Tina, actually I’d love to see a mountain lion one of these days. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve been seen by one of them, only they’re not so quick to announce themselves like the humans.

George, actually I almost always take the eastern approach, up from the dam. The last hundred feet up to the saddle between North and South Fortuna is, as you point out, awfully steep and pretty poor footing. I probably slip every third trip up or down. At least a slip here doesn’t send you over some precipice.

Carol, I spent my teen years around Los Angeles. My parents had friends whose house had a small pool and was sited at the edge of the suburban sprawl. One morning they looked out to see a large brown cat drinking out of the pool–a mountain lion. I think you would have enjoyed the view! Stay safe where you are, though I’d guess that as long as there are deer and other critters around your chances of suffering harm at all would be probably pretty slight.