The rainy spell broke this afternoon at 4. A call followed shortly from a friend with a tram pass and the inclination to use it after dinner. One of the few benefits of our industrial tourism, the tram takes you from tidewater to alpine in minutes.

At the tram terminus true summer comes late so spring flowers still line the trail and the salmon berry leaves retain the promise of spring. (Achingly beautiful backlit by this evening sun.) Climbing above a pocket valley we pass some European visitors with news of a family of four black bears across the way. Soon we are straining to see a mother and three young enjoy the sunny warm evening. Mother eats while the cubs play in the new growth. Someone with binoculars passes them around our small international gathering — held together on this green mountain side by the family of four.