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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving Weekend

December 6, 2016 by admin 22 Comments

XNIE06 16_0007Signature

Long-tailed Weasel  –  Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado

Lori and I had been planning on traveling to western Colorado for over a year to photograph one of the herds of wild horses living in our state. For one reason or another, it never happened. Then, sometime back in October, we began talking about our annual trip to Bosque del Apache to photograph Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese and anything else that happened to find its way into our viewfinders. Then it came to me, why not travel to western Colorado and see if we couldn’t find the horses. After much discussion, we decided . . . why not? It wasn’t easy giving up a trip to New Mexico, especially since we were unsure if we could even find the horses. After all, they roamed over almost 160,000 acres of BLM land. What the heck. It was worth a try.

It was Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and we were on our way . . . Lori, myself and our canine family, Diana, Ginger and Cheyenne all packed into our F250 Ford diesel.

Getting somewhat of a late start, we decided to see what we might find in the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge in North Park near Walden. After all, it would be dark by the time we would be able locate the horses.

Arriving at the Refuge, we decided to drive the Wildlife Loop, hoping that something might pop its head up and give us a photo op. It didn’t happen.

“Let’s go to Refuge headquarters and see if anyone was there,” I suggested. “Maybe they could give us a lead to where we might find something.”

We did, but no one was there – no cars and the doors were locked. Then I noticed something blowing across the field. Was it a bird? No. Perhaps, a piece of trash? No. It was a weasel. It got out of the truck, my newly purchased D500 and trustworthy 80-400mm VR zoom in tow. The photo posted above was the result.

Lori, being cold-natured as she is, stayed in the truck and shot out the window.

 

XNMA03  WILD HORSE  (Equus fetus) Sand Wash Basin HMA, Colorado

Wild Horses  –  Western Colorado

Arriving late in western Colorado, we decided to eat in and enjoy left-over turkey sandwiches for supper. I have to say, Miracle Whip, cayenne pepper and white-meat turkey piled high between a couple of slices of bread is one of my favorites.

The next morning found us in the back country, driving one of the well-maintained back-country roads. (Note: it says well maintained) The reason I point this out is because a sign posted as we left the main highway, read that the roads can be hazardous when they’re wet. Anyway we drove, and drove, and drove looking for wild horses.

I was gonna tell you that we eventually found the horses, but you already knew that. I know. The above photograph was a dead give-away.

Anyway, after a couple of hours, or so, of driving Lori yelled, “Horses!”

Sure enough, she does know a horse when she sees one. All together, we found two small bands along that road, each with three horses. Not many, but at least we had found horses to photograph. Although most of the day was behind us, we really didn’t want to quit.

We had seen another turn-off along the highway not far from our present location. We decided to go there and see what we could find. As it turned out, that was the best decision we made during the entire trip.

Traveling only a few miles along the new road, we spotted a car coming our way. Perhaps they might might have seen horses.  Besides, I always like learning what others are doing. Everyone has a story to tell and I like listening.

As it turned out, the driver was also a photographer.  Her name . . . Nadja Rider. We talked a while and I learned where we might find one of the stallions I had seen posted on the internet. We followed Nadja’s directions and sure enough, there he was . . . just as she had described.

He’s the paint horse in the photo. Thank you, Nadja. While you’re at it, check out Nadja’s offerings. Click HERE.

Anyway, we photographed him and his band until we ran out of light. Perhaps we could find them tomorrow.

Perhaps . . . but it didn’t look good. Snow was forecast during the night.

Sure enough, it was snowing the next morning. Remembering the sign, “Hazardous when wet,” we figured there was no reason to go looking for the horses. We had learned our lesson a couple of months back while tracking down a lead on mountain goats near Breckenridge, Colorado. That lesson cost us $700 for a wrecker to come and pull us out. I may be a slow learner, but I’m not that slow.

Anyway, we decided to enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast in town. Since we still had one more night booked at the motel, we decided, “Lets do the tourist thing.” After all, we were tourists. So, after breakfast, we piled into our truck and decided to do a little sight-seeing. Besides, there was snow on the ground and I always enjoy the snow.

As it so happened, the direction we were traveling would take us past the turnoff that led to the location, where we photographed the paint the day before. More amazing was the fact that, unlike the first 40, or so, miles we had traveled, there was no sign of snow.

