Hiking conditions in many of the trails through the ravine have reached the point where the going is snow- and ice-melting tough, conditions that most people prefer to avoid and thus the likelihood of offending anyone trekking through is remote, should you conduct yourself in a socially-questionable manner. In an excess of gratefulness for what we have and the happiness it brings, my husband will often stop me, circle me in his arms and give me a good stiff hug.

Those moments are unexpected but more frequent in such conditions where it's unlikely anyone will see us, and yesterday was one of those times when it was my turn to insist on hugs and kisses aplenty. Last week before the trails descended into the boot-grabbing chaos of deep melt we came across a little coterie of teen-age girls, as healthy-looking and beautiful as they tend to be, giggling together and obviously intent on something.

That something was evident enough to us. Just before coming across the little group we had encountered a single young woman, heart-achingly sweet and a treat for the eyes, happy to see someone else, and carrying with her a shopping bag full of something, alongside a carrier of soft drinks which she had set down on the melting snow to be able to give her full attention to Jackie and Jillie, clamouring about her for just that purpose.

The little group was obviously setting out to meet up with the first young woman and they were going to party, discreetly, privately, fresh ambient air guaranteed to welcome the fragrance of skunk. One of the girls had a large leashed family dog with her; I remember using that kind of ruse to put off my parents when they wanted to know 'where are you going?, and we had a good chuckle.

Now, however, it's only the die-hard trekkers willing to put up with the inconvenience and difficulty of getting up those hillsides while even with cleats you keep slithering back down them thanks to the deep, icy slurries of the melt. When we come across little puddles of meltwater on flat terrain, Jillie leaps over to the other side; Jackie, just like the male he is, troops right through the guck. That's why we're still gearing them up with boots.

What a day yesterday was! We sat out on the steps of our deck in the full sun enjoying the warmth of the spring sun, with Jackie and Jillie urgently doing their best to fit into the non-existent space between us. It was hard to tear ourselves away from that idyll, even for the purpose of heading out to the ravine, but we did, and didn't regret it.

A balmy breeze wafted around us in the ravine, we could hear chickadees, nuthatches and woodpeckers claiming their happiness with the turn of the weather. We slopped about in our boots trying to avoid the widening rivulets of meltwater sliding down the hills. The sun and the breeze, the exploratory ventures of Jackie and Jillie, the bird-chatter and the high of 17C, gave us the conviction that spring had finally arrived.