Skywalka’ in flight!

18 03 2022

For whatever reason, this (paraphrased) song comes into my head every time I’m out with – usually! – staid, laidback, solid, never-gets-in-a-rush-to-go-anywhere Skywalker. 🙂 (Sorry about the earwig if you know what I’m talking about!)

Sometimes, when you’re feeling good and the weather is the right mix of a bit nippy and not yet too hot for such shenanigans (and when your bands also are feeling frisky on the way to the water hole!), it feels good to gallop across the range (and, of course, you don’t want to be left behind!)!





Elk on the move

17 03 2022

‘Tis the season! No, not mud season (well, OK, it kinda is that, too … if we had enough snow to make (more) mud), ELK season!

More elk are visible because they’re moving around as the high country opens again (another reference to our lack of snow, if you can stand it). Soon, this dry low country will be too low and too dry, and these lovelies will melt away again into the shadows of the forested country. Hopefully it will retain some moisture longer than our desert country.

It IS nice to see those La Sals with fresh(er) snow. They were starting to look a little ragged.

These were two different groups of mostly elk cows and calves (last year’s) with a few scraggly youngster bulls still following their mamas and aunties.





Full sunshine for Sundance

16 03 2022

This perspective of McKenna Peak (right) and Temple Butte is from quite a bit closer than yesterday’s post of Raven. The ground also was quite a bit muddier – because it’s higher in elevation and closer to the roll of the snow-bringing clouds when we get snow – back in this far eastern region of Spring Creek Basin than even the northernish area shown in yesterday’s post.

It was a pleasant surprise to see the heads of Sundance’s mares, then the big guy himself, pop up over a small ridge. It was a bit of a slog to get to them, but I’m grateful for the moisture of that muddy ground!





Nap with a view

15 03 2022

Ravens – the winged kind – are wheeling and soaring and diving, ready for spring.

Raven – our grounded girl – is soaking up sweet sunshine in a land of quickly melting snow.





Such peace

14 03 2022

There’s something so peaceful about rim-lit horses grazing their way through an evening. The sun sinks ever lower (did you remember the time change?), and the only tension is the need to get back to a road and head out as the sun bids farewell to another day and the temperature drops again.





Cocked

13 03 2022

Big, handsome Storm, caught in the late light that makes everything glow, keeps an eye on me and an ear on his grazing mares. Because he’s never not alert, even though he’s a pretty chill wild guy. 🙂





Winter soft

12 03 2022

Sweet, peaceful Madison gives me the look of curiosity while Temple moseys by in her grazing.

I love those flared nostrils, trying to get a whiff of the human, on the edges of the soft black muzzle. 🙂 So beautiful!





Promising

11 03 2022

A hint of the snow-bearing clouds shows beyond the basin’s northwestern boundary, beyond the very lovely little family of Buckeye and his girls, Dundee, Rowan and Aiyanna. An hour later, the clouds had overtaken Spring Creek Basin and the rest of Disappointment Valley.





Incoming

10 03 2022

The ground was already nearly dry (there were still some muddy areas) yesterday, and we’re anticipating some more winter weather!





Are ya coming?

9 03 2022

After the horses disappeared through some trees as I was following them, Cassidy Rain reappeared, seeming to be waiting for me to come on along and catch up.

We’ve had bits and skiffs of snow, up to about an inch and a half, but it melts very quickly and seeps into the thirsty ground, leaving delicious mud. The mud makes travel a bit challenging (!), but we need the moisture so badly, it’s impossible to complain – and leaves us wanting more!