Folks. here's a hot-on-the-heels update that has astonished and delighted me almost as much as our breakthrough mountain hike I shared here the other day.
We did it again yesterday, this time with no support team (therefore no drone!), and we were easily able to go even further up the high grassy valley. It was a really hot blue-sky day, so I planned the route to include plenty of water. We were on the move (or in the water!) for a full two and a half hours.
Here's a large, high-resolution panorama that shows what it was all like:
And here's a 2 minute video, a compilation of half a dozen short clips. This was all way beyond the rocky path by the waterfall that leads up to the broad valley, which we again negotiated with no problem at all.
And finally, some light relief — sort of! I've encountered puma scat many times (for non-English speakers, this is the scientific term for poop), but I've never seen a puma itself, or even a print. But yesterday our trail was covered in crystal clear puma tracks that looked very fresh indeed. It was probably just a few hours ahead of us (or maybe less!), and might even have been watching us all the time.
Look at the size of this giant cat's paw:
Back to topic, I'm just so, so delighted and thankful — because now it's clear Mara and I can do this any time we want to from here on out. I agree with the suggestion that it's smart to pretty much repeat the same hike for a while, so that Mara becomes completely comfortable with it all. Though looking at the video, you can see (a) how comfortable and happy Mara is with the entire thing, and (b) that once again, it's truly hard to believe she's 100% blind. (But she is.)
I'll probably not continue to update this thread with endless videos and photos, or it'll start to get monotonous. However, if we get to go to anywhere remarkable, (or maybe meet the puma ), I'll be sure to share the new experience.
Thank you, Bill, I love this. I love how happy she is, sitting in the water , rolling around, wagging her tail, and how easily she follows the sound of your voice.
The puma trail and scat added a bit of adventure to it. Having said that, I do hope you will never have a direct encounter with a puma.
There was a point where Mara was in the stream and wanting to find a clear path up the bank. She stops still for a moment, and casts about, turning her head slowly from one side to the other. Then without hesitation she moves to her right a few steps and does indeed find the best path out of the water and up the bank. What is it she 'saw'? The wind a little louder where the vegetation parted to allow the clear path? Or was it the grasses she was listening for and where they were not rustling? Could it be some sort of difference in smell that showed her the way?
In any case, it is amazing to behold.
Please do post more when you feel the urge...any time, really
Posted by Bill Ryan
(here)
Folks. here's a hot-on-the-heels update that has astonished and delighted me almost as much as our breakthrough mountain hike I shared here the other day.
We did it again yesterday, this time with no support team (therefore no drone!), and we were easily able to go even further up the high grassy valley. It was a really hot blue-sky day, so I planned the route to include plenty of water. We were on the move (or in the water!) for a full two and a half hours.
Here's a large, high-resolution panorama that shows what it was all like:
And here's a 2 minute video, a compilation of half a dozen short clips. This was all way beyond the rocky path by the waterfall that leads up to the broad valley, which we again negotiated with no problem at all.
And finally, some light relief — sort of! I've encountered puma scat many times (for non-English speakers, this is the scientific term for poop), but I've never seen a puma itself, or even a print. But yesterday our trail was covered in crystal clear puma tracks that looked very fresh indeed. It was probably just a few hours ahead of us (or maybe less!), and might even have been watching us all the time.
Look at the size of this giant cat's paw:
Back to topic, I'm just so, so delighted and thankful — because now it's clear Mara and I can do this any time we want to from here on out. I agree with the suggestion that it's smart to pretty much repeat the same hike for a while, so that Mara becomes completely comfortable with it all. Though looking at the video, you can see (a) how comfortable and happy Mara is with the entire thing, and (b) that once again, it's truly hard to believe she's 100% blind. (But she is.)
I'll probably not continue to update this thread with endless videos and photos, or it'll start to get monotonous. However, if we get to go to anywhere remarkable, (or maybe meet the puma ), I'll be sure to share the new experience.
