Avid skier Matthew and friends visited Utah’s Solitude Mountain Resort recently to enjoy some time on the slopes. While they may have anticipated a fun and relaxing break, an unusual sight they happened upon is sure to have set their pulses racing. A large mountain lion appeared to be lying casually on a towel watching the world go by.

As Matthew later explained to Storyful, skiers who had visited before them had set the animal taxidermy up on the slope as a practical joke. This didn’t stop Matthew and friends from fearing for their lives on their first encounter! Credit: YouTube/sobersociety