either Gifford Pinchot National Forest or Mt. St. Helens National Something-or-other. I own land just above the top end of Stevenson (town where I live), and there is bear scat on a regular basis. We were up playing in the snow a few weeks back, and some of the tracks definitely appeared to be cougar. Friend of mine and I saw a bobcat on the road (alive and well) last Fall.

Across the river (Columbia) is Mt. Hood National Forest. Plus the topography is so steep and broken that there couldn't be development if it were to be allowed. We have many square miles of land along the Cascade Range that seldom see a human footprint. When I hike in the areas that are designated 'wilderness' - on trails, of course - I might see two other hikers in a day.

paul spencer