Campers Last Stand

Forget politics... I'm going camping!

Knowing that this was going to be our last camping trip in 2016, I was especially eager to get out there! Therefore, we left Thursday night right after work (yes, that is 11 pm). 

Intriguing...

Friday morning could have come just a few short hours later when we were awakened by a four-wheeler being unloaded across the road from our camper. Fortunately, we went back to sleep, so it was late morning when we set off for Sykes Ridge. Our purpose was singular ~ we were after pictures of big horn sheep in rut. We didn't get very far up the road, though, before I got distracted. There was an opening in the rock and a true arch just begging to be explored. Yes, I was the one suggesting that we climb up to it. The ascent wasn't too bad, and it was worth the effort. We found a big nest of some sort, cool crevices in the rocks, and a track in a sandy spot that was left by either a large coyote or a young mountain lion.

Whatever calls this nest home was not there. 

We eventually returned to the machines and resumed our search for the sheep. We reached "sheep territory" but found not a one. We ate our lunch while scanning the surrounding meadows and cliffs hoping to spot them, but without success. Unfortunately, fall days are short, and long before we were ready, we turned back toward the camper. On the way down the mountain, we did find some photogenic horses.

We got off to a much earlier start on Saturday morning. We had an energetic route planned for the day. Our first wildlife spot of the day was a beautiful doe. As two other deer appeared, we concluded that they were probably her fawns from last spring. As we rode up Red Pryor Mountain Road, down the switchbacks, and across Dry Head Vista, we saw more does and a dozen or so horses. By late afternoon, we were back on Sykes Ridge Road. We have seen sheep here multiple times, but not today. Despite hiking out to points and walking ledges, peering hopefully down into the valleys, we saw no sheep.

No, he's not big... yet.
Of course, if he doesn't get a little smarter about staring
at humans wearing orange vests, well...

Again, daylight ran short and we had to go. We weren't too disappointed, though, as we had enjoyed another great ride and wrapped up another successful camping season. 

Growing up, I loved the book The Black Stallion.
Well, I found him!