Just the Two of Us

While most of our rides in the Pryors are group affairs, this particular outing found us by ourselves. One buddy was hunting, another was out of town, and a third cited his honey-do list. But that's okay, once in a while anyway. It means we can spend as long as we want taking pictures!

Friday afternoon, we set up the camper on the east side of the Pryors and rode partway up Burnt Timber Road. It was warm and sunny, and we found some horses to photograph. But Saturday dawned cloudy (which did make for a gorgeous sunrise). The mountain top was hidden in the clouds, but we "mounted up" anyway. A rainbow promised a good day. We did get some scattered showers, but mostly it was just misty. When we reached the arch and the area where we have seen sheep, we didn't even stop. With the mist, we could barely see the spires where they like to hang out. (For the usual views from this point, check out A Dry and Dusty Day) Just before we reached the plateau where the horses congregate, the rain came more heavily, then turned to snow. 

At least Friday was nice! 

I was hoping to eat our lunch in Penn's Cabin, but it was already occupied. So we drove on to the next group of trees. Dan spread a tarp over the two machines, and our little shelter was surprisingly warm. After we ate, we tucked our chins and sprinted the rest of the way across the meadow. The wind blew the snow directly into my face with painful force. It was a relief to turn onto Burnt Timber and get out of the headwind. 

As we followed the road down, we encountered a small family band of horses also making their way down to warmer elevations. Obviously, the road was the easiest walking for them, and we followed them for quite a ways. It was slow going since we didn't want to pressure them, but it was fun to watch them, especially a little grey foal. Because of the damp atmosphere, though, we only got out one camera, one time. 

Eventually, we dropped below the clouds and snow. In a meadow, we once again spotted horses. (For the "name-droppers" among my readers, this band was led by Pride, son of Cloud. Yes, we ran into someone who knows the horses well and was glad to "introduce" us.) The rain had stopped, so even though it was still misty and cool, we got out the cameras and spent some time watching and photographing the horses. I was particularly taken with a mare and a colt named Sirius. After a while, we continued on down to the camper. Since there really aren't any side trails and we had a two-hour drive to get home, we packed up and called it a day. Of course, NOW the sun comes out! LOL

Pride 

***Bonus Pics***

So you know THE tractor? Look closely, and you will spot it! 

Seems like there is an old saying...
Red sky in the morning...

I'm pretty sure that it was snowing on that side of the mountains, too! 

Bridge Over Untroubled Water

Uh, oh! I've gone and done it again! I was disappointed to come home from Yellowstone and the Tetons without moose pictures, and I've had "moose on the brain" ever since! Knowing that, Dan suggested a trip up the Big Horn Mountains. 

When we got up yesterday morning, he checked the webcams and the weather radar -- all clear! From Lovell, we could make our ascent from several different angles, so we stopped at the ranger station and asked about moose sightings. The ranger said that they were most often being seen across the top (and road conditions were good), so we crossed the Big Horn Reservoir to start up the steepest of the ascents up the mountain. 

About half-way across the dam, I remarked that this is not the prettiest body of water around. To this he replied, "No, but the water is so calm, and the reflections are pretty." Well then... would you look at that! When we reached the other side, we turned around and he dropped me off about half-way back across. Then he drove back to the other side again while I walked back taking pictures. Fortunately, he found a heron to keep him occupied while he waited. 

Back on the road, we climbed the steep switchbacks. Rounding one corner, I spotted the backside of a mule deer. Dan caught just the glint of sun on antlers, so we parked in the nearest pullout and walked back. Unfortunately, the buck had disappeared. Dan scoured the hillside with his binoculars, while I walked back a little further. But the deer was gone. We started walking back to the truck, but about that time, a cow moose and her calf stepped out of the woods! I only had my short lens on, but Dan got off a couple of shots. They crossed the road and lingered in the meadow. I was just starting to hurry the rest of the way to the truck for my long lens when a bull moose came out and also crossed the road. (I am glad that I wasn't any closer!) He didn't stick around long, but we finally had moose pictures. 

The rest of the day became more of a color tour type of drive, since we didn't see any more animals. It seems to me that the color is more vivid this year than it sometimes has been. Dan thought perhaps it is because of the wet summer we had. We meandered our way home over some roads we hadn't been on before and actually made it home before dark (for once!).

*** Bonus Pics ***

I have finally learned that in the west,
the color is not so much in the trees
as it is on the ground.

What is better than a pretty stand of aspens in fall garb?
Aspens in fall garb behind a moose!

Just a little cascade in a stream 

Shell Falls in her autumn apparel

While wishing for moose,
I forgot to specify "a BIG moose'! LOL

A little too close for that telephoto lens!