and I don't mean good looking older women, but if you know where they are that would be nice too :P

I saw some cat-tracks (2 inches, probably bob cat) in the Catskills yesterday, and it got me thinking about some much bigger cat-tracks me and a friend saw in the Adirondacks on a snowy trail.

I know this is a hot-topic and I was wondering what the mountain project community thinks. I am skeptical, but also think it'd be totally bad ass if we had lions running around the 'Dacks!

I also believe I have seen one in Oswego, NY, right next to the harbor.

I'm not great at identifying tracks either. The big cat tracks I saw were CLEARLY cat tracks (4 digits, one big fat pad, with claws.)

These look less rounded and more long...coyotes maybe? or some type of weasel. I've seen wild weasels by marcy dam before, not sure what type though. Marten maybe?

those don't look like cat tracks. maybe a porcupine? it kinda hard to tell from the pic.

This may have been what it was:



In that case, just make an Elder Sign and leave immediately.

The tracks in the photo look like the dreaded "snow baskets" on trekking poles. I think they grow wild in the Northeast!

Regardless of these tracks, I've spent three Summers in the Adirondacks, and although I've never had any encounters out there, I talked to a number of locals who swore they were still out in the North Country.

Well...I must have been seeing things with the claws then, because they were definitely cat tracks. I didn't even think of the retractable claws, however I wonder if they also employ those claws for some traction in variable conditions...like a natural crampon?

How old and attractive are these cougars'? Mid 40's or so is OK with me, and a plus if they are a climber.

These are the typical lion tracks I've seen (notice fox tracks following along hoping for scraps).



Saw a big lion yesterday. I was about 15' from him (he was hiding in some thin brush and behind some pine limbs. Had some awesome eye contact for a few dozen seconds. It was the biggest lion I've ever seen, and at first thought it was a mule deer!

Nice kitty. Submitted By: the Ascender on Apr 9, 2012

One of our local lions. Submitted By: the Ascender on Apr 9, 2012

If you are interested in knowing more about tracks / scat (beyond random Wiki searches),

www.amazon.com/Mammal-Tracks-Sign-American-Species/dp/081172>>>

is an excellent book to purchase. A bit heavy and dense, but when the weather sucks for climbing, its a ton of fun to hike around and see what you can find.

^^ I think I would piss myself if I was out in the woods and saw a big cat 15 feet from me. Though I suppose if he had wanted to eat you he would have already clamped down on your neck before you even knew it was there.

More about cheetahs -
columbuszoocheetahs.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/cheetah-claws/
www.predatorconservation.com/cheetah.htm
Only semi-retractable claws.

I dont know that area very well but here in New Hampshire there is atleast one we know of. It most likely only travels thru looking for food but they are around. Their territory is huge about 500 sq miles so maybe it wanders out that way too. They tracks you saw are way too small to be a mountain lion tho.

chick=teens and 20's, puma=30's, cougar=40's , jaguar=50's and up. so that everyone is clear.

There are wolves and likely cougars in the Adirondacks. Wolves have been confirmed, cougars (because they tend to be solitary) are much harder to find unless one gets hit by a car or found dead by hunters/hikers. Finding fresh cougar tracks would be a crap shoot as it doesn't take much snow to cover them and it snows frequently in the ADKs.