03/30/07 Same trails

Same Trails It's that time of year again. What time of year? I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this to tell you. Well if you've lived over one year, it's always that time of year again. This time of year I'm talking about of course, is spring. Each time of the year is special, but spring is an awakening, a cleanness, a freshness, and a new beginning all rolled into one special time. Like anything new, sometimes spring doesn't exactly fall into a routine real easily with unexpected snowstorms, windstorms, and mini heat waves at any given time. One thing about spring snowstorms is that you know they're not going to stay around too long and if they don't complicate calving season they are a good source of extra moisture. While all the new calves and young animals are a great part of spring, there are other aspects that I also enjoy. It's that time of year when you can turn out those horses you've kept up all winter, let them have their turn in the bunch grass, catch up one that needs a good ride and take that first spring ride. It's real odd that all those trails you rode last summer seem so new again. The intriguing part to me is looking for tracks on that trail and wonder about the animals that moved along them just when the fall snow stayed for the first time and the muddy spring tracks of deer or possibly a cougar making its rounds. Yep, they are all the trails you've ridden for years, but in the spring its always like being on them for the very first time. I'm Jeff Keane.