The mountains of Colorado are a popular destination for trail runners, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. But it is also home to a variety of dangerous animals. In this story of determination, focus, and downright luck, we’ll look at Travis Kauffman’s ten minute battle between man and predator.
Travis Kauffman was hiking down a trail outside of Fort Collins on February 4th when the attack occurred. He normally wore ear buds while hiking, but had decided to forego them for this particular trip, a decision that may well have saved his life. As he was travelling, he heard a rustling sound behind him, and when he stopped to turn around, he was met by a 40 pound mountain lion.
Travis was unarmed, and with nothing to defend himself, he did what he had always been told. He waved his arms, attempting to make himself look bigger, and screamed loudly, hoping to scare the lion away. It didn’t work. Perhaps he just wasn’t intimidating enough, with his 5’10, 150 pound frame, or maybe the juvenile lion just didn’t know any better. It leaped onto him, latching on to his wrist, wrapping its paws around his back, and dragging him to the ground. Travis Kauffman was in a fight for his life.
Travis later said that the problem wasn’t the animals strength, but rather it’s claws. Wherever the predator latched on, it seemed to stay latched, and very hard to remove. At one point, he attempted to strike the lions face with a rock, but to no avail. It’s tooth ripped into his lip, and a claw raked across his face, gouging it open. His wrist and hand were trapped in the lions mouth, and he couldn’t get free.
At last, he wrestled his way on top of the lion. His fear was that the lion would strike for his stomach and groin area, so he pinned it’s hind legs with one of his own legs. He brought his other leg up to put pressure on the lions neck, and struggled to pin it in place. Eventually, the lion fell still, and then let go of his arm. Travis had killed the lion, but he wasn’t out of danger just yet. The lion was clearly a juvenile, and the mother could still be around. Travis ran down the trail, finally coming across some other hikers. They got him to a car, and drove him to the hospital.
Travis Kauffman survived his ordeal, and he knows there are a lot of lessons to be learned. He told reporters that he would never run with headphones again, and always as part of a group. There are some other considerations, like pepper spray, a medical kit, or a gun, that may have saved his life if things had gone worse. Ultimately, we’re thankful that Travis made it out alive, and we hope his story can inspire others to be ready when disaster strikes.
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