Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Lovely Mariah in the hazy sunset smokelight. She was grazing in a shallow little arroyo below me … two band members to my right, two more behind her up the other slope. As much as she normally keeps an eye on me, I was lucky to get this one, millisecond look before she returned nonchalantly to her grazing.

I’ve been relieved and jubilant to discover that even during this drought, under smoky conditions, there is actual grass for the mustangs in Spring Creek Basin. And for the most part – a couple of hardworking stallions notwithstanding – the horses are in exceptional condition. As always, I’m thankful for the little/big things … and hopeful for rain to come (without lightning!), which ought to green the place up if we get “enough.”

The morning was clear again; the smoke drifted in again around mid-morning. The temp took its time rising, and it was 97F when I left for an appointment toward late afternoon. The Ferris Fire is at 63,000-plus acres, and nearly 850 people are assigned to fight it. According to Watch Duty, it’s the second largest wildfire currently in Colorado, the largest being the 97,504-acre Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Pueblo that has burned an estimated 850 structures and at least 300 homes. Heartbreaking. To our west, the Babylon Fire in Utah is burning 104,252 acres in the Abajo Mountains, southwest of our familiar La Sal Mountains. Northeast of us, the Gold Mountain Fire burns almost 35,000 acres west of new-start Elk Fire (250 acres).

Rick Freimuth, continuing to work on the Ferris Fire while his and wife Linda’s post at Benchmark Lookout is being defended from the fire, said, “The overhead teams relay that [the community’s gratitude] as well during morning briefings.”

So keep holding those folks in your prayers, and if you can make a donation to firefighters or communities ravaged by wildfires, please do so.