Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Deep partial lunar eclipse

28 08 2026

Last night (Aug. 27-28), “the full Sturgeon Moon slipped into Earth’s shadow, creating a stunning “almost blood moon” as up to 96.2% of the lunar surface disappears into the darkest part of our planet’s shadow, the umbra.”

The full moon rising over Temple Butte, from the base of Round Top in Spring Creek Basin.

The sun had set by the time the moon rose, and I wish I knew all the techy bits to get the moon exposed correctly and Temple Butte exposed correctly, but you’ll have to take my word for it: It was glorious (as it always is).

While most of this image looks black, that’s actually Temple Butte beneath the rising full moon! 🙂 And the eclipse was already starting when the moon rose over Spring Creek Basin.

You can really see the progression of the shadow taking over in the above two pix. All of the above images were taken from the base of Round Top in Spring Creek Basin. Then, I figured I should head out of the basin while the moon and Earth were doing their thing … and I’d pick it up from farther out in Disappointment Valley as the peak of the eclipse neared.

This was taken at 9:55 p.m.

And this was taken at 10:20 p.m. The “peak” of the eclipse for us in Southwest Colorado was at 10:12 p.m.

Just cool. 🙂 I hope you all got to see it, wherever you live!

Comments : 12 Comments »

Categories : Colorado, Disappointment Valley, Lunar eclipse, McKenna Peak, Night sky, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Temple Butte

All the colors

27 08 2026

On this evening, the sky to the *east*/southeast at sunset was spectacular. That’s Spring Creek Basin at far left.

Still no rain, but the sky is putting on evening shows that are phenomenal! One day, it will rain.

Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : Brumley Point, Colorado, Disappointment Valley, McKenna Peak, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Sunset, Temple Butte

Meeting under sunset

26 08 2026

A couple of bands were together the other evening when I was leaving Spring Creek Basin, and with such a glorious (dry) sky, it was a no-brainer to stop and hit the shutter button on the phone’s camera a few times. 🙂

*****

Sing with the angels, Dolly Parton. You are a national treasure.

“I wish you joy and happiness … but above all this I wish you love … I will always love you … “

Comments : 9 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Raise the curtain (let it rain)

25 08 2026

Temple on a dramatic evening a couple of nights ago. A curtain of rain was passing to the northwest over or in front of (our Colorado side of) Utah’s La Sal Mountains.

Shafts of sunlight were finding the mountains as the rain edged past to the north.

Whatever land was getting that glorious rainfall under the path of the curtain is fortunate, indeed. For our part of Disappointment Valley, after a crazy “front” of wind, rain finally came briefly after dark. Still not much, but it was wonderful while it lasted.

I even managed to capture a tiny bolt of lightning in the clouds. The ponies were not at all concerned, but shortly after, I hit the road!

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : La Sal Mountains, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Rain, Utah, Colorado, Spring Creek canyon

Peaceful greys

24 08 2026

Alegre and Maia are one of a few pairs of mamas and adult daughters still together in Spring Creek Basin.

So far, an unbreakable bond.

Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

Promising

23 08 2026

Promising … but not making much good on its promise. The northeastern and maybe eastern portions of Spring Creek Basin (including at least one water catchment) got enough rain to make the ground damp for a little while, so that’s fortunate.

Comments : 8 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

From safety

22 08 2026

Cassidy Rain listens to a far-off, low-flying plane from the shade of a secret forest in eastern Spring Creek Basin.

It had been a long time since I’d been to that part of the basin (the day Skywalker was born, in fact), and I’m grateful to the ponies for leading me back to that beautiful high plateau.

Comments : 6 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs

All well in his world

21 08 2026

Corazon’s attention was briefly caught by whinnies from his band members over the edge of the hill while they grazed near Spring Creek canyon.

That was the moment I caught him in the late light. Best kind of capture. 🙂

Comments : 14 Comments »

Categories : Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Spring Creek canyon

Magic arch

20 08 2026

This happened late Tuesday evening in Spring Creek Basin. Wowza. Not the boldest rainbow ever, and the pic doesn’t do justice to the view, but it was pure magic. … Yes, it “sprinkled” over that part of the basin; I think I got hit by four, maybe five drops. Sure was pretty. 🙂

Comments : 9 Comments »

Categories : McKenna Peak, Rain, Rainbow, Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, Spring Creek Basin mustangs, Temple Butte

Smiley

19 08 2026

Terra was born a rusty red sort of sorrel with an unusual “blaze” on her face that I always thought resembled a swan. As she has greyed, that little bit of pink on her muzzle is the only remnant of her baby color. 🙂