It had been a typical morning hike for Cortney Rasura on her favorite trail just outside of Ojai, until it got terrifying. Really terrifying. <\/p>\n
She had just finished listening to a podcast \u2014 which she played out loud to warn wildlife of her presence \u2014 and had about two miles left on the eight-mile Gridley trail in the Los Padres National Forest. <\/p>\n
As she regained cell service, Rasura said, she checked an email on her phone. <\/p>\n
When she looked back up, she found herself face-to-face with a mountain lion. <\/p>\n
\u201cI glanced up and that\u2019s when I saw the mountain lion walking toward me,\u201d Rasura, 54, said in an interview with The Times. \u201cAnd it was right on the path. … In all my years I\u2019ve never seen one.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said her instinct was to record it \u2014 as an experienced hiker, she knew how rare it was to see such a big cat so close. And though she was hiking alone, she said initially, she didn\u2019t feel threatened. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt looked curious, as was I,\u201d Rasura said. She estimated the puma was about 15 to 20 yards away.<\/p>\n
In two videos shared on Instagram, Rasura captured the first moment she saw the mountain lion on her hiking trail. <\/p>\n
\u201cNo! Go away!\u201d she yelled. And after a few steps on the path, the cat diverted off the trail. \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d she said. \u201cGo away.\u201d<\/p>\n
But then, the mountain lion circled back down onto the path. This time, it appeared to be headed straight toward her \u2014 and from a much closer distance. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt came back out of the brush and started coming toward me,\u201d she recalled. \u201cThen panic really set in.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the second video, she yells louder and more rapidly\u201d \u201cNo! No! No!\u201d<\/p>\n
Rasura said she made eye contact with the cat, but remembered not to turn, crouch or run. She said she tried to lift her arms to appear big. <\/p>\n
Then, after taking several steps toward her, the mountain lion heads off the trail and bounds up the hillside. You can hear Rasura\u2019s relief in the video as she mutters, \u201cthank you!\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know what you\u2019re going to say or do,\u201d Rasura said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing but it\u2019s terrifying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rasura appeared to do almost everything the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends if you do encounter a mountain lion. The agency tells people to try and appear larger, if possible, and warns people to remain calm, and never run, approach the big cat or crouch down. <\/p>\n