Aug 29 - Wild Mustangs of Sandwash Basin

Even if you didn't watch the mustang video you could probably tell from the cover letter we were pretty pumped about our day with the mustangs. It's really quite a little adventure on several levels:

• Until you've been there, you literally have no idea where you're going or what to expect. I mean you're still in the good ole USofA, but miles away from anything that looks like civilization.
• The Internet maps are available, but not the easiest to piece together.
• There are no outposts for daily updates or clues as to where are the best places to look today, this week, this year, etc.
• The roads surfaces are 99% dirt which turns to mud when you add water. The point is, this is not a rainy day activity. Internet accounts suggest that experienced off-roaders have been stuck for days in this unforgiving terrain.

All that aside, you could probably take most any SUV out into the basin and go horse hunting. But, what's the attraction? I guess we've just become suckers for early morning critter encounters. In fact, just on our way to Sandwash Basin we had to slow down to avoid a bull elk crossing the road. While he's several times the size of a deer, his grace and power were evident as he expended almost no effort nor broke stride as he cleared the fence alongside the highway.

The mustangs are also quite unique, especially after being close up and personal to the treatment other breeds receive in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. There are no lavish walnut stained stalls and no special diets out here. Yet, the horses seem to be healthy and happy despite the warm temperatures recorded this year in their home area.

So...lest I bore you...here's what it's like:

• Be sure to load up your trusty GPS device. We prefer to take the time to do research and draw our own maps. However, it would be nice if you got lost to just punch the GPS and say "take me home."

Our Basecamp GPS rendition of the area. Lotsa unpaved and dirt roads.

• Enjoy the scenery even if you're not overrun by a horse stampede. There's lots of beauty in this desolate wasteland called Sandwash Basin.

Don't forget - click the pic to enlarge.

This is what much of the area looks like...miles and miles of rolling rocks and dirt

Seems a rather uninviting locale for horses, but...hey...it's home.

• The horses can pop up in the most unexpected places. Our first encounter was rounding a bend after a short climb into some scrubby trees. A small herd was preparing to cross the road when they spotted us. These didn't break and run like spooked deer, but they were certainly skittish and not happy with our presence.

This mare was bringing up the rear, and was the last to cross the road...

...it took a minute to get my camera focused and steady...

...they rescheduled their trip to the water hole, left us and disappeared into the dense foliage.

• We only saw one other vehicle carrying horse hunters as we pressed along the western loop we had charted from our research. While there are some signs and markers along the way, they are few and less than informative regarding finding these illusive equines. So...we persevere.

We emerged from the more wooded areas and headed into the flats.

Pronghorn Antelope both abound and bound in the area.

Handsome fella!

• Not unexpectedly, most of our encounters were from quite a distance. I can't begin to estimate how far, but a wild-ass guess is several hundred yards for the typical sighting. So, it's crank the zoom lens to max, take a deep breath, lightly trip the shutter and keep your fingers crossed that you didn't move. Certainly a tripod would be an obvious accessory, but I'm getting a bit too stiff to jump back and forth out of Jethro and do all the fiddling that goes with tripoddery. Thus, my pictures will likely never be displayed along side Thomas Mangelson or Wildlife Willie.

Herd spotted several hundred yards away.

These guys were probably within 200 yards and thus not too bothered by Jethro or his occupants.

For large desert foragers, these guys look pretty healthy

You can tell by their manes and tails...they're not into grooming.

• As we left the western loop to engage the northern most loop, we almost immediately encountered a small, docile group standing atop a ridge approximately 75 yards from the road. I took shots intermittently as I crept toward them. Fortunately, they were babysitting a young colt that was lying in the colorful grasses. So we slowly closed the gap and were rewarded with a few close range (75 yd.) snaps.

Changing directions and terrain. Can you spot clues we might be on to something?

Is there a barber in this neck of the woods?

Mighty fine!

Would you guys please leave so I can finish my nap?!

• The remainder of the day afforded us with fewer and fewer glimpses and all from extremely long range. The area was beautiful even sporting blooming plants in contrast to the hot dry sandy soil.

Anyone wanna try being a mustang for a month?, a week?, a day???

Mega long range - debated snapping from this distance. HELP! Where's Wildlife Willie?

It's tough...a hard life out here.

Life goes on....

Skyline from at least 1/2 mile away. So...don't forget your binoculars when you come here.

Well, folks...we're gonna have to think long and hard about what we can do to top this little encounter. One things for sure...we'll be back soon and often.

Stay tuned...