This wonderful sight greeted me the other day as I drove into Spring Creek Basin and gave me a face-stretching grin right from the beginning.
I tie the look-at-me flagging to this sign every autumn right before third rifle season in an attempt to remind the hordes that off-road travel is verboten in the basin (throughout Disappointment Valley, as numerous signs warn). But the flagging is relevant year-round, also, particularly, in the spring when people emerge from winter hibernation and flock to the backcountry (for recreation as well as to hunt “sheds” – antlers shed by mule deer and elk – that can go for big bucks).
Neither the flagging nor the signs are a complete deterrent (as some folks “helpfully” remind me, people need to be able to read …), and every fall and spring (particularly), I find tracks of vehicles that have gone off the road and up and down broad arroyos.
Contaminates in the waterways, destruction of vulnerable seeps, crushing of vegetation that may take years – if ever – to recover. Those are just some of the reasons we want people to stick to the established roads and OFF the rest of the sensitive areas.
Most people are good visitors, I’m happy to say. There are always those who don’t care or believe they can go wherever they want to go because they’re in a vehicle that *can* take them there and/or are too lazy to get off/out of their buggies and walk 30 yards (or so) to look over a ridge or examine our water catchments. But the majority are respectful, and for that, I’m grateful.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Absolutely love the new greeters for you! They are thanking the visitors who comply with the rules.
I think so, too. 🙂 I love them!
The “girls” and their stallion are just beautiful & look really happy there.
They really seem to be settled and content. I’m so glad that it’s apparent not just to me. 🙂
I would be sorely tempted to put up my own signs – “DANGER! Old Land Mine Testing Site – Stick to the roadways” – but well, lies come with their own set of problems to be solved – 😀
Excellent!
Ha – and I don’t think BLM would be happy with that. 🙂
Nope! They wouldn’t be! And the resources needed to keep the cover story ‘lying sign’ up would be immense – which means, in the end, your flagging way better – just figured you and your readership would forgive my ‘dark humour’ ways – over it “Life doesn’t seem to change much, no matter how many signs you post ” – 😀
They know you are their friend, and they are thanking you!
I’m thanking them for approving the protections! It was so perfect and fun to see them there. 🙂
So true TJ!! I know how important it is, having seen the damage wheels do to the precious desert eco system .
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It is so fragile, and the vegetation needs all the help it can get to hold the soil together.
Who is the lucky boy with these girls, again? Buckeye? Or am I thinking of someone else. They all look happy with eachother.
Yes, Buckeye. 🙂
Wonderful poster children – like to think of the pose as a gentle reminder that the land is their home and is to be protected and respected.
Yes, and yes! Perfectly said. 🙂
Ha. And here are today’s host and hostesses…and a good-looking bunch they are! I love that Buckeye and his girls hang out in Chromeland. ♥️ And yes, how frustrating it is to see those tracks where they don’t belong. So many people have no concept of good stewardship, even with signs to remind them.
We just have to keep talking and gently educating. I think most people, when they *know*, they like to do the right thing(s). 🙂
“I’m just going to scratch my butt here….” What a beautiful group. That would make my day.
That’s exactly what I think Buckeye had been doing – scratching his butt on the post. 🙂 Then, I think, it was just a convenient place to lean!
Maybe both??? I am sure he’s not saying…