Wild Burros, Wild Horses, Ghost town and Abandoned Mines!
What could be more exciting than finding wild burros, wild horses,
abandoned mines and a ghost town all in one day? These are just some the
highlights of my interesting encounters when I went photo-exploring in the
Marietta Wild Burro Range in west-central Nevada.
Venturing out on the second day of October following a low pressure system that brought rain the previous night, I took my chances on what the weather might bring and hoped that the forecast for a partially cloudy, calm day was accurate. Come October, the weather can be very unpredictable in the high desert country of Nevada.
The Marietta Wild Burro Range extends for 68,000 acres on BLM public land and was dedicated in 1991 on the 20th. anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Up to 100 wild burros plus a number of wild horses are free to roam across this open desert.
Traveling west on the maintained dirt road, a group of wild horses were spotted in the near distance, grazing along the hillside.
The wind was blowing just enough from last night's passing front that I tried to shield the camera and 80-200mm lens in between the front passenger door to catch the group of wild horses.
By the looks of the dark cloud hanging over the hill in back of the road by the horses, I decided it best to continue on the main road. A micro-bust of rain in the desert can create flash floods in a matter of seconds. Furthermore, I did not want to disturb the horses by driving any closer.
Continuing on and almost shadowed by the overhead cloud, I noticed a group of at least 10 wild burros grazing not too far off the main road.
The wind was starting to calm down which always makes my life easier with
nature photography.
Up in the distance more burros stood out. The first hints of autumn were starting to highlight the desert floor with the yellow of rabbit bush and four-wing saltbush.
Borax and salt deposits brought settlers to the Marietta area during the 1800's. Burros were used by gold and silver prospectors as pack animals. Originally from the deserts of northern Africa, the Equus asinus asinus adjusted well to the hot, dry summers. Edible desert plants like Indian ricegrass and four-wing saltbush comprise the diets of wild burros and horses.
The wild burros at Marietta tend to be the Nubian africanus subspecies with the characteristic black stripe across the shoulders and down the middle of the back.
My day of photo-exploring had just begun with the sightings of burros and horses, there was much more to discover and the day was still young. As I drove past the last group of burros, my travels took me past some intriguing rock formations. Looking carefully and I could see numerous trails made over time by the wandering burros
Follow me on my blog as I continue on my photo-adventures into the Marietta ghost town and see if my camera sensor picks up any thing unusual.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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