Snowstorm and leaping elk

An amazing surprise storm hit us last night. Yesterday, K and I enjoyed a dry ride, with me pedaling my summer bike up to Hug Hill.

K rolled in the dry meadow grass, obviously wishing that it was snow.

Then, a fog started creeping up the valleys and slowly enveloped our world. The Pasqueflowers seemed to glow in the haze.

Later, as I rode solo, I intersected a band of elk, heading up to the hills from a meadow. A bull stopped to gaze at me through the fog.

By the time we took our evening hike, the sun had disappeared and snow pelted out of the sky.

The Duo surveyed the stormy meadow from a rocky ledge. I love how strong and lean they both look in silhouette.

Despite weather forecasts that predicted only a few inches of snow, we awakened to about 15" on the ground. It was wet and heavy snow - perfect to give our forest a long drink.

I knew that snowbiking was out of the question so I started my day with a snowshoe hike with the Duo through snow-laden pine trees. You can see R leading the way.

Both halves of the Duo porpoised through the snow, playing gleefully.

K seemed as strong as her brother in the bottomless cement-like snow.

R leading with the teeth...

R dashing through the snow.

They climbed atop a boulder outcropping.

But, R didn't stay for long. K looked down at him. I'm not sure if she disapproved or wished that she were as wild as he is!

After our hike, I hemmed and hawed about whether to ride my bike outdoors because the trails were impassable. Our dirt road already looked like a mud-fest due to rapidly melting spring snow, and I hate riding through thick road mud. However, I knew that if I ride my bike outdoors for another 10 days in a row, I will have achieved an entire year of riding outdoors every single day! So, I equipped my mud and ice bike with fenders and headed out to the dirt roads.

Within a few minutes, I was rewarded. As I rode down a quiet dirt road, a band of elk started running across one meadow and toward the road. The first elk crossed in front of me.

Then, the whole herd thundered toward the road, leaping a fence, one by one.

For the yearling calves, it was a big leap.

I didn't shoot any real video, but I compiled my rapid-fire series of still photos into a short video. If you can't view it here, try watching it on my Youtube Channel.

As I watched the elk, I was very happy that I'd weathered the "mud-fest" to go outside on my bike. I love seeing our wildlife, and I can't see them from an indoor trainer!

I arrived home, covered in mud but happy.