March 13th - THE PULL OF THE DESERT

Road down into the Lake Mead Recreational Area

Overlooking campsite

We have company - wild Burros

Part of the small group

A couple of Jennies and a young one

Two outcast young males learning how to play fight

"Do you guys have carrots...oats...sugar?"

Two of four wild horses

I spooked them and they ran

The lone stallion on guard (mares hidden)

Evening at the reservoir (Lake Mead)

Another cairn built by Jackie

Long winding road back out

A few days ago we got our fill of civilization (water, dump station and the ever desired internet signal) and headed back out into the desert.  We had camped on the Nevada side of the Colorado River (Lake Mead) last winter and wanted to see if the Arizona side would be the same in amount of water, dried areas, etc.  We discovered that much of the mapped areas for camping and fishing are similiar to the Nevada stretch - no water, no camping. When I say no water, I mean the reservoir has dried up to leave vast stretches of land that was once flooded by the Hoover or Boulder Dam -  no longer with water. This area, however, still allows dry camping or boondocking as we call it.  No facilities other then a gate area with a very governmental looking cement building but it has been abandoned and no park rangers on site  or in sight to collect the minimal fee that is required for camping.  I might add that the boat marina is high and dry as well.

We drove on the dirt, two- track washboard road  for about 6 miles before coming to the water.  We found a spot, got as level as possible and set up camp.  Not five minutes after arriving, we saw a small band  of wild burros about 100 yards away  getting ready to go down to the water for a drink.  We saw them continually throughout our three night stay.  One afternoon, I had the feeling that someone was watching the camper.  I looked up and out the window and there not 10 feet away stood the two young males of the herd who have been kicked out by the dominant male (Jack) of the group.  Those two were constantly play fighting with each other.  They appeared to be showing off for us.  We threw some carrots out but they didn't seem interested at the time. 

I went out for a walk the first afternoon we were camped and as I rounded a curve in the winding dirt road I looked up and saw the large body of a horse in the brush at the side of the road.  I didn't have my camera so I quickly went back to the camper to grab the camera and get back to the horses.  There were four of them - one stallion and at least two mares with one young foal in the group.  When they caught wind of me, the stallion ran a few paces toward me and stopped.  A bluff charge (thank goodness)  A wild stallion can be extremely dangerous especially if he thinks you may be a threat to his little band of mares.  I made a noise and that spooked all of them and they ran up an embankment.  We saw them only from a distance over the next couple of days. 

It is so exciting to be out in the vast desert with no one but the animals.  It becomes addicting to be able to be on the land; watch it come alive with greenery and wild flowers in the spring.  It was icing on the cake to see all the wildlife.