Post by Geo-Ing Crazy on May 21, 2010 15:03:59 GMT -5
My premiere rockhounding trip each year (usually Mother's day weekend) actually started out in 2002 as a trip to Challis, Idaho, to see the wild horse herds. Every yearly trip thereafter has been my ROCKHOUNDING adventure, which started accidentally, because I found a very cool chalcedony nodule and lot and BIG chunks of agate with masses of small/medium crystals.
The "herd" of wild horses and the land (about 160,000 acres) are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. No vehicles of any kind allowed beyond a certain point, but people can hike or ride their own horses out over hills, and hills, and hills to try to catch a glimpse of the wild horses. They usually roam in small band of 4-15 horses. They are elusive, and generally run if they see you. But some years we have seen quite a number of horses, and even some that confront us, trying to get US to run.
The last 4 years we have been lucky to have our friends Jim and Judy with us, who are horse lovers, AND Judy is a geologist and rockhound. How lucky could I get? Here are some pictures from 2010 and 2009.
We set up camp and generally have the place to ourselves.
We surprised this band as much as they surprised us!
Many times, this is as close as we have been able to come to some bands.
We came up over a hilltop and surprised this band. They really tried to stand their ground and scare us off. But when their forward advances and blowing snot did not chase us away, we had a several minute standoff when they advanced, and then ran off to the side and challenged us again before they took off over the hill.
Stan and I on a hilltop, just to give an idea of the terrain.
We watched this band for several minutes before they spotted us.
Oftentimes we come upon hillsides that are absolutely littered with rocks that I NEED to take home. Here Stan holds the prize find of the day..an almost perfect half geode filled with crystals. My poor horse had an extra 30 pounds of rocks to carry on the way out!
Posing with our horses. Both horses are 26 years old. Large antler in the foreground, found by Judy. Cool find - the only one of the weekend.
Lunchtime, a convenient sagebrush to lean against. Our friends Jim and Judy in the background.
Taken from a hilltop, The White Cloud Mountains in the distance.
We do usually see other horse people out for day rides, but have always had the place to ourselves by evening. An awesome weekend, and no traffic noises!
(forgot to get closeups of the rocks, will have to do that later!)
Thanks for Looking.
Barb
The "herd" of wild horses and the land (about 160,000 acres) are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. No vehicles of any kind allowed beyond a certain point, but people can hike or ride their own horses out over hills, and hills, and hills to try to catch a glimpse of the wild horses. They usually roam in small band of 4-15 horses. They are elusive, and generally run if they see you. But some years we have seen quite a number of horses, and even some that confront us, trying to get US to run.
The last 4 years we have been lucky to have our friends Jim and Judy with us, who are horse lovers, AND Judy is a geologist and rockhound. How lucky could I get? Here are some pictures from 2010 and 2009.
We set up camp and generally have the place to ourselves.
We surprised this band as much as they surprised us!
Many times, this is as close as we have been able to come to some bands.
We came up over a hilltop and surprised this band. They really tried to stand their ground and scare us off. But when their forward advances and blowing snot did not chase us away, we had a several minute standoff when they advanced, and then ran off to the side and challenged us again before they took off over the hill.
Stan and I on a hilltop, just to give an idea of the terrain.
We watched this band for several minutes before they spotted us.
Oftentimes we come upon hillsides that are absolutely littered with rocks that I NEED to take home. Here Stan holds the prize find of the day..an almost perfect half geode filled with crystals. My poor horse had an extra 30 pounds of rocks to carry on the way out!
Posing with our horses. Both horses are 26 years old. Large antler in the foreground, found by Judy. Cool find - the only one of the weekend.
Lunchtime, a convenient sagebrush to lean against. Our friends Jim and Judy in the background.
Taken from a hilltop, The White Cloud Mountains in the distance.
We do usually see other horse people out for day rides, but have always had the place to ourselves by evening. An awesome weekend, and no traffic noises!
(forgot to get closeups of the rocks, will have to do that later!)
Thanks for Looking.
Barb