Adventure In The Desert

Leaving the Grand Canyon country, I headed west to Nevada in search for the elusive Big Horn Desert Sheep. Although, I have seen them in the past, I had never photographed them. It was a unique learning curve. Although smaller in body size of their cousins the Rocky Mountain Big Horn, their horns are the remarkable difference. I found them very reclusive and cautious in nature. The one exception to this is a city park in Boulder City, Nevada. In this area, the Bighorns will move down from the mountains surrounding the city park and bask on the lawns and the shade of the trees. A number of people have told me of this park, including my brother who also photographs wildlife. Arriving in the area after dark, I easily found the park overlooking Lake Mead. Throughout the night, I was treated to a lightening show and rain squalls. Siwashing out for the remainder of the night, I looked forward to daylight and seeing the sheep, the last sheep specie on my list. I was drinking my morning coffee when daylight gave me my first look of the park. It was a typical park consisting of swing sets, jungle gyms, and tennis courts. A good number of rabbits were enjoying the green grass, but no sheep. I waited for the heat of the day hoping that would be the key to trigger them to move into the park. A number of other visitors arrived and left, all telling me that the sheep are normally there. By 10:00 am, I decided to drive the neighborhood and see if I could spot sheep coming down from the mountains. The neighborhood was comprised of multiple hundred thousand dollar homes. To get to the park from the surrounding the hills, the sheep would need to walk the streets for five blocks to get into the park. I drove the shore road along the Lake Mead for several miles without seeing any sheep and returned to the park. The sheep had not moved into the park. I once again begin sitting and waiting. During my planning of the trip, I had planned on making a circle trip north of Las Vegas on one highway and return on a second route, as each areas had established herds of Big Horns. Finally deciding to give up the park for the present and make my circle route. My trip north was not productive, access into the area I wanted to visit was very limited. I spent the night in Tonapah, Nevada, about 150 miles north of Las Vegas. The following morning, I turned south to return to Las Vegas on Highway 95. There were two areas on this route that I had researched of which I wanted to visit. The first was out of Beatty, Nevada. Located just a few miles from the California border and Death Valley. Finding my access road, I headed into the mountainous country on a partially graveled and sand / dirt road. My entire time in this area, I did not see another car. The terrain was rocky with small mountains and indications of the early prospecting days in this area. In the area, less than an hour, I spotted my first two Bighorn Desert Rams traveling together. A lesson learned quickly, in their country, you are not going to see them unless they are moving. I also learned that you cannot catch up with a traveling ram. I got some good telephoto shots, then they topped the ridge and out of sight. I walked to the top of the ridge they were on and got one quick shot at them in some heavy brush. On my return trip to the truck, the concept of rattlesnake came to mind. My chasing days into the brush was over. I would see one other ram on this trip. While exploring the area, I found this miners cabin constructed of rock. When it was built, is not known but the area was littered with mining shafts that had been hand dug. It sat on a little flat top knoll with a good view of the valley, an ideal location to scout from. I returned to Beatty to refuel the Ford and get a few needed supplies. I would return to the area in the late afternoon for a evening hunt and to camp out for the night. Because of the location, I chose to park in the front yard of the miners cabin. If only it could talk, the stories it could tell of the past. Expecting to hear coyotes all night, all I heard was the occasional sound of a braying donkey. Dutch and I enjoyed a nice evening a cooking and preparing morning coffee. At daylight, we moved down the slope and onto the road, within minutes we found the braying donkey on the opposite side of the valley from where we camped. The wild donkey herd consisted of a dozen adults, with a definite leader. Possibly more aggressive as a leader than the stallions that I seen in the wild horse herds.

"My Base Camp"

These two pictures should be reversed in order, the high kick came after the following picture.

These were much larger and sleek donkeys in comparison to those that I saw in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The herd topped over the ridge out of sight, but a secondary road followed the ridge, so I took it to see if I could get a few more shots of them, however they moved up a second valley and out of sight so I returned to sheep hunting.

Later in the morning, I spotted this ram sneaking through the rocks. I first saw him silhouetted against the skyline on the top of a ridge. I have seen them do this in the past, I am assuming it is attract other sheep and just perhaps a defensive move to look for predators.

On my way out, I did go back into the valley that I had followed the donkeys to see if could possibly get a chance to see them again. There were no donkeys on the slope of the ridge in which I was saw them, however, they were replaced by six Desert Bighorn Rams traveling together. What a great sight to see, like their counterparts, they gang up together, just prior to the rut. Then, they prove which one is dominant. "Gang Of Six"

Although, I like to get in close and personal when I take my pictures, using as little telephoto as possible to get the shot. I now knew, this was not going to happen when I am on their turf. They have the advantage. The only place this could happen would be in the park in Boulder City, but I decided, that I would much rather see them in this environment rather than standing ion front of a swing set. It was at this point that I decided not to return to the park.

Leaving the area happy, I sat out for my second location that I had researched out of Dyer, Nevada. It is located in a valley, bordered by the foothills of the Sierra Mountains and within walking distance to the California border. Two businesses in the community, a gas station / grocery store. The second is bar and restaurant across the highway. Friendly and helpful folks, primarily a farming and ranching community. Gathering a little local information about the sheep, I headed into the area that I had researched. There is also a half dozen wild horse herds in this area. The area I would explore is known as Mineral Ridge, where a major mining operation is underway.

Once again, I came across an old rock cabin except this one also used the terrain, to use as a back wall. This particular cabin was evidently a "line shack" or early ranch as corrals are also located close to the cabin. I am sure they came later, than when the cabin was built. The corrals are much older than the loading chute. Besides the construction being unique, note the roof has a wooden chimney and cactus growing out of the roof. I decided, this also would be my base camp for the night after scouting out the entire area. Names such as Tarantula Canyon, Rattlesnake Ridge, and Coyote Summit had me intrigued and cautious of where I placed my feet. In my exploration of the area, I did not see any sheep nor any other humans and returned to the cabin.

"Cabin Below The Cliff"

The following morning, I would see one Bighorn Ram. Watched him for sometime hoping that he would draw more to his location. Hating to, I decided that I still had a few miles to drive, that it was now time to head north and home.

Tonight, I am in Thompson River, Montana. My first stop on my way south. This is where I saw all of the Bighorn Ewes and lambs on my last visit. Hopefully, the five weeks that has elapsed, the Rams will be joining them. I will know come first light.