Good Ride in Bad Land

Yesterday, we rode up 5 Mile Draw (off of the Wells Draw Road) to the Bad Land Cliffs.  The elk skull above, with the rest of the skeleton nearby, suggests a natural death. Note that the elk horns have been chewed by rodents.  The skull must have been there for a long time.

On the way up, we traveled through grassy meadows.  We spotted an antelope and a coyote.

We found a group of these tiny cactus (flowers about an inch in diameter) growing in a meadow.  I think they're cushion cactus. 

On his lunch break, Boss enjoyed tasty bunch grass under the shade of a huge juniper.

From the top, we looked down on a lot of rough country and into 9 mile canyon, world famous for its abundance of Fremont culture rock art.

Elk on Tabby Mountain

About a week ago, we rode on Tabby Mountain Wilderness Management Area for the first time this spring.  The gates were still locked to keep vehicles off the roads, but a horse gate is open year round.  In the foreground of the photo above, you can see the brown rails of the horse gate.  It's is too narrow for a 4 wheeler, but wide enough for horse and rider.

We saw one elk bachelor herd,

then another, smaller group.  Both groups were at about 9000 feet, enjoying the first shoots of spring grass. 

The aspen were just leafing out,

as were these currant bushes.

A few bluebells bloomed.

Daisy found a big patch of snow,

and a pond to swim in,

This mallard pair shares Daisy's love of water.