KODA"S BIRTHDAY, GOATS AND MORE!!!!

Day 2 - 7/1/2019. KODA’S Birthday

We woke early enough to check the skies and I saw stars and returned to bed. We officially got up at 0515, walked The Boys, loaded the truck, dressed in warm clothes, made coffee and headed to the Summit.

We arrived at the summit 0645, the temp was 39F and the wind was howling, my guess is 34-40. There were some older goats and what I am guessing were yearlings. I wondered if they were some I had taken photos of last year. Soon a momma Mt Goat and two kids arrived. I took about 250 photos, while The Boys stayed in the truck and observed. They behaved really well as I think Koda was very interested in what those big white things were.

Many more photos available by following this link - 

2019 Soggy Moose Photos of Mountain Goats

Soon we were ready to head down the hill and make some breakfast. 

This year there is definitely  more snow up high but less than I expected. However, this year there seems to be an abundance of Marmots and we did locate a spot to find Pika. 

Back at camp, we made breakfast burritos, and took The Boys for a couple walks. The fridge is being a pain.  UPDATE!!! A little tinkering and I got it working. 

Koda has been enjoying his birthday with walks, meeting people and other dogs. He gets very excited and has enjoyed being petted. He is still receiving the comment “LOOK AT THOSE BIG PAWS”. 

Dinner was hamburgers, tomatoes, and potato salad. Koda and Kenai had puppy ice cream, which was peanut butter and bacon flavored. They seemed to enjoy it very much.  The clouds are rolling in with occasional thunder, so The Boys got a camp ground loop walk, where Koda met new campers. We returned to the camper and it was time for us to have some ice cream. 

Early to bed in prep for an early morning. 

Day 3 - July 2nd, 2019. 

We were up and at um early maintaining the morning regime of walk The Boys, make coffee, and head up the hill. The weather conditions were much better this morning with temp at 38F and calm winds. 

More photos were taken and the goats seemed to want to stay in the shade. There were two mountain sheep there this morning. Yesterday we did observed an area where the habitat looked great for Pika and there is even a rare wide spot in the road where we pulled off. We saw a few pikas running about and I was able to get a couple photos. Maybe tomorrow we will spend more time there and get out the 600mm lens. 

Back at camp we made pancakes with bacon for our breakfast. We walked The Boys, took showers and got on fresh clothes. We then drove into Idaho Springs to the Visitors Center. This is a nice visitors center for the local community and the USFS, very nice exhibits interpreting the local area’s highlights, such as mining, geology, and history. 

We then went to a grocery store as Lynn was in need of coffee flavoring. Next we filled up diesel truck, and headed back to camp. 

When we arrived at camp the skies were dark and there were angels bowling. Lynn took The Boys for a walk and I packed up our stove and cleaned out the truck. We are getting brief sprinkles and have planned our meals so they can be cooked easily inside. Tonight is some of our vegetable beef soup. 

Yep, you guessed it, more pup walks and then bed. Fearing the 4th maybe a very busy day, 7/3 might be our last summit morning. Then we will just relax on the 4th and hike some of the trails.

Day 4 - July 3, 2019

We were up and at um early again, walked The Boys, Made Coffee, dressed warmly and headed up the hill. 

On the way up we observed a herd of about 80 elk crossing the road just above timberline. Sadly there was not a good place to get off the road so we continued up the hill to the summit. 

At the summit there was a person walking two dogs and scaring the goats off. Finally he left and the goats returned. We keep The Boys inside the truck and they are content to just look at the goats. 

There were three goats very interested in the underbelly of our truck near the rear axel. They were crawling underneath and I am guessing licking road dirt. 

While I was sitting waiting to photo more goats, one yearling came right up to me and licked my pants. Another photographer captured the event and will be sending me the photos he took. I have found one can just sit there calmly and the goats will pretty much ignore you. 

Again many many photos were taken as the weather seemed warmer compared to the other mornings. The summit temp was 45F and a breeze of about 15MPH. 

We decided to make our way down to an area I am calling Pika Point, a location where one can pull off the road and there is a nice rocky area which is perfect Pika habitat. Yesterday I saw several scurrying about but today there was only one to be found. But there was a marmot sunning himself in the area. After the one Pika decided he had enough sun and disappeared, we continued down the hill. 

