Monday, May 23, 2011

(2011.MAY.22) - Siegel Creek Band

Siegel Creek, far up in the High Schells Wilderness, is inaccessible throughout most of the year.  Today, we were able to cross numerous water-gorged wash-outs, with the use of a high suspension 4-wheel drive vehicle.  The way is steep, and the road is deeply washed in several places.
(Not recommended to the inexperienced rough terrain driver.)

High precipitation and melting snow have produced a lush and verdant landscape, resplendent with new wildflowers. Forage is extremely plentiful, and the deciduous trees and shrubs are just beginning to show buds. Evidence of large game is abundant, though we saw only tracks and scat, as the animals have probably heard us coming slowly along the muddy trail, and taken cover.  Along our two-hour tour we encountered rain, snow, sleet, hail, and finally, a few rays of sunshine as we descended back into the canyon .



Survivors of January's Antelope Complex roundup are safe in their
high country home in the Schell Creek Mountains. 











Two known bands of wild horses in this isolated range are yet unaccounted for. That does not mean they are gone forever; most of the mountain remains inaccessible at this time, and stormy weather has likely driven most wildlife into the shelter of  mahogany thickets and aspen groves.

Archive Photo: Bachelor Stallions of Siegel Creek (2010.AUG.22)

Come! Ride along with me on a journey that is sure to impact your perception of horses in the wild!


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Thursday, May 5, 2011

2011.MAY.04 - Long Valley, Nevada

(2011.MAY.04)

The weather is warm and clear (high 60's); roads are dry and extremely dusty in some places.
The desert floor is beginning to dry, but vegetation is plentiful in the high elevations, and stock tanks are a common sight in Long Valley. Cattle graze in small herds throughout the broad valley.


Magnificent Seven  --- Ruby Mountains in the distance.
The light area at the base of the mountain is non-operating
Philips Petroleum Yankee Mine. Several wells and tanks in the valley
were placed there by mining companies for
 the benefit of both domestic animals and wildlife.













Long Valley Canyon Road



Numbers on the map represent horses actually seen, and it must be understood that these are only a small percentage of actual numbers. When the weather warms, many horses will move up into the trees,
and it is simply not feasible to visit every canyon; let alone find every horse.



Monday, May 2, 2011

Antelope Complex HMA (2011.MAY.01)


(2011.MAY.01)

The day was bright and crisp beneath puffy clouds, as we took a short drive along Hwy 93 from Cherry Creek north to the turn-off to the non-operational Kinsley Mine in Antelope Valley, and back into Antelope Valley.


From the highway we observed four small bands (4-6 members) of wild horses grazing along the western slope of the northern tip of the Schell Creek Range, so we decided to jump over onto the old highway that runs parallel to 93.



Becky Mountain Band
Near Boone Springs, one can usually expect to see at least two bands of horses on either side of the highway. This day, we saw only the fabulous palomino stallion.
(One should not conclude from this, that the horses are not there anymore - chances are, they were grazing on the other side.)




ANTELOPE VALLEY

The dirt road is dry and well-compacted, at least to the Elko-White Pine County line. The water hole below the mine is full, and vegetation abundant. One lonely cow and new calf are the only bovines to be seen. Two herds of about a dozen North American pronghorn antelope run in the distance.

Muddy bachelor grazing on the northwestern edge of Antelope range south of Hwy 93

















Antelope Valley - Kern Mountains










Archive Photo: Antelope Valley - 2011.MAR.23

Archive Photo: Antelope Valley - 2011.MAR.23


Archive Photo: Antelope Valley - 2011.MAR.23