Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

It actually sprinkled a little while after I took this shot of Shane, looking at something that had been capturing her attention for quite a while (though I never did figure out what it was), a few evenings ago. She is in Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, of course, but the background (you can just barely see Disappointment Road at about her chest level) is beyond the herd management area.

Disappointment Creek flows through that canyon (well, it does when it flows; it’s not flowing now and hasn’t for a couple of months), beyond the horses’ reach.

It’s a very enticing view, though, and rarely are the horses within range of it to show it in their background. So to whatever was repeatedly catching Shane’s attention, thanks! (There’s a hill to my right that I couldn’t see much past that she’s below with a better view. I kept asking her if she’d alert me if the attention-getter was an ambling bear. She was pretty mum. (Whatever it was, apparently it was much more interesting than me.))

The smoke is clearing a bit (quite a bit). Rain is starting to crop up – on the radar if not directly overhead.

We’re waiting it out. We’re sending prayers. We’re staying strong.

Lest you need proof of our blessings, see above.

The breeze was lovely, the temp was pleasant, the smoke wasn’t awful, the elevation was high, the views were lovely (and smokier farther *out there* than fairly close, as shown in this background). The horses weren’t digging the flies, but otherwise it was a beautiful spot and visit with one of my very most favorite bands.

Prayers, still, for those in the path of wildfires and for those fighting to bring them under control and save homes and lives.

Even Shadow ponies seek shade on hot, dry, smoky days when the haze blunts the sunshine … though not the heat.

There’s a ridge in the background of this photo – beyond the big juniper tree (with multiple trunks). Can you see it? Admittedly, it’s difficult to see, though it’s probably only a mile or two as the mustang trots.

The smoke is bad. I talked to someone in Grand Junction (the Pine Gulch Fire is burning about 18 miles north of that city) the day before yesterday, and he said, “We’re in the belly of the beast.” … How much more terrible and awful must it be there, when we can barely see our local landmarks here?? (Grand Junction is about three hours north of Disappointment Valley as the vehicle drives.)

The La Sals (to the northwest) have been invisible for a week; even Temple Butte and McKenna Peak (to the east) are getting really hard to see.

Since Friday, we’ve had smoke in our air. Yesterday’s air quality was the worst so far.

It’s apparently coming from at least a couple of major fires north of us: the Pine Gulch Fire, north of Grand Junction, and the Grizzly Creek Fire, which has closed I-70 through Glenwood Canyon.

It’s dry. It’s hot. Our prayers are with those evacuated from their homes and/or on standby – and not only those folks in Colorado. Firefighters are struggling against forces of nature and difficult terrain (see above: it’s hot, it’s dry).

Stay safe, folks.