August 19, 2019
Fatal Mountain Lion Attack in Idaho Springs - Scott Lancaster
Scott Lancaster. In 1991, at age 18, he gained notoriety for being the first person killed by a mountain lion in Colorado in recorded history.
"Scott Lancaster, 18, was killed while jogging just a few hundred yards from his high school in Idaho Springs, Colorado. The lion dragged the 130 pound boy 200 yards uphill before killing him, evidenced by the uprooted vegetation along the way. The lion was found feeding on his body three days later. This is the first death ever in Colorado from a lion attack."
Posted by Rob Kiser on August 19, 2019 at 8:32 PM : Comments (1) | Permalink
2nd Fatal Mountain Lion Attack in Colorado
* Mark Miedema (10) - July 17, 1997 - Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Killed by an adult female mountain lion while hiking when he got ahead of his family.
Posted by Rob Kiser on August 19, 2019 at 8:07 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
Mountain Lion Attacks Jogger in Roxborough State Park (4/1998)
Andy Peterson was attacked in Roxborough State Park in April 1998. He fought it off with a pocket knife and by gouging his thumb into its eye.
Posted by Rob Kiser on August 19, 2019 at 7:26 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
February 4, 2019
Mountain Lion Attacks the Wrong Jogger near Horsetooth Reservoir
https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/04/mountain-lion-attack-larimer-county/
A mountain lion attacked a runner Monday afternoon on a trail in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space and the runner, who was bitten and injured, killed the big cat, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The victim was running on West Ridge Trail "when he was attacked from behind," according to a news release.
He was able to fight off the big cat, killing it in the process. The man hiked to safety and was able to get to a local hospital on his own, officials said. On Monday evening the victim was being treated for serious injuries including facial bite wounds and lacerations to his arms, legs and back. The man, who was not identified, is expected to recover.
Wildlife officials described the cat as a "juvenile." The man killed the lion in "self-defense."
Mountain lion attacks in Colorado are rare, officials said. The act of running may have triggered the young lion's instinct to hunt.
"Mountain lion attacks are not common in Colorado and it is unfortunate that the lion's hunting instincts were triggered by the runner," said Ty Petersburg, area wildlife manager for CPW. "This could have had a very different outcome."
Posted by Rob Kiser on February 4, 2019 at 11:32 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
July 18, 2010
Whitewater Rafting and the Death of Scott Lancaster
Jennifer and went whitewater rafting today down Clear Creek in Idaho Springs.
Every time we go, I'm reminded of the tragic story of Scott Lancaster. In 1991, at age 18, he gained notoriety for being the first person killed by a mountain lion in Colorado in recorded history.
"Scott Lancaster, 18, was killed while jogging just a few hundred yards from his high school in Idaho Springs, Colorado. The lion dragged the 130 pound boy 200 yards uphill before killing him, evidenced by the uprooted vegetation along the way. The lion was found feeding on his body three days later. This is the first death ever in Colorado from a lion attack."
This time, however, our guide told us about something I'd missed in the news. Apparently, Arkansas Valley Adventures had a pretty major incident last month. Some female was guiding a "Beginner" rafting trip down Clear Creek in high spring runoff in June and missed the takeout point at Kermit's Roadhouse. By missing the takeout point, they then entered the most challenging section of the canyon (from Idaho Springs to Golden along US Highway 6).
At some point near mile marker 259 (near Tunnel 6), they went over a pretty serious rapid (reportedly a 15' to 8' drop depending on who you believe), flipping the raft. One 13 year old girl was swept downstream approx 1/2 mile, missing for some time, located, and eventually rescued. Guide Ryan Daniel Snodgrass was arrested in the process for either rescuing (or attempting to rescue) the girl.
You can't really imagine how cold the water was. They said it was 42ºF. It was cold.
I don't think we went last summer, but it seems like we went in 2008. I dunno. Hard to recall. The photo above is from 2007. The photo today didn't look much different, and at $45.00, I decided I could pass.
http://www.peeniewallie.com/2007/07/white-water-rafting.html
Posted by Rob Kiser on July 18, 2010 at 9:06 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink
April 17, 2006
Mountain Lion Attacks Boy in Boulder
This past weekend, a 7 year old was attacked by a mountain lion on Mount Flagstaff. (Google Earth marker). He was last in a line of about 7 people that were all hiking together. He was attacked within 150 feet of the parking lot. The 80 pound mountain lion started dragging the boy away, when the family noticed and fought off the mountain lion. All of the hikers were unarmed, and therefore unable to kill the mountain lion.
The common factor that all victims of fatal mountain lion attacks share is that they were all unarmed.
Mountain Lion attacks on humans are rare, but not unheard of. In 1991, a high school senior was attacked while jogging in Idaho Springs, Colorado. In 1995, a photographer was jogging in Rocky Mountain National Park when he was attacked. In 1997 a 10 year old boy was killed by a mountain lion in Rocky Mountain National Park. Later the same year, a mountain biker was attacked near Mount Flagstaff. In 1998, a full grown man was attacked while hiking in Roxborough State Park. On August 8th of 2005, a full grown woman in Florida Mesa, Colorado was attacked in her rocking chair on her front porch.
Continue reading "Mountain Lion Attacks Boy in Boulder"
Posted by Peenie Wallie on April 17, 2006 at 10:17 PM : Comments (4) | Permalink