This morning, for the first time in days, the storm clouds had parted, and I could see the mountains, resplendent in their snowy cloaks.
The pups and I did some skiing, burning off a fraction of their limitless energy supplies.
R has been playing a game in the ski tracks that K doesn't like. He lies in the middle of the track, blocking her path, obviously prepared to pounce on her if she tries to pass him. 
This morning, K responded with a 'calming signal', basically saying 'Chill out, R' by sitting and looking away.
It worked. The jet black Lab stood up and started trotting ahead of K. It's fun watching the communication among dogs and their attempts to communicate with us. These 'calming signals' seem to be a key component of their communication.
During our ski, we saw a maze of elk tracks, criss-crossing the hillsides. At least part of the herd trudged through the deep snow in our forest and meadow last night.
After I dropped off the pups at home, I went out for a bike ride on our dirt roads. It was, bar none, one of the messiest rides I've ever done. The snow was melting in the sun, creating a roux of mud and slush. My fenders worked well but even slow-moving vehicles sprayed me in mud. Moreover, parades of hunters drove back and forth along the road, visually searching for deer or elk, rather than braving the deep snow to hunt in the forest. The sheriff and a D.O.W. vehicle drove past me several times - I think that their hands were full trying to deal with people who thought that it was OK to hunt from a residential road. The most obvious scofflaw had removed both license plates from his truck. Unbelievable.It was one of those rare days when I was glad to arrive home, away from the crazy people who seemed to have taken over our world. I did see some gorgeous views during my ride. This one includes the peak that K and I almost summitted in September. On that summer-autumn day, a few flakes of snow fell on us during a thunder storm - a prelude to the winter that's taken hold.
Happy Halloween from me and the furry creatures!
Happy Halloween to you too, KB. It's so funny to see you have snow on October 31.. I suspect it's not an uncommon occurrence in Colorado, but I don't think we've ever had it here that early.
ReplyDeleteIt's so fascinating to watch dogs as they communicate with each other. Calming signals must be pretty powerful if they can call off a young rambunctious dog like R.
Pawesome post again!
ReplyDeleteTank woo fur sharing!
Happy HOWLoween!
I hope woo get lots of treats without any trikhks!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: Mom is shaking her head at the fine upstanding citizen without his license plates!
That "calming pose" looked to me as though K was feigning indifference - it seemed to work great! R decided if he couldn't get a rise out of her, he might as well move along. What glorious morning clouds, KB! I had some pink wisps, but nothing as dramatic as yours. It was a beautiful blue-sky day, though - went for a great hike through the snow. Our back forest doesn't get any hunters - too hard to navigate and ATV's are prohibited. Thank Goodness!
ReplyDeleteExquisite views! We don't have much snow left, but Stella was out in whats left most of the day. Tomorrow is November 1st, its OK to have snow then. My attitude is lets get on with it!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Stella and her Mom
Happy Howl-o-ween to you too. Betting you get as many trick-or-treaters as we do - none.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your beautiful world! You have a great way with words too. The boys here would love a good snow this year, maybe we will get more than a dusting just once.
ReplyDeleteHappy Howl-o-ween, the OP Pack
We're still just getting rain here, although this morning, after the rain stopped and after I hung out laundry, a few snowflakes fell from the sky, but that was about it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!
Hey there KB
ReplyDeleteHappy Howl-o-ween to you too!
The picture are beautiful again! Thank you!
pssst....Stella has put up an awesome post - in your honour!
Lotsalicks
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA
B does that to L all the time when we walk through the fields - cuts him off and then waits to ambush him. Sometimes this will start a bout of playing and chasing, but other times L will offer some look-aways and then walk on by.
ReplyDeleteThat's scary about people trying to hunt from the road. I saw some hunters pulling out of our road yesterday morning- I don't know if someone had given them permission to hunt on their land out here, or if they were just cruising around. I guess I need to make sure we all have our blaze orange on again.