Majestic mountain splendor

Oooh, so gorgeous now I can hardly stand it. As you can see, the aspen are halfway out and just that alone is enough to put a spring in your step. The runoff water is still in full roaring mode. The snowpack was very good this year and makes for high, high water in all the rivers, streams, and creeks. Too high and muddy for fishing yet.

The deer are back and I have eyes peeled for Flap. Her flappy piece of ear is very distinctive (probably tore it on a fence years ago) so easy to spot in a crowd. We only saw her twice last year and she barely stopped in our yard. Which is mostly a good thing, since she eats all manner of things that other deer won't.

The old school house sans roof - 125 years old

This tree was right by the road, more bear climbing tracks

Mining town of Baldwin -  used to be 100 buildings late 1800's

Longer hike/walks happening around Star Mt. as I'm trying to get in shape for some big plans in July. We're planning on doing the Crested Butte to Aspen hike and Mark has talked me into hiking our first 14er. For those you aren't in the know that's a 14,000 ft mountain. Yeah, well it's a plan... Anyway I've been wandering on roads I don't normally travel even though it Star Mt. (a big place this is) and got some nice photos.

The dreaded purple larkspur are here (they're gorgeous flowers but poisonous to cattle) hence our rancher does not put the cattle in until first of July when they're done.

Scared a male grouse in full protective scary "eye" and big fan tail. There's a nest close by for sure...

For those of you who were worried, never fear the magic spring is still going strong. 24/7, 365 days a year. As pure water goes, its right up at the top, lucky for all of us able to access it.

Look who came back! The female Bullock's Oriole( the western version of Baltimore Oriole). I think that's going to be it for the sighting though. She couldn't get anything from our big boy feeders unlike the regular kind. I have crazy pictures of the male and female hanging upside down slurping away a couple of years ago.

Still can't jump in the jeep for some fantastic mountain trip. Too early. Most passes are not open yet including Ohio Pass. Enormous amounts of snow left to melt. They have been working on Kebler Pass including announcing if you were foolish enough to leave a snowmobile from the winter it will be pushed off. Okay then.