I wouldn’t be going there alone if bears lived in this far south of the mountains. The mountain lion can be avoided-the things have big territories, and are loners so I stay out of the really deep woods, and if I see fresh tracks or smell/see a chewed-on deer, I back out of that trail posthaste, singing and waving my arms and a stick-and I don’t go back that way for a few days unless I’m with another hiker and armed.
Rainy here. I need to sneak out between the storms.