Wheelin' in GJ

[Greg]

On POR I started a thread about finding locals who wheel around Grand Junction & some of the other trails that the area had to offer. I got a link to this trip report, from Billings Canyon with some kick-ass pics!-

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?p=296271#post296271

:freak: :freak:

From what I've heard about Billings, it's about 1.5 miles long and not too far from Fruita. :greg: I think the 4Runner is going to need tires larger than 35's.

 

[RockMonkey]

Cool! Let's go!!!

 

[GETBENT]

I just got back from doing 21 road in Grand Junction. That trail rocks!! I'll try and post up some pics of the trail because it is the coolest canyon that i've ever been in and the trail is pretty difficult too! Just as we were turning around to head out for the day we saw fresh Cougar Tracks and the claws were as long as my pinky! The rest of the way out I was constantly looking over my shoulder.

 

[Houndoc]

Just as we were turning around to head out for the day we saw fresh Cougar Tracks and the claws were as long as my pinky! The rest of the way out I was constantly looking over my shoulder.

Are you sure it was cougar if you saw claw marks? Any cat usually has it claws retracted so you will seldom see the claw marks on a cougar tack. That canyon certainly looks like prime cougar country however!

I know the ones I found last month in my kids sandbox (honest) showed no claw marks even in fairly soft, wet sand.

 

[Kris K]

I just mit be moving to GJ this next summer for work.

 

[Kris K]

I know the ones I found last month in my kids sandbox (honest) showed no claw marks even in fairly soft, wet sand.

Did you look for poop?

 

[PierCed_3]

Did you look for poop?

Sandbox = litterbox with cats around

 

[Kris K]

Sandbox = litterbox with cats around

yep.

 

[GETBENT]

Are you sure it was cougar if you saw claw marks? Any cat usually has it claws retracted so you will seldom see the claw marks on a cougar tack. That canyon certainly looks like prime cougar country however!

I know the ones I found last month in my kids sandbox (honest) showed no claw marks even in fairly soft, wet sand.

I'm not positive but i know it wasn't bear, I don't think that was bear country. It was definitely not a dog.

 

[EZRhino]

Aren't cougar and big dogs/wolves tracks very similar? How can you tell the difference? (I know what bear tracks look like and they are totally different than big cat.)

EZ

 

[Paudrhound]

Dog tracks show the claws. Cat tracks show only the pads.

 

[Meat_]

Cat's prints are also round, where dogs/wolves/fox are pointed

Edit: Here's some Cougar tracks next to some size 13 Nike Hikers

 

[EZRhino]

Cool, good to know. Now if I can just remember it....

 

[GETBENT]

Cat's prints are also round, where dogs/wolves/fox are pointed

Edit: Here's some Cougar tracks next to some size 13 Nike Hikers

That's pretty much what they looked like but each toe had a big claw coming off of it.

 

[Houndoc]

About how large where they? The ones in my backyard measured 4inches by 4 inches (as a comparison, I had a 100 pound coon hound that dies a couple of years ago and his foot print we had made roughly 4x3 inch).

It would be odd to see the claw marks on each print from a cougar. How many tracks did you see? Doesn't sound like a bear track, but front foot of a bear would be a similar shape but the rear foot is very different. With more than a track or two it would be hard to get them confused. I would not be surprised to have bear in that area at all. A summer or two ago they had some real trouble with bears in some of the camp sites along the Green River in Desolation Canyon.

What ever it was, just makes a fun reminder that we are never alone in the hills!

 

[drylok]

As a general rule black bears don't leave claw marks either, but a grizzly will leave claw marks.

 

[GETBENT]

i wish I could remember how big it was. Seems like it was about the size of the palm of my hand which is 4x4. i know it wasn't a dog unless it was a wild dog because we were the only ones on that trail the whole day and it had rained the night before so any tracks before that would be washed away or full of water. this one was really fresh. This makes me really wish I would have taken a picture.

 

[Houndoc]

As a general rule black bears don't leave claw marks either, but a grizzly will leave claw marks.

I'd disagree with that. I have seen some pretty clear claw marks on black bear tracks a number of times- esp in mud.