{"id":983127,"date":"2026-08-05T21:30:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/983127\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T21:30:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:30:28","slug":"california-hiker-is-hunted-by-massive-mountain-lion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/983127\/","title":{"rendered":"California hiker is hunted by massive mountain lion"},"content":{"rendered":"

A California hiker endured a terrifying five-minute standoff with a mountain lion after coming face-to-face with the predator on a popular San Diego hiking trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gabe Yanez said he was several hours into a hike on the Suycott Valley Trail in Mission Trails Regional Park just before 7 p.m. two Thursdays ago when he spotted the big cat crouched in the brush<\/a> about five feet off the trail.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreaked the heck out of me,\u201d Yanez told ABC10<\/a>. \u201cI thought this was the end of me.\u201d The experienced hiker said he immediately tried to make himself look as threatening as possible.<\/p>\n

The mountain lion stayed low as if it was ready to pounce while hiker Gabe Yanez maintained eye contact. Courtesy of Gabe Yanez<\/p>\n

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Yanez recounted a face-to-face encounter with the mountain lion on the Suycott Valley Trail near San Diego. ABC 10 News<\/p>\n

\u201cI see it, and I put my arms up and roared!\u201d Yanez said. The mountain lion stayed low as if it was ready to pounce while Yanez maintained eye contact, waving his arms and shouting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWaving, yelling, screaming at it. At one point, it showed its teeth, and I ended up showing my teeth,\u201d he recalled to the outlet.<\/p>\n

After several tense moments, the mountain lion backed away slightly. As Yanez cautiously moved aside, the animal mirrored his movements while hiding behind nearby bushes.<\/p>\n

After several tense moments, the mountain lion backed away slightly. ABC 10 News<\/p>\n

Yanez then pulled out his phone and photographed the animal before it finally ran off about five minutes after the encounter began.<\/p>\n

Mission Trails Regional Park Ranger Christian Navarro said Yanez responded exactly as hikers are advised to during a mountain lion encounter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabe sounds like he did exactly what he should have done, stood his ground,\u201d Navarro said.<\/p>\n

Mission Trails Regional Park Ranger Christian Navarro said Yanez responded exactly as hikers are advised to. Courtesy of Gabe Yanez<\/p>\n

Navarro said park officials have received several mountain lion sightings in the park since late June and believe they all involve the same juvenile animal.<\/p>\n

He noted that mountain lions are native to Mission Trails Regional Park<\/a> and typically roam large territories on their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are monitoring it. We think it\u2019s the same mountain lion. They are usually solitary animals. Their range is large,\u201d Navarro said.<\/p>\n

Yanez said he hopes sharing his experience encourages other visitors to stay alert while hiking. \u201cBe aware. It can happen to you,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n

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