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.

She’s a big star

Our Mariah, with mama Houdini. She’s big and beautiful, and her first birthday is just a few weeks away.

Like all of Grey/Traveler’s and Houdini’s daughters, she stars as a gorgeous mustang girl!

Another three

These three are part of Grey/Traveler’s band, which also includes Alegre and Maia.

End-of-the-day gorgeousity. Is there a more beautiful place in the world? You can’t convince me!

Grey/Traveler did his best to bring the girls to me, but wise Houdini wasn’t having any of it. Can you see Mariah’s face greying?

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.

Mama + daughter

= Gorgeous!

Houdini and Mariah at sunset with the La Sal Mountains in the background.

Hunting season (the fourth and last) is almost over. The horses have been more scarce and difficult to find this year than any I can remember. Grey/Traveler’s band was back in Poco’s territory. There’s water to the north in the east-pocket and Sorrel Flats ponds, and there’s water to the south in the roller-coaster-ridge pond (and Hollywood’s and Comanche’s bands and Seven, Aspen, Hayden, Tenaz and Apollo were in that vicinity). And there’s water in the arroyos – including where Storm’s band drank before sassy Cassidy Rain strutted her stuff!

Swish

Cassidy Rain and mama Gaia; Houdini in the background.

A magical evening.