Weather swept in a crisp dry air this morning that in moments of sunshine made even the distant edge of mountains as clean as the cleanest line could be.
The Eagle clan--11 strong--went on an all-day hike that took us through forests of conifer trees already laden with fresh snow. Cross red squirrels chattered to warn us to not come too close but our merry band of 8th graders chatted on without a moment's concern. Although Jackie & Cat, our two excellent guides thought we were likely to spot bear or moose, any self-respecting wild animal would have heard us a good country mile away. We had to settle for spotting a woodpecker high in an aspen tree, beaking its heart out in search of an insect. Near the end of the hike two bald eagles soared over Phelps Lake which was formed by glaciers 14,000 years ago. Their tail feathers gleamed a translucent gold and they roamed at ease in the chilly heights.
We climbed a 1000 feet in elevation and although Daniel diverted all by juggling with snowballs on the trail, the wiles and ways, whys and wherefores of a delicate ecosystem came in to sharper focus every time we stopped to look, smell, and touch.
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