Gambol in the Snow
The early morning mountain light sang a visual hymn that aroused the eye and inspired the soul. My lungs took captive the thin, crisp, icy air. It delivered a sharp pang to the chest that brought reality to my consciousness…a reminder of what it is to be alive. As daylight intensified, I continued along the slick and frozen alpine route and then it was I met a fellow trekker coming from the opposite direction. The Mountain Goat stood stock-still and full in the narrow slippery path. Normally, I would have moved to one side or the other to grant passage to the caprine creature. That wasn’t possible as any off-trail maneuver on my part would have surely resulted in disaster. And so the Mountain Goat and I stared at each other for what seemed an interminable period of time [they are very good at staring]. Suddenly the shaggy beast launched into a trot directly toward my position. At about twenty-five feet, the sure-footed goat broke from the path downslope and cavorted around me only to effortlessly return to the course and resume its leisurely and confident stride. What a show it was that the Mountain Goat executed. Its gambol in the snow was a feat incomparable.
~ Anecdote and Mountain Goat capture, Gambol in the Snow © Jerry L. Ferrara