There it was. The turnoff. It looked dry. Plus, we could always turn around if if got wet. Fortunately, that wasn’t necessary. Apparently, it hadn’t snowed over-night in this area.

We found the paint and his band within a hundred yards of where we had photographed them the day before.

I had read somewhere, not to get too close to the horses. It went on the say that 50 feet was close enough. That was closer than I needed. However, what Lori and I experienced that day, brought tears to my eyes. One of the stallions that I talked too, actually came towards me where I was standing. So did one of the mares.

Needless to say, “We’ll be back.”

Right now, I’ve got to pack.  Lori and I are off to Bosque in a couple of days.

Diana, Ginger and Cheyenne? They’ll be back, too.

 

You can purchase the photographs on this page.

Email: weldon@weldonlee.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Nadja Rider says

    December 6, 2016 at 6:14 pm

    It was a pleasure meeting you in the basin. So glad you and your wife found the horses!

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 12:41 pm

      The pleasure was all mine. It was because of you that we were able to locate the horses so quickly. Thank you.

      Reply
  2. James Beissel says

    December 7, 2016 at 11:49 am

    Fantastic weasel shot! I just love seeing those guys! Sounds like a great Thanksgiving for you and Lori.

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 12:38 pm

      Thank you for your nice comment, James.

      Reply
  3. Terry Mieger says

    December 7, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    Hi Weldon haven’t seen you for a while. Love to read about your experiences. You going to have a presentation available for this one. Sounds like it has possibilities. Let me know
    Terry

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 1:04 pm

      By presentation, are you referring to a workshop? or, speaking presentation? As you know, I do both.

      Reply
  4. Elaine Bish says

    December 7, 2016 at 12:23 pm

    LOVE the weasel!!!! What a grand adventure!

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      It was fun. Thank you for you nice comment on the weasel image.

      Reply
  5. phillip woody says

    December 7, 2016 at 12:34 pm

    very nice pictures i still remember going to haines alaska to get eagle picturtes

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 1:06 pm

      It’s great to hear from you, Phillip. Did your frost-bite ever recover?

      Reply
  6. JP Bruce says

    December 7, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    Enjoyed the photos and the story. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 1:47 pm

      Glad you liked them, JP.

      Reply
  7. Kelly walkotten says

    December 7, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Sounds like a great trip. I miss you guys!

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 1:48 pm

      It was, Kelly. We miss you, too.

      Reply
  8. John Tobias says

    December 7, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Great story, really like the weasel photo! Horse photos are great too.

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 2:46 pm

      Thank you, John. We really had lots of fun while we were there.

      Reply
  9. Joyce Edson says

    December 7, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Weldon,

    That picture of the wild horses is cool! It sounds like a great road trip.

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 2:45 pm

      Thank you, Joyce. This is an area where you might consider using your gift certificate.

      Reply
  10. J. Michael Wilhelm aka Pappy says

    December 7, 2016 at 3:12 pm

    And here you thought that I never visit your sites. The weasel is truly a great image and the hosses are good as well, but you already know that by now.
    Maybe if I come out there my thirst for photography just might get the swallow it needs to get back into photographing again…it’s not working here for sure.

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 3:51 pm

      Thanks, Pappy. As you already know, we’ve got a place here for you anytime you can come.

      Reply
  11. Susan Mankey says

    December 7, 2016 at 4:24 pm

    I enjoyed your report. I like your writing style. I love the photo of the weasel (ermine?) in its white coat. Someday I hope that I, too, will spot one and get a photograph. Also hope to photograph the wild horses.
    It is my hope that you will provide a report of your trip at Bosque. I will be going there next week and will be interested in any sightings you might have other than the Sandhilll Cranes and Snow Geese. I read a report from another photographer who saw bobcats there a few weeks ago when in was a surprisingly 70 degrees

    Also, thank you for the link to Nadja Rider and her wild horse photos.

    Reply
    • admin says

      December 7, 2016 at 5:01 pm

      Thank you for the wonderful comments, Susan. It would be nice to be able to photograph bobcats on our upcoming Bosque adventure. It could happen for you. Just believe. The post to Nadja’s wild horse photos was the least that I could do. I do plan on posting a report on our trip to Bosque. Not sure when it will happen. Sooner than later, I hope.

      Reply

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