A glorious winter day

K seemed alert, happy, and ready to hike this morning. Despite her leash, she playbowed, spun, and tried to convince me to romp with her on the way out of our clearing. After a couple of days of K seeming to be reluctant to walk much at all, her enthusiasm lifted my heart. Maybe, just maybe, she'll be ready to hike by my side for slightly longer distances before too long.

Today was a running day for R so I didn't get any trail time with him. But, as always, he made me burst into giggles when I heard snarls, growls, and snorts emanating from the bedroom. I knew what I'd find when I peeked in the door - R was having a wriggling conniption!

I had a spectacular snow bike ride. Our mountains beamed with beauty so I sought out viewpoints to gaze at them. I imagine the high peaks that we scaled this summer. Those are freezing arctic places now!

As I turned toward home, I pedaled hard through thick snow, enjoying feeling my muscles working hard to propel me forward. Some of you have asked what it's like to ride a snow bike. It depends on the snow conditions. Since starting snow biking, I fully understand why some native American languages have so many different words for snow.

In thick snow, it's incredibly hard work, requiring more leg strength than regular mountain biking. I hammer on the pedals as my huge tires churn through a substance that feels like mashed potatoes. Despite my extreme effort, I move forward at a slug's speed. In slick and cold snow, snow biking can be scary. Going downhill at speed requires a leap of faith that I won't hit an ice patch or a drift that will send me flying off the bike. Fortunately, after two seasons of snow biking, I've learned to anticipate these tough spots. My motto always is "live to ride another day" - so I just get off my bike and walk when the snow conditions seem too tricky. It's not worth risking my spine just to avoid walking a few steps.

The joy of snow biking is that I get to ride through gorgeous snowy aspen groves, deep forests and meadows at a time of year when most people are staying home. I see animal tracks in the snow all the time, drop my bike by the trail, and start following the tracks. I love following animal tracks and getting a glimpse of a wild animal's everyday life.

After my ride today, I checked some wildlife cameras. I'd put one in a new site, and my icon, the bobcat, sought it out to sit and preen as it took many photos of his gorgeous coat. It's rare that I get daylight close-up photos of a bobcat.

Look at the white and black stripes on the back of his ears and the tufts on his ear tips. What a magnificent animal. His luxurious dappled coat attracted many people to trap bobcats in the past. Fortunately, there's much less trapping now.

Just behind my house, a coyote trotted past a camera, showing off his thick coat and bushy black-tipped tail.

At exactly the same spot, a young bull elk sniffed the snowy trail.

Then, less than an hour later, a young mule deer buck sniffed exactly the same spot. I love the contrast between the two animals.

Time is marching by at warp pace. I'm so anxious for K to finally start mending and begin the rehabilitation process. After almost 10 weeks of this ordeal, it cannot happen soon enough for me. But, I also realize how thankful I am that she's simply by my side, regardless of how sedentary she must be.