With all the daily, outrageous, negative news and events bombarding and dragging us down (at least for me), it is so refreshing and cathartic to read such a soul lifting, wonderful, post. Yay, for Mara adapting so well to her disability and still enjoying life to the fullest with her person. It really does warm the heart.
That's quite a cat print bill, better take a can of cat food with you in case that guy decides he wants something to eat,lol. Great pics, nice story, a big thumbs up for Mara, doesn't get any better than this.
Thanks for posting the updates on Mara, Bill. It is truly uplifting to see her back in her element. She has been such an important being in your life (and you, in hers!)
Can she see light and dark? It sure seems like she can.
That BIG puma track should not be "ignored" (I know you're not ignoring it), and may be a strong sign to take a gun - quickly accessible, holstered, not in your pack - with you on your hikes. Certainly, a hunting puma would target Mara and not you. You'd maybe have 2 seconds, max, to fire a shot (warning, or deadly aimed.) I wouldn't want to face a puma with just a hiking pole to defend yourself, and a hiking pole won't save Mara from an attack. Compared to the extremely quick prey that this puma has been eating to get that big, you, and especially Mara, are easy prey, and the puma will immediately sense that.
You have been an amazing friend to Mara, and she is lucky to enjoy your company and love. To me, the big story isn't "Mara's travails", but rather Bill and Mara's friendship, your mutual love. It may be trivial in the big picture of what is going on in the world, but far from unimportant.
If I knew there were things like Pumas running around out there (pointing vaguely at my front door), I don't think I would go outside! I've seen a number of hiking/cycling/walking videos where a dangerous animal appears out of nowhere. It's pretty damn scary.
One recently was of a coyote that appeared in front of a guy on a walking path. It was extremely aggressive (may have had pups nearby). He only saved himself by throwing rocks at it. Several more clips I've seen have involved bears. When I had a dog, I worried about crossing a farmer's field with cows in it (if one was a bull). Fortunately, in the UK, our wildlife isn't that wild!
The only time I've been truly fearful of 'nature' in the UK was on one occasion as a teenager hiking on Dartmoor with my brother-in-law in the dead of night. That was sketchy as hell, because in that neck of the woods there were spooky rumours of Black Dogs on the prowl. If you know your folklore (and Britain's full of it), the semi-mythical Black Dogs inspired the famous Sherlock Holmes tale The Hound of the Baskervilles. Granted, these stories may be no more than a tale told around the fire in pubs, mostly by old timers over their pint, the ones with a gimlet eye, but when you're out on Dartmoor, miles from anywhere, in the pitch dark and howling wind...you can't help but wonder if, perhaps, that howling you hear is not the wind.
Posted by Mark (Star Mariner)
(here)
If I knew there were things like Pumas running around out there (pointing vaguely at my front door), I don't think I would go outside! I've seen a number of hiking/cycling/walking videos where a dangerous animal appears out of nowhere. It's pretty damn scary.
One recently was of a coyote that appeared in front of a guy on a walking path. It was extremely aggressive (may have had pups nearby). He only saved himself by throwing rocks at it. Several more clips I've seen have involved bears. When I had a dog, I worried about crossing a farmer's field with cows in it (if one was a bull). Fortunately, in the UK, our wildlife isn't that wild!
The only time I've been truly fearful of 'nature' in the UK was on one occasion as a teenager hiking on Dartmoor with my brother-in-law in the dead of night. That was sketchy as hell, because in that neck of the woods there were spooky rumours of Black Dogs on the prowl. If you know your folklore (and Britain's full of it), the semi-mythical Black Dogs inspired the famous Sherlock Holmes tale The Hound of the Baskervilles. Granted, these stories may be no more than a tale told around the fire in pubs, mostly by old timers over their pint, the ones with a gimlet eye, but when you're out on Dartmoor, miles from anywhere, in the pitch dark and howling wind...you can't help but wonder if, perhaps, that howling you hear is not the wind.
Bill, get a gun!
I love you and respect your wisdom, but this feeling of natural separation from the natural world is what I am questioning. Every sentient creature has its right to be a part of the entire scheme of things. The folly of humans is that somehow we deserve to avoid any of that.
