Monday, August 4, 2014 FOXY KENDALL MTN

We decided to go up Kendall Mountain and look for the fox family & were fortunate to see them for a few minutes before we were invaded by jerks; about 17 ATVs speeding thru & screaming.  We had stopped beside them at the turnoff to the mine.  When the ATVS came up behind us, we continued on to the top, hoping they would go to the top, turn around and go back down.  Looked like that was what they were going to do, then they went up the mine road, came back down & stopped beside the foxes and got off their ATVs and started screaming & running thru the snow and just being colossal jerks.  I know they knew they were there because I heard one of them talking about the black fox.  There were two dark ones and two light ones this year.  In years past, they have been so curious that they came up to our Jeeps and tried to get in the open doors.  I will be surprised if they ever come back to this spot again.  I know it's been good for business, but I HATE THAT THEY ARE LETTING THE ATVs ON THE ROADS THRU TOWN THIS YEAR.  THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE SPEED-FREAK JERKS.

 

Three of them in the first three pictures:

 

Two:

 Two:

Solo:

 

 Look carefully; three:

Some of the jerks. 

Just to the left of the snow, the ground dips down into a bowl & that's where they were:

We were going to wait awhile after they finally left, but a storm started rolling our way:

 Almost to the bottom of the trail & this grouse just stood in front of the Jeep,

turning her head and watching us for several minutes before finally fleeing into the woods.

 

 

Sunday, August 3, 2014 CLEAR LAKE

Another trial run for the Jeep repairs today.  Happy to report that there was no failure.  We drove the trail to Clear Lake. 

Starting out, the wildflowers looked sparse:

 

I took a hike up this trail and found some great wildflowers:

 Jeep sure looks little down there:

 

 

 

 

 Lots of Columbines:

 

Clear Lake from the hiking trail:

 

 

 On one section of the trail to the lake, there is talus on one side and marshy, lush vegetation on the other side.  This little pica was running back and forth in front of our Jeep.  He would pull off a big leaf and run across the road, up the rocks, and stash it under some rocks.  He made several trips while we watched.  He had leaves stashed all over the place.  Maybe planning a late night buffet?

 

 

Saturday, August 2, 2014 U.S. Basin

We did some chores around the RV this morning, then took a test drive after lunch to check out repairs done to the Jeep yesterday.  So far, so good. Started raining on us and it's still raining. 

Still some wildflowers in U.S. Basin and we saw several deer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was out on the highway: 

 

 

Thursday, July 31, 2014 Tommy Goes Home

Tommy headed back home to heat & humidity today.  We are gonna miss this guy!  We went to Durango early to make sure we cleared Hwy 550 in time to make his flight.  If it is closed for any reason, there really are no alternatives.  I didn't take a camera, so had to rely on cell phone pictures which never seem to come out as good for me. 

Tommy getting "liquored up" for the flight at Texas Serious Barbeque on the Animas River.

 With some time to kill, we took a drive thru the campus of Fort Lewis College.

A fawn crossed the road, followed by another & they just kept coming.  Five in all, plus a doe.  Tommy said she must have been the "Doe care lady." 

You can see two of them here. 

 Tommy headed for his flight: 

 

 

On the way back to Silverton, we saw several large doe, but I didn't even try to photograph with the cell phone.  Our good friends, Cathy & Larry Foreman took these pictures yesterday.  Since we can't ever seem to run into this big guy, we will have to live vicariously thru them.  We will keep looking!