Mountain lions can easily leap straight up to the roof of any TLC. And we have them in the mountains around my house in the mountains of SoCal. RTTs might give you a second or two if you hear them coming, but I think is unlikely. They are ambush predators after all.
A colleague of mine was camping and working in the top of a mesa in the Jemez Mts of northern NM. In the middle of the night a very curious and then turned excited female mountain lion came right up to his tent. Well she couldn't keep her mouth shut because she was gonna eat. She started wailing, waking my colleague up. Once he realized what was going on, He started banging on his pots and pans with a flashlight. This kept her at bay for the rest of the night though he thinks she stayed just far enough away for her sense of security. It wasn't until dawn that he stopped hearing her. After the sun came up he noticed mt. lion tracks literally up to the side of his tent and a lion bed about 20 yds away. He never let his guard down all night long and this is what probably saved his life. Mt. lions don't like to fight it out. They want to jump on your back and wrap that mouthful of pretty teeth around your neck when you are not looking or are unaware.
I think knowing a few things about animal behavior (humans included) will save your life more than a RTT, bearspray, a pistol, or anything else for that matter. You can't drop your knowledge of animal behavior after all. Last time I checked a roof top tent isn't made from magical, lion-claw-proof fabric. If it wants you, it'll get you. Besides if the thought of a big animal scares you so bad then why not sleep in the vehicle? If this is still unacceptable, then don't go. RTTs probably only help with Mosquitos and a few other creepy-crawlies like snakes, scorpions, and centipedes so they might be worth it for some people for that reason.
IMHO, RTTs give a (false?) sense of security against big game at a pretty high cost. Maybe they cost so much not because they are made from frankenscence and mur, but because people want security and are will to sell an organ for this feeling. What did Tyler Durden say in the book/movie Fightclub about security?....I forget.
-Nick
-D/D is a 1985 tan FJ60 with a 350 SBC TBI, ARB front bumper, Tuffy center console, Non-USA OEM Split rims, Yokohama Y735B 7.50 R16 and a box full of archaeology field work gear.
A colleague of mine was camping and working in the top of a mesa in the Jemez Mts of northern NM. In the middle of the night a very curious and then turned excited female mountain lion came right up to his tent. Well she couldn't keep her mouth shut because she was gonna eat. She started wailing, waking my colleague up. Once he realized what was going on, He started banging on his pots and pans with a flashlight. This kept her at bay for the rest of the night though he thinks she stayed just far enough away for her sense of security. It wasn't until dawn that he stopped hearing her. After the sun came up he noticed mt. lion tracks literally up to the side of his tent and a lion bed about 20 yds away. He never let his guard down all night long and this is what probably saved his life. Mt. lions don't like to fight it out. They want to jump on your back and wrap that mouthful of pretty teeth around your neck when you are not looking or are unaware.
I think knowing a few things about animal behavior (humans included) will save your life more than a RTT, bearspray, a pistol, or anything else for that matter. You can't drop your knowledge of animal behavior after all. Last time I checked a roof top tent isn't made from magical, lion-claw-proof fabric. If it wants you, it'll get you. Besides if the thought of a big animal scares you so bad then why not sleep in the vehicle? If this is still unacceptable, then don't go. RTTs probably only help with Mosquitos and a few other creepy-crawlies like snakes, scorpions, and centipedes so they might be worth it for some people for that reason.
IMHO, RTTs give a (false?) sense of security against big game at a pretty high cost. Maybe they cost so much not because they are made from frankenscence and mur, but because people want security and are will to sell an organ for this feeling. What did Tyler Durden say in the book/movie Fightclub about security?....I forget.
-Nick
-D/D is a 1985 tan FJ60 with a 350 SBC TBI, ARB front bumper, Tuffy center console, Non-USA OEM Split rims, Yokohama Y735B 7.50 R16 and a box full of archaeology field work gear.
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