
Skywalker posing. He’s so nonchalant about even that. 🙂

Skywalker posing. He’s so nonchalant about even that. 🙂

Shadow clears the coast before leading her band ahead. They weren’t at all worried with their leader on the watch; they had already settled down to graze.
It was a muddy, muddy hike to get to the band in the basin. Still lots of moisture in the ground! And more rain in the forecast. 🙂

You’re about to read something you might not ever read on this blog again:
These mustangs are in Spring Creek.
🙂
Spring Creek actually is flowing in Spring Creek Basin these days, and it’s flowing from snow melt – and rain – and it is providing the horses with more than a flash of drinking water. This is the first time I’ve really known the arroyo that is Spring Creek to run with snow melt. Usually, it flows for a limited time after a significant rain event, and then it’s a dry arroyo again.
This has been an unusual winter in many ways.
Now, our Spring Creek Basin mustangs are enjoying water in Spring Creek, and it’s a beautiful world after all. 🙂
(Spring Creek and its tributary arroyos – many of which also are running or at least trickling with water right now – drain Spring Creek Basin, which really is a large geographic “bowl.” Water drains out of the basin and flows in the Spring Creek arroyo across lower Disappointment Valley to Disappointment Creek, and from there to the Dolores River. Usually, all those arroyos are dry, and Spring *Creek* is a misnomer. The mustangs always are in Spring Creek *Basin* Herd Management Area. They’re rarely in Spring *Creek* because it – and the other arroyos – usually are simply dry washes or ditches or drainages.)

A little snow on the far ridges (like Temple Butte), a little mud on the ponies (and the boots). That’s our Spring Creek Basin. 🙂

Another little bitty pretty in the basin. 🙂

In a single picture, this explains Disappointment Valley these days:
+ A little snow in the shady (north-facing) places.
+ Monochromatic scenery as a wonderfully wet winter fades.
+ One very handsome – and mud-speckled – mustang looking just the slightest bit pudgy. 🙂
The rockband layer in the background at left is above a canyon through which Disappointment Creek flows. The creek is running. It doesn’t run through Spring Creek Basin – in fact, the arroyos and drainages of the upper, southern part of the herd management area drain into Disappointment Creek – but that riparian corridor benefits a wide variety of other wildlife in the area.
I think the ponies look their shaggiest just before they start shedding, and handsome Mister Maiku is looking very shaggy. 🙂

The sun is shining after three days and nights of rain (we didn’t float away, but we sure are soggy!), and these three girls are shining bright in these sweet March days.

She’s the prettiest shaggy little lady ever. 🙂



Yeah.
It’s a little bit like that. 🙂

The little blue “square” in the middle is just east of McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area (labeled), which is east of and in the eastern part of Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area.
I’m wearing a smile as big and broad as lower Disappointment Valley. 🙂