Wednesday we decided to have a nice hike along the High Rim Trail towards Kelowna. We hadn't do it before but are getting pretty good at spot the trail markings. It started off really well with bright blue sky, crossing little bridges and creeks.
We got about an hour along and hit a viewpoint overlooking the valley however instead of gazing out at the view Shaun look down and came sneaking back to me to get the camera, we both snuck up to the edge: 50% of the party more peachy keen than the other and saw 3 mountain lions/cougars sunbathing about 20-30m below us. A mum and 2 juveniles we think. Mum sidled off into the 
undergrowth and left Pinky and Perky napping....that was until they turned around and saw us....gulp!At that point I turned into jelly, especially as the trail back was at the bottom of the clearing....we had walked right past it on the way up without a clue.
Shaun was bemoaning the fact that we didn't have a camera like his mate Andy which can take a zillion pictures a second.
The pictures we took really don't them justice as they were big animals (about 1m-1.5m ex tail - those are Canadian logs they're lying on from BIG trees!) and so relaxed in the sunshine.
There were some loggers working in the clearing above us so we went to see if we could get back to the car on the logging road. Unfortunately no joy...my nerves weren't helped by one comment of 'yep, they'll be hungry at this time of year, eh?!"
So armed with big sticks, bolstered with pep talks from Shaun about how he could kick a cougar's arse, a bear bell ringing out like it was the royal wedding, hearty songs and a very loud conversation about Shaun's 98% exam mark in shooting stuff we proceeded back at what could be described as a brisk march and managed get back in 40 mins what had take us an hour on the way out...!!
Two views on the experience once we were safely back at the car - one musing on the wonder of nature, how cool it was to see 3 all at once when alot of people never see one in a lifetime and you are not always top of the food chain, the other, a reflection on the beauty and wonder of squirrels and how really a hike was quite complete with a chipmunk sighting.....
...I'll leave you to work out whos' who!
hugs
Nutkin x
There were about 15 on the hike and we met a nice Kiwi couple who have been in Bristol and Cardiff for 2 years and then came to BC when their visas ran out. We swapped skiing stories and fixed up some skiing in Big White. 
Thursday (13th) saw us retracing our steps on the High Rim Trail east of Winfield - in the snow! We had been up at the weekend with the Lake Country Outsdoors Club and we wanted to see if we could retrace our steps as we had spent most of the time chatting. The whole trail is about 50kms long and runs from Vernon in the north to past Kelowna towards Big White in the south. Its marked with bits of pink and black ribbon which can be tricky to spot but much easier coming back in the snow as you just have to retrace those lovely snowy prints.
