Hiker reveals simple tricks he used to save himself from cougar that stalked him on remote trail, with big cat even taking a swipe at him

A Portland hiker has shared the simple tricks he used to save himself after a mountain lion chased him down a remote trail and even tried to pounce on him.

Ben Blumenfeld was running along the Angel’s Rest trail in the Columbia River Gorge on Tuesday when the big cat jumped out of the woods.

But instead of fleeing, as instinct would suggest, Blumenfeld remembered a YouTube video with crucial advice.

“It was very close, as if someone was standing at a distance from me,” he told KATU. ‘At first it went quickly.’

“I got big, raised my arms and started shouting, ‘I’m fine, cougar!’ I’m fine, cougar!’

“Yelling at this cougar, making eye contact, showing my teeth and trying to be as big and scary as possible.”

The move worked for a moment, until Blumenfeld became unsteady on his feet and the cougar almost lunged at him.

“We were having another close encounter when I stumbled a little, and he went to pounce,” he explained.

‘I just jumped up and screamed again. Then he gave me the most distance. He just stopped when I screamed, probably the loudest in our interaction. Then I was able to break away from him.’

With his heart pounding, Blumenfeld called 911 and spoke to an operator. Only then did he realize the seriousness of his situation.

“Things seem very obvious because he used words like self-rescue and ‘you’re going to have to walk out alone,’ but he walked me through it,” Blumenfeld said.

Lumenfeld was running along the Angel’s Rest trail in the Columbia River Gorge on Tuesday when the big cat jumped out of the woods.

The trail has been closed since his narrow escape.

Oregon is home to more than 6,000 cougars, or mountain lions, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Sightings are described as ‘rare’, but loss of habitat means they could become more common.

The agency recommends that people educate themselves on what to do in the event of an encounter.

“Cougars will often retreat if given the opportunity,” the agency says.

“Let the animal have a way to escape. Stay calm and stick to your guns. Maintain direct eye contact.’

But instead of fleeing as his instincts would suggest, Blumenfeld recalled a YouTube video with crucial advice instructing him to make noise and appear intimidating.

The trail has been closed since Blumenfeld narrowly escaped on Tuesday

Children should be picked up without stooping or turning their backs on the animal.

But crucially, the advice is not to flee. ‘Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which can lead to an attack,” the guidance said.

If the mountain lion appears aggressive, hikers are advised to raise their voices and make themselves appear larger.

“In the very unusual event that a mountain lion attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, bear or pepper spray, tools or other available objects,” the department says.