No adds today. My keyboard has decided the cursor will no longer work with my finger so I can not copy and paste but will just write. If I was in Texas it would be simple, put a mouse on and make sure it is just the pad on the laptop. It has been a real hassle getting this done, and while not perfect it was a fabulous day. So here you go.
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Doing it with my best friend.
The Boss is here for a good 10 days and the first couple we had a few things going. I had a guy help me and got the gutters on the first day she was here. Day 2 we did the farmers market thing and then headed to Creede for the rock and mineral show at the big mine. Finally, today we got to do our favorite, up and gone before day light and it was a slam bang success.
Big meadows at the tree line, somewhere around 11.000.
Today the plan was head up to Summitville which was an old mining town at 11.500 feet that gets around 40 feet of snow. Suffice to say it is way the heck up there, which is exactly what we were wanting. It is an actual caldera formed from a volcanic explosion and still has some remnants of the old town. It is now a Superfund Site that millions and millions are being spent to clean it up after the last company used all the chemicals to extract the gold and silver. The drive we took was at big elevation and was approximately 50 miles and below is the reason why.
Momma grouse was not wanting to cross the road, and then we saw why.
She had a couple of chicks that were in no big hurry.
As soon as we got above 10,000 feet it was a buck mule deer extravaganza. It seemed the does were kind of here and there, but some of the bucks are hanging with their bro’s. And today we hit it just right and saw some really nice bucks. A lot of these pics are taken from a really long way out. They may not all be perfect, but you get the point.
He as with 4 of his buddies. One nice buck.
As far as the 600mm will reach.
This is the whole bunch and they just meandered off.
We watched these guys for a while and though they knew we were there no panic, they just moved off. But before we even moved the truck we spotted these guys further up the tree line, and they were another story.
Even further back was these 2 guys.
There was 3 this size further away and once they are on to us they literally flew across the meadow.
There were 3 big bucks watching us that we did not see. Once they got a real bead on us there was no mule deer hopping away, these guys booked. As we have learned over the years, the further into the back country you get the wilder the deer are. We are happy and proud to get what we do. When you see those photos from Yellowstone and Tetons as an example, they are taken of animals that see hundreds of cars a day, and in places like that they really don’t care about you unless you intentionally disturb them. So while nice anyone with a good phone and a little editing can take a great picture. Getting most of them to cooperate takes effort and luck. But we love seeing them, a great photo is a bonus.
I will never grow tired of this.
Saw plenty of girls today.
The animals were on the move. Why we get up and get into the mountains before daylight.
It was truly a buck kinda day. And with them in velvet they just look cool. The boys are all friendly right now, but that will change really soon as our mornings are cooling off just a little more each week. Soon they will be rubbing the velvet off and then the rut will be on. As October wears on seeing them scuffling is fairly common and a sight to see.
What else to say about this big guy. So beautiful.
We did not see any elk, which surprised me as we were in the real woods. But that is part of what makes it what it is, you never know. The camera stays in the truck full time, especially with fall coming and with it the return of the turkeys and deer to the neighborhood. As I just said about never knowing a prairie dog (Huh!) runs by the door on the breezeway.
Last was took a hike in a big valley so I could look at the creek for fishing possibilities, It is so cool to stand in a small river in the high mountains catching brook trout the size of your hands. Come give that a go, the water is crystal clear, sometimes time inches deep and the fly is the size of a fly. A real challenge but all you have to do is look up. It is in the doing, the results are just a benefit. We did get lucky and found an old moose shed. It had been there a few years, but it just confirmed what I thought, there could be moose there. After a lunch in the valley time to call it one successful day. But after a stellar day we got just a little luckier.
Close to the house there was an old lady having a yard sale. We stopped, like we need more stuff, but jackpot. I love my treadmill, got hooked on it before Peru and since we are now at 8,500 feet the altitude adjustment has been fairly easy. She had one and sold it to us for $30 so will have one here and in Texas before we hit the road for good next year. And I had just said on our creek hike that hip boats would be plenty, no need to wear the Simms through the woods and rough country for a foot of water. Nancy looks over and there is a brand-new pair of good ones in a box, my size, and she took $20. So while we are not big sale people that was one good stop.
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Saturday was farmers market and then headed to Creede for the rock and mineral show. Lots of cool stuff in a cool little town. Amazing what a rock polisher can do, and there was some really beautiful stuff. We had lunch, then I hit both fly shops before heading back. On the way ran into a nice bunch of sheep.
Saturday on the way back from the mineral show at the mine we came across momma and baby.
Love me some sheep.
I have always had a spot for Bighorn sheep, one cool animal who lives in one cool place. Before we moved I knew there were a few sheep but as we spend more time in the mountains, we have seen quite a few not that far from the house. This bunch are definitely getting their new coat, like the mule deer are. As you can see in these pictures it is dry here, and we badly need rain. The small creeks way up will not have much water in them soon, the river is dropping fast.
Not a ram in the bunch but still cool to see.
In the next few days will be in sheep country as there is a road north we plan on driving. From there up to a high lake to catch some supper, and it happens to be where we have seen moose and plenty of sheep.
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Just having too much fun. And will be fishing the small stream behind us soon.
The Boss is ready to get out her kayak and do a little paddling while I catch supper. Get up and get out, it is good for the soul. So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff,
Good Luck and Tight Lines
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