spooked.

[Schroder]

Cougars are not going to bother you and are going to go out of their way to avoid you. I remember hearing their screams when I was sleeping out as a kid growing up in south Snohomish County. I've only seen about half a dozen up close in my life and only a couple of those approached with curiosity before running off. Four of those I saw up fairly high around Baker Lake.

[coldrain108]

I heard what sounded like a couple of 120lb house cats having a squabble. This was at 2am in the ONP. Blood curdling squalls and loud crashing in the brush. Made sleeping a little challenging. It was real close in an otherwise totally silent space. We were too far out to make an escape, so we white knuckled it for the rest of the night.

[Malachai Constant]

A cougar scream sounds like a woman being murdered, not that I have ever heard a woman being murdered except in films. Unmistakable and bone chilling. Used to hear it often in the Olympics. There are a number in the Middle Fork area.

[Slugman]

First: see lots of blood and bloody paw prints. Second: hear blood-curdling scream. Third: pack up and go back to car. That sounds exactly right to me!

[Mike Collins]

You likely were close to the cougar after a recent kill. I happened upon a recent porcupine kill and in the nearby underbrush I heard what I would describe as a witch in labor. Cougars want to avoid confrontation as it might involve injury to themselves. But they want to eat their prey. The horrible sound is produced to repel the intruder thereby pushing them away at no cost.

[cdestroyer]

nerve wracking scream from big cat. couger sounds like vacuum cleaner on high with a plastic toy caught in the beater bar.

[altersego]

I heard the screams at Jordan Basin in the Goat Rocks while off to "take care of business". Pretty freaky! I've become more interested in exploring the Mid Fork recently. Only been along the CCC trail from the Upper TH and only to the 3.5 mile viewpoint. Are there established campsites further along the trail?

[moonspots]

[Seventy2002]

[Malachai Constant]

Cougar damn autocorrect.

[zephyr]

[tlake]

A bobcat can make a ruckus.

[zephyr]

[moonspots]