Come the Horses

The end of a long driveway

Dr. K, Becca and I got an early start on the Grand View Trail this morning, and we saw no other outdoor enthusiast going nor coming.  We did have an interesting encounter, though, with a couple of animals we've bumped into a few times before.  On the inbound leg of our trek I had stopped to take a photo when we heard what sounded like the bass from a stereo advancing steadily toward us.  After a few moments of us listening intently, Dr. K said, "It's somebody riding a horse."  A moment later two riderless horses appeared from around a bend on the trail directly ahead of us.  They pulled up short when they saw Becca; but as soon as Dr. K guided Becca to the side of the trail, I said to the equines, "It's okay, guys, come ahead."  They seemed happy to oblige, and the way they trotted past us made me think they'd been spooked by something other than us.  We've had direct contact with these two (and a third) several times before, and I've always wondered why any rancher would allow his animals free rein to wander in an area where mountain lions roam.

Grand View Trail

Looking toward White Sands

Here I go with the White Sands photos

A bit of a closer look

Massive boulders

Are these the high rolls near High Rolls?

Weathered mountains

Another view of White Sands

Spruce?

Vista from the Grand View Trail

Becca leading the way

Contrail clouds

Sotol in the sunlight

Good depth of field

Did some climbing to get this shot of Dr. K and Becca

Look for the slight difference here . . .

. . . and here

Mexican Barberry leaves

Houses at the side of Fresnal Canyon Road

Heading for the midway ramada on the Grand View Trail

Little Hedgehog growing in rock

Through the cut

Subtle color in the high desert brush

Look who we met up with on the trail

These beauties clopped past us at a brisk pace

Why are there more horses' asses in the world than there are horses?