Desert Big Horn Sheep at Vivian Creek Trailhead 5-6-09
Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 8:16 pmWell first of all, I've been up this trail so many times I figured why bring a camera? AAARRRGGGHHH! A Charlie Brown moment!
I had to drop my doggie off at the vet in Loma Linda for surgery, and had the rest of the day up there - I don't live near there. I'm trying to adjust to having at least 50 lbs on my back for several planned Sierra treks this summer (50lbs! don't ask!)...so I take the new appendage and go up Vivian Creek to High Camp..back down. Nothing photo worthy, other than the beautiful trees...it was v. warm and a most excellent day.
I get back to the trailhead parking lot around 3:45PM and I see two desert big horn sheep - both mature rams - they both have full curl horns - very big horns, they are so beautiful!! The older one had not yet fully shed his winter coat, but the younger one was mostly shed. They are no less than 30 feet away! Dang! I've got everything but my camera!!! Well I stood there for about 10 minutes and the younger one came bounding closer, to within 20 feet to stand guard while the other one kept munching on the grass. I stood there like a sentry, watching for about 45 minutes in this way...but I had to go pick up my doggie - at least see if he survived the surgery (which he did
hurrah!)
The sheep went down into the creek to drink some water. Some teenagers were there with cameras and I directed them to a most excellent photo op. I vow never to travel without my camera again. I am so bummed about that, but at least I saw them. I stopped by the ranger station to report the sighting, they are an endangered species, after all, but it was closed.
I had to drop my doggie off at the vet in Loma Linda for surgery, and had the rest of the day up there - I don't live near there. I'm trying to adjust to having at least 50 lbs on my back for several planned Sierra treks this summer (50lbs! don't ask!)...so I take the new appendage and go up Vivian Creek to High Camp..back down. Nothing photo worthy, other than the beautiful trees...it was v. warm and a most excellent day.
I get back to the trailhead parking lot around 3:45PM and I see two desert big horn sheep - both mature rams - they both have full curl horns - very big horns, they are so beautiful!! The older one had not yet fully shed his winter coat, but the younger one was mostly shed. They are no less than 30 feet away! Dang! I've got everything but my camera!!! Well I stood there for about 10 minutes and the younger one came bounding closer, to within 20 feet to stand guard while the other one kept munching on the grass. I stood there like a sentry, watching for about 45 minutes in this way...but I had to go pick up my doggie - at least see if he survived the surgery (which he did
hurrah!)
The sheep went down into the creek to drink some water. Some teenagers were there with cameras and I directed them to a most excellent photo op. I vow never to travel without my camera again. I am so bummed about that, but at least I saw them. I stopped by the ranger station to report the sighting, they are an endangered species, after all, but it was closed.