The last foster dog I took in was a huge Siberan Husky. I mean huge. He had only been neutered a couple days before coming to live with me. I remember the day well. He was frollicking and feeling his dominance. I was working the property and he aggressively approached me. It was not about maliciousness, it was about establishing dominance and he was about to do that with me. He wished to be the Alpha in the household. I knew I didn't stand a chance against this magnificent beast. He was ready to jump me, and no doubt would have ripped me to pieces, if I had played the fearful weak prey role but I was sort of given inspiration outside myself to create a stance, a feeling of strength and surety. We stood , looking at other for probably 5 minutes. I sort of puffed out my stance and gave him direct eye contact. I projected strength and offered no movement. This of course is the antithesis of my real personality. At any rate, he lost interest in the dominance thing for the moment and I avioded an attack that might be quite normal in the dog world.
I don't believe in separation from the animal world. If I would have been mauled, well, it was on me. I chose what I did. Let's not separate ourselves from the natural world and the creatures that have manage to survive our holocaust against them. What right do we have to do that? I don't expect this post to be understood but it's all good. Still love you Mark, even though we have a disagreement on this level.
Hi Bill,
Thank you for this thread, that is really good news about Mara , she’s so enjoying this again and most likely even blind she can smell your scent in the places you take her since you been there many times. She looks so happy rolling in the grass and enjoying the water, I would be putting my feet in that water too.
Please do keep posting pics and videos from time to time, it’s so beautiful there..
Posted by Pam
(here)
Let's not separate ourselves from the natural world and the creatures that have manage to survive our holocaust against them. What right do we have to do that? I don't expect this post to be understood but it's all good. Still love you Mark, even though we have a disagreement on this level.
Love you too Pam .
I wouldn't ever want to hurt an animal -- or a human for that matter -- but sometimes that animal (or human) wants to and will hurt you. 'Nature' isn't all puppy dogs and butterflies, deadly threats exist too. There's a difference between a dog for example, domesticated in its DNA for many of thousands of years, and a wild cat like a puma. I'm not an expert on such matters, but it might be possible to stare down a puma and make it blink first, like you can do with a dog, but it's also quite possible you'd lose that contest. In that event, you might be dead before you get to blink again.
I think even coming from a higher, spiritual perspective, it would not be a sin to kill an animal (also a human) to protect and preserve your life. Self-preservation is hard-wired into us, it's perhaps our first, most basic instinct. To surrender our lives when it could be prevented -- I think that would be a sin. Yes, the puma has as just as much right to live as we do, so does a bear, a man-eating shark, or a rabid pit-bull. But if one of these animals was about to end our life, I believe it's our sovereign right, and I think our very obligation, to do everything we can to thwart it. Even if it means firing a gun.
Posted by Mark (Star Mariner)
(here)
Even if it means firing a gun.
That's not gonna happen.
Actually, that might have seemed unintentionally a little curt (it was intended to be light-hearted ), and so my sincere apologies (especially to Dennis) whose post was kind, thoughtful and full of rock-solid practical sense.
I've started a new thread, called Mountain Lions, Pumas, and other Big Cats, where I've copied over several recent posts. It might be interesting to quite a few readers, and I'd encourage anyone to share personal anecdotes and even photos if they have them.
And if I ever see a puma, I'll share that too. I should add that in maybe 1000+ miles of high wilderness hiking in probably 100+ days since 2015, I've never seen a puma — just the scat (quite a few times) and last week was the first time I've ever seen tracks.
I've also searched on the net for any reported instances of puma attacks in Ecuador, and so far I've found none at all. I have a friend who speaks excellent English and who's a professional mountain guide, running the restaurant at the trailhead to the high grassy valley which Mara and I hiked to successfully twice now.
Next time I see him I'll certainly ask what he knows or has heard about. My guess is that he'll dismiss the danger. But I'll still ask him.
I appreciate your addendum, Bill. I was just going to ask whether "never gonna happen" referred to the likelihood of encountering a puma, or your choosing to use a gun to defend yourself and Mara. I like this answer much better!
