Wilderness Wildcat Watch

Wilderness Wildcat Watch

Inspired by: Jan Yampolsky

Just a short distance out;
really, not too far out of
Coalmont.
East, on the Kettle Valley
Railway bed.
Our keen, roving wilderness eyes,
begin searching.
Jan finds a fresh mule deer carcass,
at our side.
There! on the slope, above the
Kettle Valley Railway line;
a cougar! Chased away from its prey.
In a straight line, not five hundred
metres between us.
Adrenalin pumping! Without a doubt!
Warily, the cougar meets our gaze.
As if saying, "What are you doing
here!"
Then, slinks back in behind a
mammoth-sized boulder.
Carrying on along the river's bank,
Jan and I are wary.
With wilderness trained eyes,
continually searching for our
mountain feline.
Our wandering wilderness cat
does not reappear.
Continually on guard, while sauntering
along.
There! Jan points out, a coyote,
watching us through hungry dog-like eyes.
Coyote, follows Jan and I for a short distance.
Then vanishes in the winter foliage.
Its keen sense of smell, must of caught
a whiff of cougar's kill.
Once again, Jan and I spot this eloquent
creature, staring at us through a grove of
evergreens.
Then our coyote friend casually strays
from sight.
A few moments of visually scouring
the tree adorned slope above.
No wildlife action!
Jan and I feel secure.
Down the Kettle Valley Railway
bed, Jan and I stride.
Our ears and eyes finely tuned.
Two miles out along the trail;
a massive immature bald eagle soars,
upstream, ever so gracefully.
With pinions set, adhering to
the whispering air currents.
Arriving at our wilderness luncheon site;
Beneath a grove of evergreen trees.
Upon a weather-beaten, river washed
and sand scoured log, Jan and I sit.
From out of our well-stocked packs,
what should appear?
Two professional walkahaulic lunches.
Totally relaxed, in this pristine wilderness
setting, Jan and I truly enjoy our back
country picnic.
Admiring the eloquence of creation
painted upon the rippling Tulameen
River.
Wind, whipping through the treetops,
along the crest of the ridge above.
This walkahaulic wilderness lunch break
is complete.
Repacking our backpacks, Jan and I
face each other and simply smile.
Because there are no words to explain
the way, in which Mother Nature does
deliver!
With walking sticks in hand,
Jan and I step out, homeward bound.
Enjoying Nature, pristine, at her ultimate
best.
Out on a Granite Creek gravel bar;
a mule deer is reflected, in two pair of
wilderness walkahaulic eyes.
After having a drink
our high-spirited friend, checks
the wind.
Picking up our scent, up the far embankment
she lopes.
Feeling secure and protected within a
covey of evergreen trees,
mule deer admires our finesse,
before bounding out of sight.
A glorious wilderness adorned hike!
Truly unique, and most delightful.
Watching wilderness eyes!
adrenalin pumping, spiritually
refreshing.
In which Jan and I delight.
Our day has drawn us closer
to Nature's surroundings.
Energizing our spirits and souls.
As memories of Nature unfold.
Blessing our walking adventures.
In perfectly awesome, divine,
revealing wilderness love.

© Jim Smart

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