Wild West Adventures: Erik's Guide Service........
6/26/09......well yesterday I tried my first experience at showing an Eons member now living in the area, a glimpse at the treasures of the wild west in Nevada. And I met and took "windnsea" on an adventure up Talapoosa Peak, near where I live in Silver Springs Nevada. To see some of our mining history, geology, panoramic views, and the wild horses up close. It was an easy day long trip, and Windnsea was just thrilled at the lore and history, and geology, and mining area I took her through. She was amazed, and very interested in collecting a number of mineral spiecemans at the old Talapoosa Mining District mines, now closed and made safe by blasting, bulldozing, and plugging all the old mines shafts and tunnnels as required by the EPA in restoring the area and environment.
Eventually we drove to the peak searching for wild horses. As we reached the peak where there are several radio and microwave anntenae installations, and the 360 degree panoramic view of Nevada approximately 40 to 50 miles distance all around us unfolded, Windnsea was enthralled taking probably dozens of photos. Going over the peak headed towards the Ramsey Mining District, we continued on searching for wild horses. Finally we spotted a small herd of six or seven, including two foals. Windnsea was amazed at seeing them so free and wild and close, shooting more photos. Continuing on a ways, we spotted a couple on a ridge of the mountain looking like a happy couple in love, and more distant on a further ridgeline were several more horses. Viewing them with my binoculars, there appeared to be 5 or 6 including a foal. Continuing on, we followed the mountain trail until it ended at another installation farthest west, turning around there, and enjoying the distant views all around us. I pointed out the Pinyon Pines, and Alpine Junipers, and as much of the shrubbery and vegetation that I knew names for. Windnsea was enjoying all the wild flower colors.
By that time around 2:30 or 3:00 PM, the afternoon temperatures were reading 96 degrees on the thermometer. Kind of cool that the Humvee has that along with a compass on the rearview mirror. Anyway, it had gotten quite hot in the day, and so we continued on heading back down the mountain.
All of a sudden three wild horses crossed the trail in front of us about a hundred feet. I stopped shutting off the engine. In the lead was the stallion, a nice big chestnut dark brown. He stopped in the trail sniffing at a poop pile, then strattled over it slightly and pooped some more on to it, then moved across the trail into the rocks and trees. His mare a large buckskin with black tail and mane followed, sniffing at the poop pile, and then moved up the trail where there a a patch of dirt without any rocks in it, and suddenly layed down and began to roll in the soft dirt dusting herself like drycleaning. She looked much like a puppy rolling on it's back, feet in the air. It was awesome to see this up so close. she then rolled on her belly raising up on her legs, and then like a kid, jumped off her front and then rear legs, like she was shaking off the excess dust, and then walking back towards her colt who was now sniffing the poop pile. The filly colt looked about a year old maybe, and was a beautiful shiny black brown. The mare sort of hung back, but the inexperienced and almost fearless colt walked towards us in the Hummer getting to maybe fifty feet from us before stopping. Then something in the wind, or a sound spooked them both, and like lightening they spun around and took off. The mare running at great speed into the rocks and trees, the colt almost loosing it footing in the soft spot of dirt, regaining it's stride, and following it's mother. As I rolled the vehicle forward, they all stopped, looking around at us as we headed on along our way. I stopped for a moment near a radio tower to show Windnsea some of the nice red and purplish and whitish semi-translucent Chalcedony-Agate rocks in an outcropping, that Windnsea thought was really beautiful and collected up a few chunks of. She was really stoked at the tremendous views of distant vistas in all directions.
Soon we continued on down the mountain, seeing once more the first little herd of wild horses we had seen. Pretty soon it was nearing 4:30, and we concluded the adventure driving off the mountain to HWY 50, and headed back east to Fallon where Windnsea is living. We had seen about 20-21 horses in all I think, and they all looked so healthy and shiny and wild, and it had been a good day trip. Returning to Fallon, I dropped Windnsea off, she thanking me for a fun afternoon. It had been a great day with plenty of wild horses, and a successful first attempt at providing guide service to an Eons friend.Hope y'all enjoy the tale of this adventure......Happy Trails...
Eventually we drove to the peak searching for wild horses. As we reached the peak where there are several radio and microwave anntenae installations, and the 360 degree panoramic view of Nevada approximately 40 to 50 miles distance all around us unfolded, Windnsea was enthralled taking probably dozens of photos. Going over the peak headed towards the Ramsey Mining District, we continued on searching for wild horses. Finally we spotted a small herd of six or seven, including two foals. Windnsea was amazed at seeing them so free and wild and close, shooting more photos. Continuing on a ways, we spotted a couple on a ridge of the mountain looking like a happy couple in love, and more distant on a further ridgeline were several more horses. Viewing them with my binoculars, there appeared to be 5 or 6 including a foal. Continuing on, we followed the mountain trail until it ended at another installation farthest west, turning around there, and enjoying the distant views all around us. I pointed out the Pinyon Pines, and Alpine Junipers, and as much of the shrubbery and vegetation that I knew names for. Windnsea was enjoying all the wild flower colors.
By that time around 2:30 or 3:00 PM, the afternoon temperatures were reading 96 degrees on the thermometer. Kind of cool that the Humvee has that along with a compass on the rearview mirror. Anyway, it had gotten quite hot in the day, and so we continued on heading back down the mountain.
All of a sudden three wild horses crossed the trail in front of us about a hundred feet. I stopped shutting off the engine. In the lead was the stallion, a nice big chestnut dark brown. He stopped in the trail sniffing at a poop pile, then strattled over it slightly and pooped some more on to it, then moved across the trail into the rocks and trees. His mare a large buckskin with black tail and mane followed, sniffing at the poop pile, and then moved up the trail where there a a patch of dirt without any rocks in it, and suddenly layed down and began to roll in the soft dirt dusting herself like drycleaning. She looked much like a puppy rolling on it's back, feet in the air. It was awesome to see this up so close. she then rolled on her belly raising up on her legs, and then like a kid, jumped off her front and then rear legs, like she was shaking off the excess dust, and then walking back towards her colt who was now sniffing the poop pile. The filly colt looked about a year old maybe, and was a beautiful shiny black brown. The mare sort of hung back, but the inexperienced and almost fearless colt walked towards us in the Hummer getting to maybe fifty feet from us before stopping. Then something in the wind, or a sound spooked them both, and like lightening they spun around and took off. The mare running at great speed into the rocks and trees, the colt almost loosing it footing in the soft spot of dirt, regaining it's stride, and following it's mother. As I rolled the vehicle forward, they all stopped, looking around at us as we headed on along our way. I stopped for a moment near a radio tower to show Windnsea some of the nice red and purplish and whitish semi-translucent Chalcedony-Agate rocks in an outcropping, that Windnsea thought was really beautiful and collected up a few chunks of. She was really stoked at the tremendous views of distant vistas in all directions.
Soon we continued on down the mountain, seeing once more the first little herd of wild horses we had seen. Pretty soon it was nearing 4:30, and we concluded the adventure driving off the mountain to HWY 50, and headed back east to Fallon where Windnsea is living. We had seen about 20-21 horses in all I think, and they all looked so healthy and shiny and wild, and it had been a good day trip. Returning to Fallon, I dropped Windnsea off, she thanking me for a fun afternoon. It had been a great day with plenty of wild horses, and a successful first attempt at providing guide service to an Eons friend.Hope y'all enjoy the tale of this adventure......Happy Trails...
