On our hike through the ravine trails yesterday it was a physical challenge slogging uphill and retaining balance on the downhill clambers. Our boots, despite the cleats securely strapped onto them, slid deep into the melting snowpack. It's thick and firm yet sloppy on the trails. So ascending the hills means twice the usual effort to compensate for the backward slide with every step.

That, of course, means that the environment is gradually adjusting to spring. Though, to be sure, looking about at the landscape, spring doesn't come immediately to mind. The forest remains clamped deep in snow. But the thaw, or some semblance of it, is beginning to make its mark. With their four nimble, young and strong legs Jackie and Jillie encounter no such physical difficulties that our 82-year-old legs struggle with.

The only other person we came across throughout the time we were out on our lengthy circuit was a young woman struggling to mount a hill we were descending. Our descent was quick and hers was more prolonged on the ascent because, as she said ruefully, she had decided not to strap her cleats on before setting out. Since we're out every day in the ravine we reserve a sturdy old pair of winter boots with those cleats permanently strapped on. In her case, she would have had to remind herself to put on the cleats since if the same boots are not used in such forested landscapes as are worn on the street one automatically removes them as unnecessary for use on the street.

She laughed and said she'd remember tomorrow if she came out again with her friendly, large black dog, who wanted to play with Jackie and Jillie. Because they'd never seen the dog before they were suspicious and stand-offish. A second meeting, if it ever occurs, would change that dynamic. The young woman also mentioned that the following day whatever melted in the 2C-degree temperature of yesterday would be restored since we were due for another snowfall.

We knew that, of course. People living in this geography become fixated on the weather. And listen carefully to weather forecasts to be aware of what to expect in days to come. So we expected snow for Saturday, the penultimate day of March 2019. March is always an 'iffy' month weatherwise in this region; completely unpredictable.

We had no reason to be taken by surprise when we came downstairs for breakfast this morning on a heavily overcast day, to see snow falling. But we were, regardless. And stood looking through the glass of the front door as the atmosphere released its considerable store of frozen crystals on the landscape. It snowed for hours, the snow turning into thick lumps of light snow.

And then, at noon, the snow was over. But the precipitation wasn't, since snow had turned to freezing rain as the temperature rose from -1C to the high for the day, 2C. We broke the news to Jackie and Jillie that no, unfortunately, we wouldn't be going out to the ravine to hike the forest trails today.