A couple of days ago, we had temperatures in the 60s. Yesterday, we got snow!
The air temperature was right around the freezing mark, but the stiff west wind made conditions pretty darn chilly. Most of the horses were finding low places, out of that wind. And that made them hard to find by seeking humans. 🙂
S’aka and Skywalker were the only ones I managed to find in all the wide Spring Creek Basin. Well worth braving the snow and wind!
I’m sure no one minds the recent glut of photos of Killian. 🙂
Hollywood. So glamorous. Sigh.
A couple of days ago, we met up with our fabulous BLM guys to install the evaporation cover over the new trough – connected to the new water catchment apron – that we installed in 2016.
BLM rangeland management specialist Garth Nelson, left, figures out which drill bit to use to drill holes through the metal of the evaporation cover to attach it to the supports BLM range tech Justin Hunt is welding to the vertical posts. The post at right already has a piece welded to it.
See the metal thing inside the trough in front of Garth? That’s the critter ladder the guys built. It allows birds to get to the water or an animal that falls into the water to get out. Garth drilled a couple of holes and wired it to the edge of the trough.
Once everything was in place, Justin attached small square plates to the tops of the three vertical posts and welded them into place, then used the grinder to smooth the square edges. At the near corner, you can see the “trap door” the guys built into the cover so the float below it is accessible for any work or replacement that needs to be done. In the background, range specialist and herd manager Mike Jensen, right, talks with Garth while visiting with Bow, one of Kat Wilder’s dogs.
Sparks fly as Justin grinds the edges of the post caps to smooth roundness.
These guys thought of everything!
The cover will help preserve the water in the trough from evaporating so quickly. And with its installation, the new water-catchment project is officially complete. In warm weather, this will provide a second source of clean water for the horses.
Snow is in Saturday’s forecast. Please send good thoughts. This dry weather has to end.
Comanche checks me out as I walked down an arroyo after visiting with another nearby band. He’s still surprised that I come to visit him and ogle his handsomeness!
Killian was chillin’ in the shade of pinon and juniper trees recently. I asked him why he was hanging out in the shade on a sunny but brisk day. His reply was mysteriously enigmatic.
His expression speaks for itself. 🙂 He’s just that cool!
Cassidy Rain seems to ponder the beautiful wide world on a lovely day in Spring Creek Basin.
Hayden may have the best boy belly ever! 🙂
He was watching his band. Some stallions keep their mares moving. Hayden seems usually to be trying to keep up with his on-the-go girls.
Seneca tried to catch my scent in the brisk breeze. Apparently there was nothing to worry her; she spent the next half-hour napping while I lounged on a fallen juniper.
We got a little rain and a little snow. We’re very grateful for both.
Our prayers are with California, suffering now under devastating mudslides after the ravaging fires.
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 