Willow and I finished up our volunteer time in the mountains last week. The fall colors were coming on strong. Weather was a mix of damp and dry days and we had a short snow squall. We enjoyed lots of time on the trails, remembering the times we shared them with Sky. The night sky was illuminated by the waxing gibbous moon. It’s a beautiful season.
We got up early the other day to try to beat others to this popular trailhead. It wasn’t too crowded nor too hot. Sky can’t go far in the heat so we try to take it easy for her sake. Willow goes and goes, probably twice as far as me and Sky! It wasn’t that long ago that Sky could go and go. This is the trail where Sky had her first hike and drank out of her first creek. She may have been carried for part of that hike. She was still a little pup.
This group of Columbian ground squirrels seemed to be posing for family photos. First there was one, then there were three and then there were four, although the fourth one was a little camera shy. And then there was one.
I don’t know what they were watching. Maybe my car, parked to the left and behind? The dogs were in it. And then to the right. Did they sense something I did not? They were pretty cute.
Willow and her friend, Gretta, and their Good Girl drivers got out for a very nice hike early this week. They started early and did not encounter too many people on the trails – a few through hikers and some day hikers along with a few dogs. Everyone was quite pleasant. The weather was mostly overcast for the first half of the hike which was a relief since it was all uphill. At the top, there was a breeze to keep the bugs away. The downhill part, with its relentless switchbacks, was dusty and dry. Willow and Gretta needed extra water. Fortunately Gretta’s drive brought two extra liters. Willow’s driver will know to bring more next time. Everyone was tickled when we finally reached the creeks near the lake and managed to cool off for the last two miles back to a car.
Sometimes, winter seems never ending with a long drawn out mud season. This year, the snow melted quickly and now everything is green again. It’s still possible to find patches of snow in shady, north facing places and the dogs celebrate each of those little patches. Tiny wildflowers are in bloom and the balsamroot and serviceberry are ready to color all the hillsides. Bees and other insects are out foraging. Butterflies are showing up. For now, it’s quiet around town and trails offer solitude. Soon the pass will open and that will all change but for now, the dogs and I are enjoying being out on the landscape.
My Everyday Photos 