Photo Essay: Fremont Older Trail, Part 2: Eye of the Hiker

You probably won't see a mountain lion or coyote, but you may see deer or other smaller wildlife on and around the hills. Most of the trails are fairly low-impact and never lead too far away from an exit point; it's hard to get lost with small brown signs helping you out at almost every path intersection, but be sure to remember the name of the trail you started from.

If you do come across a mountain lion, however, do not run or turn your back. Keep small children close to you, since they are more likely to be targeted, but do not crouch or bend over to pick them up. If a reasonable distance away from the mountain lion, stay quiet and still; if it is close or approaching, raising your arms over your head to appear larger and making lots of noise is the best way to handle a confrontation (the point is to make it clear that you are the larger, more aggressive creature).

When you get home, keep an eye out for ticks that may have snuck into your clothing (doing laundry straight away is a good idea), and comb through your dog's fur in case he or she picked one up too. Don't forget to wear sunscreen and bring lots of water, especially on warmer days!