Back at Base camp we got into cooler clothes as the temp was now 57F with nice clear skies.  The Boys were walked and we cooked up a breakfast of French Toast. More pup walks filled the day, as well as down loading the mornings photos, sorting and some editing.  Actually this is nice as I will have less to do when we get home. 

The evening meal was chili. 

Many more Photos can be found at 2019 Soggy Moose Photos - Mt Goats

The Journey To Mt. Evans / Search for Mt Goats

Mt Evans 2019 

This is our third trip here to Echo Lake Campground at the the base of Mt Evans about 13-14 miles from Idaho Springs, Colorado. The campground is at an elevation of 10,600 feet and from this location one can drive the Highest Roadway in the United States to the summit of Mt. Evans located at 14,130 feet above sea level.   At the summit, during late June and the first part of July, the Mountain Goats stop by the summit to lick the mineral deposits. What makes this a joy is watching the little Mountain Goat Kids romping about getting the feel of the rocks under their hoofs. 

Mountain goats are not true goats—but they are close relatives. They are more properly known as goat-antelopes. These surefooted beasts inhabit many of North America's most spectacular alpine environments. They often appear at precipitous heights, from Alaska to the U.S. Rocky Mountains, showcasing climbing abilities that leave other animals, including most humans, far below. Mountain goats have cloven hooves with two toes that spread wide to improve balance. Rough pads on the bottom of each toe provide the grip of a natural climbing shoe. Mountain goats have distinctive beards and long, warm coats to protect them from cold temperatures and biting mountain winds. Their dazzling white coats provide good camouflage on the snowy heights. During the more moderate summer season goats shed this coat. Mountain Goats are believed to have evolved from  ancestors who lived in the Himalayas and their recent ancestors crossed the Bering Strait from Asia to North America. 

This year has been a rather heavy snow year and the summit road did not open till June 7th, so we will see what we will see. Yes there was a bit more snow, but not enough to hinder Mountain Goat viewing. 

The road to the summit is the highest roadway in North America and there is located in a USFS fee area. Various government access passes are accepted. The road starts out well surfaced and this changes as you gain elevation. There are numerous potholes and rough sections, which is probably good as they slow people down. 

Traveling this road is like going through several eco zones, basically like driving from southern Canada to Nome, Alaska. Thus for each 1,000 feet in elevation gain is like traveling 600 miles north. 

6/30 - Day 1- to Echo Lake Campground. 

We left the house at about 0930 and got to the campground at 1230. We stopped for petrol so we will be almost topped off given we will make several trips to the Summit of Mt. Evans. Traffic through Denver was not bad for Denver. 

We are camped at Echo Lake Campground and as the sites are small we reserved two sites next to each other. This gives us a good place to park the truck. We backed right into a site and had to play a bit to get level. A thunderstorm was threatening so Lynn took The Boys for a walk as I got camper setup completed. There was a nice little downpour, and when the rain broke we got The Boys for another short walk as more rain was on the horizon. 

Our elevation at this campground is at 10,600’, so the weather is nice and cool. One down side to the elevation is a propane refrigerator can have issues. 

The skies soon became a solid light grey overcast and we experienced rain off and on. We did get The Boys some laps around the campground during the lulls in the weather. Koda was happy to meet and great everyone with great enthusiasm, kind of like he was telling everyone tomorrow will be my birthday just to make sure they knew he was special.

Soon The Boys will be howling for their dinner and we will warm up some COWBOY CHUCK WAGON DUTCH OVEN SUPREME CASSEROLE for our evening meal. Then early to bed as tomorrow and all mornings here after will be early as we go for the summit to find the Mt Goat Kids. 

More, lots more photos can be found by following the link below:

2019 Soggy Moose Photos Mt Goats and More

Wyoming Wild Horses

Wild Horse Trip  June 4-6, 2019

For many, the American West, with its open spaces and wild horses, personifies the Spirit of America. We are fortunate here in Wyoming to have several areas where we can still find several herds of wild horses. One such place is in Sweetwater County in the area of Pilot Butte, where one finds the PILOT BUTTE WILD HORSE SCENIC TOUR . Here one can drive a scenic loop with 24 miles of gravel road to observe wild horses and other wildlife. One can start this loop in either Rock Springs or Green River, Wyoming. 

