This afternoon, we rode in the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. Here, we're looking down on the Green River wetlands. Although not visible in this photo, we could see a large flock of Canada geese on the water and shore.
In 1869, Wesley Powell explored the Green and Colorado Rivers, and described spending the night here on an island in the river, under the cottonwoods, with the howl of wolves serenading the group to sleep. Some cottonwoods remain, but the water level has been altered by Flaming Gorge Dam upstream, and the wolves, of course, are long gone from this area.
The square ponds are part of a fish hatchery that raises endangered species such as the humpback chub and the razorback sucker.
The square ponds are part of a fish hatchery that raises endangered species such as the humpback chub and the razorback sucker.
Unfortunately, although the program keeps the fish from complete extinction, the hatchery-raised specimens have not been successful in naturally propogating in the Green.
On the way back to the trailer, we photographed an antelope who enjoyed people-watching.
All in all, we had a sunny 10 mile ride, complete with a pleasant gallop.
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What a pretty area!
ReplyDeleteNice action shot of the galloping. Looks straight out of a western movie. Glad you got out to enjoy the warmer weather before this storm hit.
ReplyDeleteYou go so many interesting places. I like the openness here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful life you live that you can jump on a horse and ride through country such as this. Something most of us will only ever dream about. Thanks for sharing the interesting information.
ReplyDeleteThere is plenty of breathing space in your world and what wonderful wildlife you see on your ride.
ReplyDeleteI didn't not know endangered fish are bred that way. How interesting. These are gorgeous landscapes, too.
ReplyDeleteThere's another animal sanctuary in the southern part of UT that I'd love to visit one day. Best Friends Animal society has about 2000 acres near Kanab that's home to several hundred (or thousand) domestic animals cast off or other wise left homeless. Their residents include the dogs from the Michael Vick case and if you can get an animal in they'll have a home for as long as he needs it -- even if that's the rest of his natural life.
ReplyDeleteAny place like that is one I want to see.
Really great, interesting shots, love the horse and the other four-legged observer! Thanks for sharing your world!
ReplyDeleteenjoyed post and photos...
ReplyDeletebeautiful scenery and liked the antelope :)
have a great evening.
erin
Beautiful trail, as always! I am in love with your adventures, but that is no news, is it?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, that last picture could be a poster on the wall and I would never get tired from looking at it!!
Beautiful shots of a beautiful place. Looks like a great place to go on a horseback ride.
ReplyDeleteYet another beautiful ride. Seems like a very exposed fish hatchery. What a shame they have to be at all. Love the antelope.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing your world to us. It seems all very exciting to me!
ReplyDeleteThere are wetlands then there is this plce which just looks so tranquil. You make my island look like the head of a pin. This is so vast.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful wildlife refuge. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the wildlife refuge, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Absolutely LOVE this shot, well done.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Guy
Regina In Pictures
Beautiful scenes. Fun to see the wide-open spaces of Utah. Happy Travels.
ReplyDeleteAh, the wide open spaces! How cool to see that antelope too.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! And i almost felt myself in that saddle running on the plains
ReplyDeleteJanie: An Antelope certainly says the end of the plains to me, nicely captured.
ReplyDeleteHope the fish experiment meets with more success... Your outing sounds exciting.
ReplyDeleteThat fishery is amazing just apparently sitting in the middle of nowhere! Lovely pics.
ReplyDeleteI love the antelope: he (or she, I have no idea how you'd tell the difference apart from the obvious) looks like he's saving everything up to go and tell his friends later! (I may have spent too long working with children, lol!)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how different it would look if the dam had not been created. Love the people watching antelope. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous clours in these scenic shots...
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the fish hatchery has been just barely successful. We still have so much to learn about mature, don't we? Good catch of the antelope!
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos. You really show how the man intervenes in nature (for good or bad).
ReplyDeleteYou have such wonderfully open landscape..al the better for riding through. Love that antelope. He could be a statue.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of your ride! It's been a very long and cold winter so not much riding for us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to ride. I haven't been riding in about 10 years and this just reminds me of how much I miss it.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing world. I nearly had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteOld Powell was quite the explorer, and also laid down good insights about what it means to live here in the arid West. We could take a lesson from the antelope.
ReplyDeletethat sky is bluer than blue. magnificent.
ReplyDeleteLoved the wide open spaces, snow capped peaks, and your animal friends. (I also enjoyed your "h" post.) Did you get snow today?
ReplyDeleteThe view seems endless.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!! Looks like a good day for a long ride.
ReplyDeleteI hate dams because they destroy the further parts of the river-paths.
ReplyDeleteWell-roamed post however. Enjoyed the trip a lot :)
Smoked Off Face at the Willingdon Crescent in Jamnagar
Birdhouses, Birdfeeders, Birdbath