Signs of spring

We have been texting to Matt over the past few minutes.  He told us this morning he was heading up the hill on snowshoes to discourage trespasssers hunting for elk horns that have been shed during the winter.  We asked if he was taking his bear spray, and he replied he was "old school", maintaining his safety in the tried and true ways of the Old West.  He then just recently texted down to us "Grizzly tracks- sow and cub" For those of you who have visited and hiked the ranch lands with us, his next text said "Below the logging road"- that's pretty close to us.  We asked which direction the tracks were heading "Toward the house".  Well, that  will provide the excitement for him in the coming month.  He lost two calves to grizzly last spring, and expects he will this spring.
The new development is that we won't be here to patrol for grizzly in the middle of the night for him. Things are coalescing for us to head east on April 1, moseying our way back to Newport.  Hilary and Andrew's new baby, Emery Grace, was born on Wednesday.  Hannibal and Julie fly back to Alaska.  67 calves have been born.  Sam (owner of the house we are in) flies in for a visit March 28-March 31.  Then Ginny has a cousin coming to stay with her for a week.  So we will have Easter here, then head out early Monday morning , April 1 (no joke), aiming to take four days to drive back, arriving home the night of April 4.  Many things may adjust the timing there, but that is the plan.
We had two new calves during our calf checks yesterday.  One was quite large, and unable to unfold its hoof joints to stand, so couldn't nurse.  It was cold and snowy.  Betsy remembered Matt mentioning that sometimes they kind of gave up, but if forced to stand, the hooves would start working and they would make it.  So she worked and worked to stand the calf up.  It kept toppling, or knuckling down on folded hooves, but after a while, he stood a little.  Later, on the evening check, Matt said he was standing!  So physical therapist Betsy may have made the difference for this little one.
Calves everywhere now.  Temperature in the teens last night.  And now we know there are predators within a quarter mile.  No easy life cattle ranching up at this altitude at this time of year.  Betsy and I did a night check last night, but didn't yet know of the grizzly tracks.  Guess bear spray accompanies us on our walk this morning and on our calf patrols from now on.
 Not to the Rusty Rail restaurant tonight, though, where we dine with Jay and June before heading up to Jardine to hear Bob Landis and see his latest nature video clips.