We will be camping at the Sweetwater County Events Center. This is rally style camping, sites are all gravel, and are fenced so those with livestock can tie their critters out. There are 1,200 sites with full hookups, and the fee is $30 per-night. Works for an overnight or not spending anytime in the campground. The campground caretaker is friendly and the shower house is nice. 

Horses were first seen in this country about 10,000 years ago, but for unknown reasons became extinct. They were not seen again for another 9,000 years when the Spanish reintroduced them in the 1500’s. These current herds are descendants of those Spanish horses along with animals turned out by ranchers or enticed away from ranches by wild horse herds. 

The Rock Springs Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the headquarters of the Wild Horse Program in Wyoming. The appropriate management level for wild horses in Wyoming is approximately 6,000. 2,500 of these horses are in the Rock Springs District. Federal and private lands form a checkerboard pattern in the Rock Springs District. The existence of the herds of wild horses is a credit to the cooperation of the private landowners and the BLM. The private land owners of this area do not fence their land, thus allowing the horses to wander as necessary for food, water, and shelter in the winter as nature provides.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) conducts a periodic census of the wild horses to determine how many animals must be removed from the range. As a result there are fewer cases of injury or death from starvation, dehydration, and susceptibility to the elements. The horses are gathered at various times throughout the year.

Wild horses have no true natural predators other than an occasional mountain lion. As a result, populations can increase at a very high rate. This rate of increase is generally about 20% per year, with good years topping 40%. When populations of wildlife, wild horses, and domestic livestock exceed the capabilities of their habitat, the environment begins to suffer. If prolonged, it leads to poor rangeland and an overall decline in the health of the wild horses.

The majority of wild horses in Wyoming are located in the southwestern part of the state. The appropriate management level for wild horses in Wyoming is approximately 2,490 to 3,725 horses. Approximately 1,100 to 1,600 wild horses can be found on the public lands managed by the BLM Rock Springs Field Office. 

We started our day at about 0700 and drove North out of Rock Springs, Wyoming to County Road 14, which soon became dirt, then turned onto County Road 53. The first hour or more we did not see any Wild Horses, but we did see where they had been. Then, in the area of Pilot Butte, we saw a small group. We parked the truck, I walked out to get closer for photos. I was surprised how calm they were and allowed me to get within about 75 yards. 

After this group roamed over the ridge, we continued our search. Back on County Road 53, beyond the turnoff for Pilot Butte, we turned off onto a two track and found a group of three Wild Horses. Then while driving back to County Road 53, I spotted a larger group on a ridge several miles away. We found another two track and I hiked out to get closer. My hikes out across the high desert sagebrush were anywhere from 1/2 mile to 1 1/2 miles. 

One definitely needs a high clearance vehicle and if there were a heavy rain it could get a wee bit wild and western. 

The last group I encountered had about 13-14 horses and three foals. 

Here are some photos of our outing. 

SANDHILL CRANES 2019 Ft. KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

First, you’ll hear it before you see it.

The ancient call of a single crane can trumpet out for miles. And when they all cry out at once the sound multiplies by the tens or hundreds of thousands.

Each spring, around half a million Sandhill Cranes descend upon a small stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska on their way north to Canada, Alaska and Siberia, from their winter homes in Mexico and the Southwest. Starting around mid  February through the first half of April, they rest here to prepare for nesting up north.

The Sandhill Crane migration has been an event we have wanted to see for a few years. As we have traveled across I-80 and noticed the billboards around Kearney, Nebraska highlighting the Crane Festival. 

We had originally planned to make this trip a week earlier but were in Chicago. The weather pattern this year worked well and even though we were later than previous years there were plenty of cranes. The last count was 520,000. 

Final note on this trip. One should experience this at sometime, as it is well worth the effort to see this migration. Yes, even the non birder would enjoy.   

Here are some photos from this year. Enjoy and share the Blog with friends and family.   

More photos will be available in a couple weeks when I get home and process several more - you can find them at  https://soggymoosephoto.smugmug.com