October’s full moon is called the hunter’s moon as it is the time of year when hunters begin collecting food and storing it for the long and cold winter months ahead, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Many moons ago, Native Americans named this bright moon for obvious reasons,” the Almanac said.
Storm just knows it’s time to start getting fuzzy because the days are shorter and the nights are colder!
The love I feel for these horses and this land … indescribable. 🙂
The wind kicked up across southwestern Colorado, but the mustangs never seem to mind. They can’t do a thing about it, and they don’t complain … as the humans do. 🙂 Because that wind saps moisture from ground and plants and skin.
Above, Maia enjoys the grazing in the last light of the day as clouds built in the west, bringing the potential for moisture.
Gaia and Storm enjoy a little couple time on a ridge a bit southwest of McKenna Peak.
Finding them was a definite case of being in the absolute right place at the absolute right time; I saw Gaia and another horse from a distance … and then they disappeared again. I didn’t see them on my hike out to them until I was below their ridge, where another band member was napping just visible at the near-top of the ridge.
I’m always glad to see these guys. They’re so rarely seen!
If you’re local – or even if you’re not local but will be in the area – please join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum, a couple of miles outside Dolores, Colorado, for an event to celebrate the yearlong exhibit of Colorado’s mustangs and the 50th anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. (Click on that “flyer-final” link above to see the PDF of the announcement.)
If you go: Tres Rios Field Office Manager Connie Clementson will give an introductory presentation and be there to answer questions. You’ll get to meet adopted Spring Creek Basin mustangs Whisper and Skipper (also featured in the exhibit on the panel of adopters and in the short film) with their humans, Tif Rodriguez and Keith Bean. In addition to providing the opportunity to meet these stellar ambassadors of Spring Creek Basin, Tif and Keith will talk about their adoption experiences and give tips about how to adopt a mustang. Kathryn Wilder will read excerpts from her book “Desert Chrome: Water, a Woman, and Wild Horses in the West.” Books won’t be available for sale at the event, but her tantalizing readings will leave you wanting information on how to purchase “Desert Chrome,” which she will happily provide. Visitors also can sign up to go through the exhibit in the museum with me and learn more about Colorado’s wild horses.
Hope to see a lot of mustang folks there!
Seneca walks past a sunset-lit background rarely seen from this angle in the far southeastern region of Spring Creek Basin. The usual grey of the Mancos shale was lit up by intense low light, making it glow red. A brilliant background for a brilliant girl (even if she does seem to be showing her grumpy face!).
How the little guy with the big heart makes our hearts go pitter-pat … ! 🙂
The snow that didn’t stick in Spring Creek Basin or lower Disappointment Valley DID linger on the higher ridges, including Temple Butte and McKenna Peak (not pictured in this image).
All moisture is good moisture, and we were plenty happy to get rain down-valley.
And remember the views of the Glade, where the trees were golden?
It has gotten a little snowy and grey up there now. 🙂
Before the humans knew about the existence of another little band nearby, Spirit was prompt in her investigation of the intruders. Hollywood, laidback guy that he is, wandered after her, but it was very anticlimactic, and he just quietly ushered her back to the rest of his band. All’s well that ends well!
Only a rainbow with Temple as its treasure could complete the “gold” I see when I look at this pic. 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 