Hah - I know you are looking sideways at this sentence and calling me crazy! But it is true, spring has begun to break across the wild places... Slowly it is true - painfully slowly! There are no fancy or exciting images of wild mustangs in this blog, but if you are curious of range conditions, then read on.....
Red Desert of Wyoming - March 19 2023
A week ago I ventured out to the desert, just to see what could be seen, I knew of at least one road that was being plowed, with the possibility of two more roads getting cleared during the week, and although I got word that they did not break through very far down one road, I still wanted to see if progress was made on the others by those men with the beasts of machines clearing their way to oil fields and uranium mines.
Red Desert of Wyoming - March 19 2023
The first road I tried was plowed one mile and no more. The second road I was beyond thrilled to find plowed for several miles, and very excited and relieved to find a few wild horses, some old friends that have survived yet another desert winter, and some new acquaintances that were looking a bit thin but strong enough to survive the few more weeks left to a full melt-off and new grasses.
Crooks Peak in Wyoming - March 19 2023
Although I could not get into the heart of Arapaho Creek HA, it was far enough for me to see that the snows are melting away.... that the sage is peeping up after this long season, giving hope to all that need the relief of spring.
I was so happy to see sign of wild horses as the last time I had been here - two months ago - there was none.... no tracks, no mustangs, no sign of any life of any kind in a place some keep to.
Arapaho Creek HA in Wyoming - March 19 2023
This is the trail of a lone horse that had been there not long ago but the wind had already begun the job of erasing proof of his presence...
Away and up several hills from here were the band that I need to breathe, and closer to myself but still far from the road, was a band that I have known for many years and that I am so very grateful to know that they are still walking this earth at least for another season.
Red Desert of Wyoming - March 19 2023
This road is melting away and it seems someone wanted wild time enough to drive across the crusty and compacted drifts - a bit too risky for my anxiety bound heart. But soon enough it will be drivable for most anyone who wishes to see wild horses and be in the sacred wild places.
Stewart Creek HMA in Wyoming - March 19 2023
Although I did not see the horses of Stewart Creek HMA today I know they are there and are probably reveling in the mud emerging as the snows melt away leaving these snow free spaces.
Red Desert of Wyoming - March 19 2023
Ohhh so close to being passible is this road into Green Mountain HMA!! And sadly those that have no respect will be down this road tearing it up.... I am not for destroying a road that will lead me nowhere far and making it unpassable for others.
Crooks Mountain HMA in Wyoming - March 19 2023
There are many roads that nothing but a snow machine can yet travel..... Crooks Mountain is but a dream right now. And in typical Wyoming style, there was yet more snow this last week, and winds - ever are there winds moving the snow into the places we silly humans want to be!! And more snow predicted this coming week.... and all of us who live here struggle with the frustration and the biggest case of spring fever you may imagine, knowing that it is so close, so very close!!
Soon.... as spring breaks across the land, as the wild horses and the wild things find foraging easier every day and regain their strength, soon the hills will be a stunning emerald green and filled with flowers of many kinds, and this will be but a dream - one that will have taught many young wild ones a lesson of survival that they will then teach their young - and we will lay in the soft dirt and listen to them snort and their hooves clip clop down a dusty trail - ahhh summer in the desert, it is not that far away!
Red Desert of Wyoming - March 19 2023