The time we realized our "neighborhood watch" consisted of a family of deer, who promptly ran away whenever anything remotely suspicious happened.
Trying to explain to a city friend that "bear-proofing" your trash cans doesn't mean challenging the bears to a game of wits.
When we discovered that our favorite hiking trail was also the local gathering spot for overly enthusiastic squirrels, who were not afraid to voice their opinions about our presence.
Attempting to have a peaceful picnic only to be ambushed by a gang of hungry chipmunks who seemed to have no qualms about stealing our snacks.
The day we accidentally started a small avalanche while trying to build a snowman in our backyard.
Watching in horror as our newly planted garden became a buffet for the local deer, who seemed to have impeccable taste in organic produce.
Trying to explain to our dog that barking at the coyotes on the ridge was not the best way to make friends with the neighbors.
The time we mistook a friendly mountain goat for a lost hiker and tried to offer them directions back to the trailhead.
When we learned the hard way that leaving a window open during a summer thunderstorm is a surefire way to flood your living room with rainwater.
Attempting to impress our out-of-town guests with our expert knowledge of local flora and fauna, only to realize halfway through the hike that we were completely lost.
The day we discovered that our mountain cabin was not as "rustic" as we thought when a family of raccoons decided to move in and redecorate.
Trying to enjoy a peaceful evening on the porch only to be serenaded by a chorus of howling coyotes who seemed to be having a karaoke night.
The time we attempted to build a fire pit in our backyard, only to realize too late that we had accidentally unearthed an old bear den.
Watching in amazement as our normally lazy cat transformed into a nimble mountain lion whenever a mouse dared to venture into our cabin.
The day we decided to try our hand at ice fishing and ended up spending more time trying to rescue our fishing poles from the frozen lake than actually catching any fish.
Attempting to navigate the treacherous mountain roads during a snowstorm, only to be overtaken by a group of fearless locals on skis.
When we discovered that our "rustic" mountain cabin was actually a haven for every creepy-crawly creature imaginable, including spiders the size of dinner plates.
Trying to enjoy a peaceful evening on the porch swing, only to have our tranquility shattered by a family of raccoons staging a midnight raid on the bird feeder.
The time we decided to try our hand at foraging for wild mushrooms and ended up spending the rest of the day in the bathroom regretting our life choices.
Attempting to impress our city friends with our survival skills, only to set the barbecue on fire and have to call the local fire department for assistance.
The day we attempted to host a "wildlife photography" competition in our backyard, only to realize that the only creatures willing to pose for the camera were the neighborhood squirrels and an overly enthusiastic chipmunk who kept photobombing every shot.
Trying to enjoy a peaceful morning hike, only to have our tranquility shattered by a surprise encounter with a group of overly friendly llamas who seemed intent on joining us for the journey.
The time we decided to try our hand at maple syrup tapping and ended up spending the entire day chasing after a runaway bucket of sap that had decided to make a break for it down the mountainside.
Attempting to have a romantic candlelit dinner on the porch, only to have our evening interrupted by a swarm of curious fireflies who seemed intent on joining the party.
When we decided to try our hand at mountain biking and ended up spending more time picking ourselves up off the ground than actually riding the trails, much to the amusement of the local wildlife.
The day we decided to host a "mountain Olympics" in our backyard, complete with events like log rolling and pine cone javelin throwing, only to have our games interrupted by a sudden rainstorm that turned the whole affair into a muddy mess.
Trying to enjoy a peaceful evening under the stars, only to have our tranquility shattered by a group of rowdy raccoons who decided to stage a midnight raid on our cooler.
The time we decided to try our hand at rock climbing and ended up getting stuck halfway up the mountain, much to the amusement of the passing hikers who offered helpful advice like "just climb higher" and "don't look down."
Attempting to have a quiet picnic by the lake, only to have our sandwiches stolen by a cunning group of seagulls who seemed to have a taste for gourmet cuisine.
When we decided to try our hand at birdwatching and ended up spending the entire day arguing over whether the bird we saw was a rare species or just a particularly loud squirrel with wings.