Spa day

Mama Alegre and daughter Maia (now 1 year old!) a couple of days after Maia’s birthday. They were grazing near the roller-coaster ridge pond – likely where they got their matching spa treatments. Maia looks like big sister Aurora and their daddy Bounce, but where Aurora may stay black like daddy, Maia is going grey like mama – and big brother Whisper.

In other news, the La Sals, starting to look a little ragged in this photo, have a mantle of new white now after some rain in the low country and snow in the high country. It’s a start, and it’s a relief. It IS green. I don’t understand it, but I love it! The moisture will help tremendously.

Afire

Mariah

Houdini and Alegre

Maia

Grey/Traveler

Sunset.

Speechless.

Reflections

Grey/Traveler, center, drinks from a pond with his band, from left: Alegre, Maia, Mariah and Houdini. Water is the most precious resource of all in this high desert region.

White snow, grey ponies

A day full of snow would leave a basin full of snow, you’d think – and you’d be right! Such interesting climate zones in Disappointment Valley. Some snow in the lower, broader valley; lots of snow higher as the valley narrows to the east-southeast. It all means moisture for the horses and deer and elk and coyotes and bobcats and other critters that call the valley home.

Someone told me the other day that he saw “a big tom” (bobcat) on a newborn calf – bovine, not wapiti. I’m not sure what surprised me most: a calf born at this time of year (or that the cow still is here) or a bobcat! I’ve seen one in the basin, way too quick for photos, after a rabbit. I’m not sure about the rabbit, but the bobcat got away (from me)!

Mariah, Houdini, Alegre and Maia.

Grey/Traveler. He could do with a little more fat on his old bones, but he looks pretty hearty.

The temperature ranged from 12 to 17 degrees, according to the Jeep, while I was in the basin. After snowing all day, it stopped for an hour or two, then picked up again around sunset.

Yes, they’re all grey.

Lovely ladies

Grey/Traveler’s mares:

Wise Houdini

Elegant Alegre

Both grey, both beautiful. Houdini is likely 15+, and Alegre probably is around 8 years old.

Grey’s grey girls

Don’t let the babies’ shades fool you – they’re all grey!

Mariah reminds me a lot of Gemma (a big sister who was adopted last year). Beautiful and bold. Maia is much more shy. A lot of her daddy (Bounce) in her.

Lovely last light on lovely girls.

Pair

Mama Alegre and baby Maia. Peaceful evening under clouds. Can you see that Maia already is turning grey?

Swoosh!

No, that kind … this kind!:

Is she – Maia – not the cutest thing going?! That’s Mariah behind her and mama Alegre in front of her. The baby girls were reacting to Hollywood’s band coming over a rise in the distance.

They were excited; mamas were not worried.

Can’t resist

And really, who can?

The big man himself: Grey/Traveler.

Two of his girls – Alegre and Houdini – and this year’s daughter, Mariah.

And new mama Gaia and baby Cassidy Rain.

Just because they’re all beautiful and I love them so.

Black and white …

Alegre and Maia at the end of the day.

… and a little pink:

Grey/Traveler just before the end of the day.

Wow. Clouds. I still can’t get over the novelty.