I'll now hand you over to my best man, Eddie.

Wow, wow, wow, second time's a charm, eh, Billy Boy. Oh, God. Substitution, courtesy of Paddy Power, embarrassing Eddie, makes way for sensible Samuel. Cool, that was close. You might not always pick the right starter, but your sub can still deliver. Because with Paddy's super sub, your bet rolls over to the player coming on. Panny Power.

Valid on selected leagues and markets only.

Prematch and in-play bets on qualifying player outcome selections only.

T's and Clusions apply.

18 plus scummelaware.org.

I took a weekday off after a cold snap in early November and drove up Salmon River Road

from Welch's to the Salmon River West Trailhead, just past Green Canyon Campground.

The lot was quiet, two cars, both dusty and empty.

I signed the register, put a folded paper map in my jacket pocket,

clipped bear spray on my chest strap, and started down the Salmon River Trail.

My plan was simple, hike a few miles in, and turn around well before dusk.

The bridges had a thin skin of frost, the air in the low 30s, leaves dry on top and damp underneath.

The river carried a steady hum that rose and dipped as the canyon The air in the low thirties, leaves dry on top and damp underneath.

The river carried a steady hum that rose and dipped as the canyon narrowed,

and the ferns held last night's cold like they'd been in shade all day.

I noticed the first sign in a patch of soft duff just off the tread.

Deer tracks, fresh enough that the edges hadn't slumped. Overlapping them were rounder impressions with no claw marks and a three-lobed heel pad. The stride looked measured,

not bounding. I'd sat through a safety talk at an ODFW, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

event the summer before. Don't run. Don't crouch. Keep your

face toward a big cat. Arms up if it closes. Voice firm. Bear spray is a barrier, not a punishment.

I told myself I was just seeing what people always see after a cold snap when the ground holds

...