there was an encounter with a lion in northern california where a guy camping without a tent awakened to a lion standing over him with a paw on his head. the result of course being that he panicked - and then the lion took defensive action.

the real enemy of the wilderness enthusiast is always panic. it drives you to make stupid choices and that results in being lost or hurt. it leads to kneejerk reactions rather than rational ones....

the antidote is having a plan and basing the plan on good information.