The other side of the mountain..

When you were young did your Mom sing the little ditty - "The Bear went over the Mountain" to you? Apparently the bear went over the mountain to see what he could see, but all he could see was the other side of the mountain - duh!  Made for a rhyme that parents could sing over and over to put a little one to sleep.
Anyway...... Murph and I went to the other side of the mountain yesterday, Cedar Mountains via Rydalch Pass, to see what we could see!  Great view into Nevada across the GSL desert with Goshute Peak (I believe) snow covered in the distance.
Along the way we saw antelope, Golden Eagles, and a few wild horses.  The trip was easy and fun and we will be returning to hopefully see more horses and explore more.
Here's shots from the trip:


The ubiquitous Horned Larks posed for us everywhere:

Tumbleweed catcher!

Looking east to the Stansbury mountains the valley is vast.

Colorful rocks and plants.

A common view of a Golden Eagle - they blend in with the environment so well.

The other side of the mountain looking west to Nevada across the desert from Rydalch Pass.

Fascinating rock formations.

Antelope on top of the hill watching me.  If I hadn't been looking so hard for wild horses I might not have see these guys.

Finally the horses - but a long ways away.

Horses again but with a sense of the expanse they live in.

Here's where we were.

Desert travels

We wandered over Johnson Pass and down through Terra, took a left on a dirt road and wound up at Lookout Pass on the Pony Express Trail - all in an afternoon yesterday. No wild horses spotted but some other wild things were out and watching us.

Antelope wandering through the grass.

We were a couple of hundred feet up from the road that I normally take through this part of the desert and what a difference in view that made. And, while it is quiet at our place it is SILENT in the desert.

Wild flowers - have to look down regularly to see what's at your feet.

Just a fun scene with a bit of potential.

Mountain bluebirds - always a pleasure to sight the flash of brilliant blue in the desert.

A Horned Lark - not often seen but usually around.

This guy was funny!  We watched him trot along towards the road in front of us - when he got just to the road he kicked on his afterburners and roared across the road, disappearing up a small arroyo. As we pulled up he was walking so I called to him, he stopped and I got this shot. Maybe too much testosterone!!

A group of Mule Deer just below the Pet Cemetery at Lookout Pass - wary but not alarmed at us.

Wind sculpture

We get a bit of wind out here in Erda and have always loved Lyman Whittaker's Wind Sculptures. On our Taos trip we found a new design - Spring - and brought it home. Right now it is out by the vegetable garden and shed and arbor - not sure where it will wind up. Fascinating to watch and see the various forms it takes as the wind moves it. Here's a few examples.

And the meadowlarks are out in all their glory, singing to the sun and their calls echo throughout the neighborhood. What a gift to be able to walk out and hear such a melody!

Moon setting over the Stansbury Mountains

What a Day!!

Murphy and I set out to see what we could see - and what a lot we did see! Drove over to Stockton, then around Rush Lake and over to the Mormon Trail. From there to Rush Valley, then Clover Creek and over Johnson's Pass to Terra. From there to Skull Valley Road and home.

First, a coyote was 'windsurfing' on Rush Lake! Beautiful animal.

Then the mulies were playing and eating in a field in Rush Valley.

We stopped at Clover Creek Campground, that, although closed you can park and walk around. This Kingfisher came around TWICE and landed in the same tree both times because I couldn't get focus on him the first time!

No one enjoys snow more than Murphy!

While watching Murphy play this Redtailed Hawk came out to see if we were worth eating - sure gave us lots of good shots.

Once on Skull Valley Road, we flushed a Golden Eagle but were unable to capture any shots - and it was gorgeous! But a little further along sat this guy, a Rough-legged I think.

Our favorite stopping place, Horseshoe Bend Springs, was as beautiful as always.

Have you ever been 'buzzed' by a flock of Blue-winged Teal?  Scared the daylights out of me. They really didn't like me being close to their spot and they let me know it!

Paris fun

I'm doing some cards and came across this one that I love from Paris...

Along the way

Here's a couple of shots from along the way - St. Benedict from the Benedictine Monastery Christ in the Desert and the wild horses from the Wild Horse Casino in Dulce, NM, home of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

Note the picture behind St. Benedict - the monks walking up the hill to their monastery!

 The horses were 10 feet or so tall.