HUNTING -- I meant to take a relatively brief hike today from the Snake River up to the canyon rim and back.  But I made the mistake of bringing my shotgun and following my English setter. 

I think we saw the whole freaking canyon, up-down and sideway.

The south-facing slopes are bare, a magnet to deer, birds, coyotes and hawks that are having a tough time making a living through the boiler-plate snow cover higher in the Palouse.

But the frozen Snake canyon slopes of the morning transformed to grease in the afternoon sun even though the air temps never got much above freezing.

Sidehilling was something between treacherous and thrilling. I virtually glissaded down 50 feet to my dog on point one time.

Happiness is 10 steps on level ground in chukar country.

I'm hurtin', but happy.

My dog, Scout, is sacked out like a bear in winter.