Early spring thaw

There is a moment when you have your feet firmly planted in one season and you suddenly see a fleeting glimpse of the season to come. For the past few weeks I’ve been hearing whispers of spring in the air despite still freezing temperatures and a frozen landscape piled high with snow and ice. A few random gusts of wind (which becomes a four letter word here in Cle Elum in the spring-time), Ellie, our neighborly wild elk, beginning to shed her winter finery, the early morning trill of the red-wing blackbirds, and the croak of one lone frog in the evening. We often think, “It’s too soon/too early/too fast,” but who better than the animals to keep nature’s time?

Then suddenly this week the rain came, the wind blew, and literally overnight the snow and mountains of ice were washed away in torrents. So stark was the contrast from one day to the next it was as if the great sleeping hills suddenly awoke from their winter’s slumber and stood up in the night, shaking off their thick blankets of snow. We had driven home through a snow covered valley one night and arrived to a decidedly green one the next morning. The humans and chimpanzees alike stood looking around, gobsmacked, at the sudden thaw.

On this particular day I went into the chimp house fully expecting Jamie to be ready and waiting to go on a walk, but I found everyone enjoying a group grooming session at the top of the warm and humid greenhouse. I said, “Chimpanzees! Have you seen Young’s Hill?! There is NO snow out there!! Let’s go!!” This was met with looks of complete disinterest despite my animated attempts to rouse them into going outside. So I finally decided to just go for a walk on my own when who decided to join me? Burrito! After weeks upon weeks of slipping, sliding, and sinking through snow and ice it felt amazing to be able to finally walk unencumbered. As Burrito and I headed off, the other chimpanzees began trickling out of the greenhouse, each seemingly in as much awe as the humans over the changed landscape.

Jody walked onto Young’s Hill and just stood, staring, before marching with purpose to the very top of the hill for the first time all winter:

Annie quickly made her way up to Carlene’s Tower (in this photo the snow was still melting off the surrounding hillside, but by the next day it was completely gone as well):

Foxie was finally able to check out her favorite spot atop Jamie’s Tower:

Missy, who could be spotted zigging and zagging in every direction at full speed, took a break to take in the landscape:

With such a fast melt off multiple rivers and waterfalls have sprung up and there is a larger stream currently running downhill between us and the neighboring property. Jamie can hear the rushing water, but it’s not visible from our side so she frequently stops to listen and try to figure out what she hears:

The first several times around the hill Jamie’s hair was pilo-erect (standing on end) from her excitement:

Burrito was actually the first to walk all the way around the perimeter after the snow melt! Anna got this cute photo of him on top of a structure getting a better view of things:

Jamie:

Foxie:

Jamie strutting with joyful satisfaction around her fiefdom:

The chimpanzees have been SO happy! And the staff and volunteers have been joining them in group walks which has only added to their excitement (and ours too!). Running, leaping and climbing to their hearts content. I can just imagine how wonderful it must feel for them to be able to move at full speed in every direction after so many wintery weeks. I suspect that lady winter hasn’t entirely moved on yet, but all the primates here are sure enjoying this time.

And in case you’re wondering, there haven’t been any sightings of Queen Neggie outside yet, but rest assured she’s just waiting for the first spring grass to appear, a particular favorite of hers to eat.