Winter Lynx

On a beautiful morning while snowshoeing along the small narrow trails through the brush with my family, laughing and talking all along the way. During a short water break, I turned toward an opening in the trees and was startled to see a large grey animal staring at me, no further than 15 feet away. I was surprised when I realized I was actually seeing a Lynx. Seemingly un-alarmed by our presence, it studied us for all of 20 seconds before slowly disappearing into the bush. An often elusive and seldom seen animal, I feel very privileged to have not only seen one in person but to have had it feel comfortable enough to have been so close, in such an open and bright area when it could've hidden itself among the thick brush of the area. On a hike where I expected to see nothing more than a deer, I instead got to share a moment with an animal i'll be lucky to see so clearly again.