The Utah Hiker Cougar Encounter, often referred to as 'Gougar,' stems from a viral video filmed by hiker Kyle Burgess in October 2020. While on a trail in Slate Canyon, Utah, Burgess encountered a mother mountain lion protecting her cubs. The intense six-minute footage shows the cougar lunging and stalking Burgess as he retreats, shouting phrases like 'I'm big and scary!' and 'Go away!' to deter the animal. The internet quickly turned the harrowing experience into a meme, focusing on the hiker's desperate attempts at intimidation and the cougar's relentless pursuit. It is commonly used to represent someone being pursued by unavoidable responsibilities, stress, or terrifying consequences, often with the misspelling 'Gougar' added for comedic effect.