Day 4 photos and notes:
I doesn't seem possible that it's Wednesday.  The time goes by quickly when its busy!  Today we did a very looooong hike.  We left the house at 7, headed into Utah which is about 25 miles from the house, and returned at 6:30 tonight!   We got another adult cat today - one that had been previously collared and needed a new collar. She's a mom with kittens that are about twice the size of the ones I showed you the other day.  I didn't see those kittens - but did get to see her.  She was tranquilized for a long time and ended up leaving a mark in the snow from the heat of her body.  I took a picture of it for you to see (below).  It looks like some kind of ancient drawing, I think!
During our hike today we went up and over the mountains.  At one point we were well over 8,000 feet above sea level.  That's about 3,000 feet higher than the White Mountains in New Hampshire which average around 4,000  feet. I took some photos for you to see from the summit.  The land seems to go on forever!  There were some interesting rocks at the top with lichens growing on them.  Do you remember that lichens are really 2 organisms living together?  Do a little research and see if you can find out more about them. They are really something to see at such a high altitude when so much of the area looks grey and white - it was strange to see bright colors growing on the rocks!
We saw lots of coyote and snowshoe hare prints while we walked.  There were lots of lion and bobcat prints, too. There were golden eagles and bald eagles flying overhead. I saw several magpies, too.  Have you ever seen one?
 

	This was about halfway to the top.  Can you see the mountains below?  It was very cold - and all the plants grow very low to the ground.  Can you imagine why?
	This is the juniper that I'm standing in front of in the photo above.  It's not only low to the ground, but look at how twisted it looks.  What do you think that's from?
	These colors really stand out on the rocks.  - everything else seems to be the same and then this orange.  It was a surprise!
	When we got near the summit the wind was blowing hard and it was snowing and cold.  If you look closely at this photo you'll see the line where the wind blew the snow across the rocks. There is snow on one side and lichens on the other. Can you see them on the rocks?
	A view in one direction from the top.
	This is the outline of the lion we got today. While she was sleeping (tranquilized) the snow melted underneath and left this "cat print".    It looks like  a cave painting, doesn't it?