Posted by wondering
(here)
I appreciate your addendum, Bill. I was just going to ask whether "never gonna happen" referred to the likelihood of encountering a puma, or your choosing to use a gun to defend yourself and Mara. I like this answer much better!
We might head out there again tomorrow, maybe not so far this time: I need to pace Mara's athletic mountain training quite well, as she's been in retirement for a full year. And I'd also meet my Ecuadorian mountain guide friend to ask him about pumas in the area.
For anyone who might be closely interested, here's a map. The area circled in red is the expansive, high grassy valley which we went to twice, all a super-easy and fun place for Mara to be. It's also where the puma might hang out, though apparently they travel VERY long distances and whatever left those large tracks might be 50 miles away by now, a dozen valleys distant.
The yellow dotted line shows the hike up to the waterfall (where the steep tricky rocky path is), and there'd certainly be no pumas in that initial section. The waterfall forms a natural boundary, the only entrance to the high valley, south of which it's quite close to a road and people.
So tomorrow we might simply head up to the waterfall again, and not much further. That's plenty enough for a 60+ year old dog (in human terms! ) who's been doing comparatively little the last year since she lost her sight.
Posted by wondering
(here)
Does Mara get a treat packed for the hike for a rest period? And do you get a treat, too, midway? 🥰
That's so funny. Yes, on our last hike, encountering all the puma tracks, I had a whole bunch of fresh juicy chicken pieces in my backpack for Mara. I later wondered if carrying fresh juicy chicken pieces in my backpack in the heart of puma territory was such a bright idea.
On shortish hikes I usually take nothing for myself except a small plastic 12oz bottle of cold black coffee. (It works when you're thirsty and tired!) On really long hikes, I then (of course) take Ecuadorian chocolate, which is just the best.
You're making me feel paranoid, Bill! I take a knife, pepper spray, and taser when I take walks on my local trail.
Please do be careful, though! Seriously, pumas are no joke (I'm sure you know this). Bear spray works wonders, or at least something very loud.
Maybe it's a Texas thing, since there are so many dangerous animals actively out to get you (and cryptids, too!), but please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please PLEASE make sure to protect yourself and dear Mara as well.
A placeholder here. Mara had another great day, and for anyone who's interested I'll share some video and/or photos tomorrow. We went further north into the valley than I'd planned (it was just too gorgeous to turn back early!), and I saw the same XXL size cat paw prints again, but in a different place. The tracks I saw last week had been washed away by overnight rain. So he's still around, my strong guess would be during the night.
I met my friend Fabian, the mountain guide, who knows every inch of the area. He was interested and surprised at the tracks, but assured me that there was zero danger as pumas in Ecuador never go anywhere near humans. He told me that in 30 years in these mountains, guiding clients on remote hikes, taking them fishing and camping, going long distances on horseback, he's never once actually seen a puma.
Posted by Bill Ryan
(here)
A placeholder here. Mara had another great day, and for anyone who's interested I'll share some video and/or photos tomorrow.
As promised. I truly understand that after a short while (maybe already!) all these videos will start to look exactly the same. I have zero expectation for anyone to view them!
But for those reading this rooting for Mara's full mountain rehab (which is surely complete now), here's another 2 minute video. Self-evidently I need a second person holding the camera, but despite the shaky cam you can get the idea of the lovely, wild and varied environment. And Mara is a real water baby, whether she can see or not. (She always has been.)
And here's some light relief. Look at this, way in the distance on the skyline, taken with a telephoto:
I wouldn't have been able to clearly see what I'd photographed until I got home, and it was a very long way off, so I watched it carefully with a tiny monocular telescope that lives in my pack. After 20 minutes of whatever it was not moving at all, I decided it was a puma-shaped rock. (And indeed it was. )
(One's imagination can go all kinds of places sometimes )
Re: Mara returns to the Mountains
We were on the move (or in the water!) for a full two and a half hours.
), I'll be sure to share the new experience.
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