Meeting the chamoix

7 January 2010

A watery sun was around today, so an afternoon walk was the intention. A couple told me about a trail they did which they really enjoyed doing when they had their day off. When I got there I realised it will be too far for the time I have off, before I have to start working again.
The next option was to cross the little mountain stream at the bottom of this valley and to go on a trail I’ve done before. Every time I do this trail I have not gone far, because of some or other distraction.
Once my journey was cut short through my own stupidity. On this track there is a very small playground and there must be a little stream. Last year it was very cold and the water froze which produced a wonderful sight, one of those sights you must photograph. Through the heavy snowfall illusions can be created which can be very dangerous. Going there I stepped off the track to cut out a corner and the next moment I sat up to my hips in the snow…… fortunately only up to my hips. Scrambling out of such a hole is extremely difficult, you could almost call it you have to swim out of it, there us nothing to hold on to.
Since I know the dangers the track is great to walk on, there are many trees and you see all sorts of wildlife.
Today I just passed the playground when I stopped in my tracks. Just a little bit in front of me was a chamois! I know they are not skittish at all, but was still surprised to see it this close. It looked at me and dashed up the bank a little and then the most surprising thing happened, it stood with it’s head behind a tree with it’s bum sticking out. It remained in the position for the entire time of my sighting!
Then my eye caught the chamois on the other side of the track. It was looking at me!
I froze in my steps and stood there, making a few photos! Of course, I can’t see this and have no image of it.
Not long and it got bored of watching me, so it turned and started eating. I just stayed and watched it until it went lower down and knowing what I know about stepping off the track, I did not follow.