ing the mountain. I back-tracked them and found 

 the den in which the grizzly had spent the winter. 

 The inside of the den was gravelly and compara- 

 tively clean. Only this single line of tracks led from 

 the den, though the weather had been clear for a 

 week; so I judged this was the first time the griz- 

 zly had sauntered forth. It was just sundown when 

 I reached the den. The heights were icy, and I hesi- 

 tated about continuing across the Divide that night, 

 so concluded to occupy the den. I knew that bears 

 often take a short ramble in the spring and then 

 return to the den, but I took the chances of shar- 

 ing it with him. I do not know what the grizzly 

 did that night — whether or not he came back. 

 But my fire in the mouth of the den may have kept 

 him at bay. 



The hard, cracked skin on the soles of the griz- 

 zly's feet is shed during hibernation, and the feet 

 in spring are soft and tender. For several days he 

 avoids traveling over rough places. His claws grow 

 out during the winter rest, also. When he goes to 

 sleep they are worn, broken, and blunt; but he 

 comes out of winter quarters with claws long and 

 moderately pointed. 



What is the grizzly's condition in the spring 

 91 



