When visiting Red Bull Monday we asked if there were any stories from the trail he wanted to share. He said nothing out of the ordinary had occurred lately.
I was reading through The White Blaze today, and saw there had been a mountain lion attack on a hiker on the Appalachian Trail 11 miles South of Waynesboro on Friday. Red Bull's father tries to protect me, and at times has warned our children to not share alarming incidents. This happened with Red Bull's oldest brother who served a mission in Cambodia. He wrote home about close encounters with a cobra, as well as a drunken native with a Samurai sword. His father told him to stop writing home about these alarming encounters.
When I asked Red Bull today if he had heard of the mountain lion attack, he commented; "Yes, that's all people talk about. We did that section and saw nothing." Interesting that he did not share this with us? When I discussed the mountain lion attack with Red Bull's father he assured me Red Bull hikes with a large group, so would not need to worry about mountain lions. Yes, but they often hike alone at their own pace; meeting at the designated shelter. Hiking in the mountains is not without risk... there has been a bear attack near him, now a mountain lion attack... all we need are tigers.. and perhaps a few flying monkeys?! Lions, tigers, and bears...oh my!
Hiker attack by mountain lion reported near Waynesboro, Virginia
Mountain Lion
The attack occurred near Humpback Rock in Augusta County, south of Waynesboro, Friday afternoon, according to Augusta County Emergency Communications.
A 911 operator told WHSV that the Blue Ridge Parkway Police called in the request for help from the picnic area of Humpback Rock. The station said they were still waiting to hear back from the police department about what happened.
The attack occurred along the Appalachian Trail about 30 minutes from Humpback Rock. The man involved in the attack is being treated and is in stable condition.
It is still unclear what exactly attacked him.
According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, "since 1970, 121 sightings have been identified as possible mountain lions but have not been officially confirmed. Most sightings occurred in Shenandoah National Park and in the nearby Bedford, Amherst and Nelson County regions."
from sott.net
No comments:
Post a Comment