Post by prizmbluekigers on Mar 15, 2010 22:46:40 GMT -5
We entered the Riddle HMA about 7:30 am with a dusting of snow on the ground. We made it most of the way to Oriana Flat but with the snow a foot deep, we turned back.
We entered the Kiger HMA about 9AM and there was more snow than two weeks ago, an inch or two at the entrance. The road was frozen more or less.
We saw two young bachelors on the main road just past the camp site. They looked to be about two years old- see pic. They seemed not to quite kniw what to do about us and with typical Kiger curiosity, they hung around a while. We got past Wood Camp rResservior this time, but again over a foot of snow turned us around.
Off to the Lambing Grounds and we made it all the way in. Between the water hole and the ravine to the west we saw the grulla stallion and his band of 3 that we filmed last fall in the same area. The mare did not have a new foal, just the two from last year.
We finally saw horses on Big Hill - about 10 or11 of them. they were so far away that we could see one or two resting on the ground, but they did not look like new foals. We tried to drive in to them, but once again road conditions stopped us. When we drove out about 11:30 the road had softened considerably and water running across the road was deeper. Between the Ant Hill and the entrance sign we found ourselves side passing down the road about 15mph with no control over our direction. Look at the water line and mud on my Explorer.
Sorry,no good pics from this trip and we intend to give the area a month or so before we try again.
The last pic is Rick shooting in Diamond - snow free.
We entered the Kiger HMA about 9AM and there was more snow than two weeks ago, an inch or two at the entrance. The road was frozen more or less.
We saw two young bachelors on the main road just past the camp site. They looked to be about two years old- see pic. They seemed not to quite kniw what to do about us and with typical Kiger curiosity, they hung around a while. We got past Wood Camp rResservior this time, but again over a foot of snow turned us around.
Off to the Lambing Grounds and we made it all the way in. Between the water hole and the ravine to the west we saw the grulla stallion and his band of 3 that we filmed last fall in the same area. The mare did not have a new foal, just the two from last year.
We finally saw horses on Big Hill - about 10 or11 of them. they were so far away that we could see one or two resting on the ground, but they did not look like new foals. We tried to drive in to them, but once again road conditions stopped us. When we drove out about 11:30 the road had softened considerably and water running across the road was deeper. Between the Ant Hill and the entrance sign we found ourselves side passing down the road about 15mph with no control over our direction. Look at the water line and mud on my Explorer.
Sorry,no good pics from this trip and we intend to give the area a month or so before we try again.
The last pic is Rick shooting in Diamond - snow free.
I noticed when we were walking on South Steens last month that the ground was super slick & soft from the recent snow melt. I'll be it's a real mess now that there's been more (I like to call it white mud, myself.)
