Bugling in a Snowstorm

Snow in Colorado. Mud in the dog yard.
Since last night, we have had a steady snowfall. However, before temperatures dropped, we had a warm day of rain. Therefore, the dog yard has become a mud pit. Without frozen ground, the snow has been sinking into each dog's spot, making a bowl of red dirt and puddles. I thought that I had been dirty before with dogs jumping on me....that was nothing compared to this morning. The dogs usually curl up in their houses during a storm, but this morning with the prospect of running, they all came out with gusto. Splashing in mud puddles and slipping down hills made sure that I was covered from head to toe in sticky mud. I could have been miserable in the wet, but the snow and dogs just kept me laughing. They all looked so funny, like completely different dogs.
After harnessing the racing dogs, the dogs left behind greeted the quiet snow with a group howl. The darkness seemed to cling to the earth even longer today as the clouds would not give way to the sun. Even the ride on the ATV was peaceful and dark. Snow seems to muffle everything else, make it slower and quieter. It also gives everything a mystical quality; the sagebrush dusted with snow, the fuzzy outline of a mountain through the falling flakes.
The moment became unreal when we pulled the dogs back into the driveway. The sky was just beginning to lighten and the snow was still coming down thick. Off to the left of the driveway, a massive bull elk appeared. He seemed to emerge out of the snow; a great presence in the silent world. Bill turned off the ATV and we sat staring at the beast. The dogs showed no interest, just panted and whined in the cold. The elk stared right back at us with hot breath steaming out of his mouth. Quickly, I counted 14 points on his rack. This was, by far, the largest elk I have seen thus far. After a few more seconds, the elk lifted his head and bugled to the sky. The bugle of a stag elk is eerie.It is a long, high-pitched call into the wind. With that, he turned and ran back into the storm.
For the next hour, I heard a few more bugles, returned by other elk. Perhaps he was protecting his territory or calling to a mate. Either way, I hope that he comes back so it won't be the last time that I see such a prince.