the stock. Then you scan the brush again. Still, nothing. So you slowly turn to the left and look down to see that there is nothing to make any noise before you put your foot down. You take a step, then stop and watch, and wait. Then, you do it again and again. All of your senses have shifted into high gear. The sun is getting higher in the sky and the air has lost its chill. But, the steady DECEMBER 2019 dripping of melting snow makes you wish it were still cold. So you perk your ears up and take another slow-motion step. In mid-stride a nearby tree cracks like a pistol and you quickly bring your foot down and, now you've done it. The branch you've stepped on didn't make nearly as much noise as the tree popping in the warming air, but it didn't 21