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Do Not Run
Running away from a mountain lion will likely cause it to chase you. The last thing you want to do when in close proximity to a mountain lion is provoke it by behaving like prey. Stay calm and don't give in to panic or fear. Do not turn your back on the mountain lion, instead, face it, establish eye-contact and back away slowly if it's safe to do so.
Do Not Roll Up In A Ball
A popular myth associated with wild animal attacks suggests lying down and rolling up in a ball to avoid attack. With mountain lions, this is the exact opposite of what you should do. Stand upright and make yourself appear as large as you can. If you are wearing a coat, open it and raise your hands in the air. This will make you seem like a threat to the mountain lion and it will be less inclined to attack.
Make Noise
In a tense stand-off with a mountain lion, a good course of action to take is to make loud, firm noises. Don't try to talk to it soothingly as you might do to a house cat. Instead, shout at it to go away and leave. You may even try showing your teeth and growling at the mountain lion to scare it away.
Fight Back
If you find yourself in the middle of a violent attack, do all you can to fight back. Use sticks, stones, a pocket knife, camping gear, your fists or anything else that you can find to fend off the mountain lion. Target the mountain lion's head and eyes during the attack. If it gets injured in the fight, it will likely cease the attack.