Back to Star Mt.

The Castles

And Star Mt. it is. We landed in Denver to light snow, which required brushing two inches off the windshield of the rental car by Mark before we could proceed, and it continued to snow through the mountains until we got to a sunny and dry Monarch Pass. Ironic since that was the one area we were sure would have issues. Quite the transition from Florida!

On May 1, 2 inches of snow fell at the house. Melted off by noon. That's spring in the mountains for you... The peaks will keep snow until August.

Beyond the late brief snow, everything is greening up by the day, we have a lovely display of daffodils out front and the birds are everywhere. One of "our" pair of bluebirds is here and diligently working on a nest under our deck and a couple of hummingbirds buzzed the deck when we got here clearly sending a 'where is our feeder' message. I promptly put one of our Big Boys up; gotta feed these tiny creatures who traveled all the way from Mexico just to land here. Makes my head spin to imagine the journey.

I'm happy to report that Mark's RC surgery went well. That was the whole reason we flew back to Star Mt. I can't say enough about his surgeon  Dr. Gloria Beim, who was the head doctor for the last winter U.S. Olympics team. Patients seek her out from far and wide so we feel lucky to be able to have her help us. Recovery is going much better than expected although this does not unfortunately shorten the infamous sling time (6 weeks). I've been taught rehab to do with him 3 times a day from the PT which goes on for 4 weeks. No driving either so I'll be going back with him to Florida in a couple weeks to help until he can function on his own. But no fly fishing or golf for him this season. Boo.

Shaggy winter coats still

The elk were here on our first day. Wonderful. It's the 80 or so group of females who come back every year to graze and birth at Star Mt., our woods being a key spot. We've had magical sightings of the babies and the gathering at the end of June. The gathering happens when at a signal only known to the elk they assemble from every part of Star Mt. on the hills in front of us with all the babies in tow, milling around, and then off they go to an unknown destination.

Springy things are happening all over. The calves were born while we were gone and in every field up and down Ohio Creek there are teeny ones dotted everywhere. The first teeny bluebell wildflowers are popping up along with the greening of every nook and cranny. Aspen leafing out next.

Been on my woods walk a few times now and it never gets old. It smells different here and the sounds are only nature ones. And I with my marvelous tracking skills notice elk tracks in the dirt road, elk pee and poop, and the occasional coyote poop. This is a skill that's probably only useful here, I'm pretty certain. The deer traditionally come later than the elk so I don't expect to see Flap anytime soon but I'll have my eyes peeled just in case.