GeoRock
Nomad
Posts: 329
Registered: 3-7-2003
Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always have one
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Wild Mustangs and Lightening; not Baja, but my Fourth of July
This is not a Baja story, it is just a write-up of my Fourth of July. If the fact that it isn't about Baja offends anyone let me know and I'll delete
it.
Wild Mustangs and Lightening: July Fourth Weekend
by Suzanne Ganatta
The town's parade didn't have a marching band. There were only two floats, the other vehicles were cars, boats, and little wagons. But a sense of
pride swelled up in me for there were flags decorating every entry. Mammoth Lakes' Fourth of July parade was typical of the small towns across
America. Local business owners driving their decorated cars and trucks down Main Street past their friends; kids on bikes with crepe paper flowing
riding by; and kids, young and old, darting out into the street to grab thrown candies.
After the parade, we packed up food and drink and headed to Crowley Lake, where fireworks would be shot off that night. We barbecued dinner and
enjoyed each other's company. When the first lights burst in the air and reflected on the lake's surface, we were ready, chair after chair lined up
for a good view. As the colorful explosions rocked the night, it seemed the show was put on for me personally. We were positioned for viewing so
perfectly that I felt I could have reached out and touched the exploded rockets. It was the best show I've ever watched.
As cars lined the highway bumper to bumper to rush back to Mammoth, we relaxed and roasted marshmellows for smores. In between the sheriff's horse
possee, we lit a few of our own fireworks.
July 5th arrived with blue skies and sunshine. It took awhile to pack chairs, tables, umbrellas, food and drinks, but we finally left the house at
11:30 a.m. Not too bad considering no one got up until 9:30, and I made Onion and Caraway Quiche with hash browns for breakfast.
It only took about 50 minutes of driving through God's beautiful country to arrive at the turn-off point. The dirt road off highway 120 looked
well-used, even graded. About five miles in we found a house that needs to be nominated for the BLM's Adopt a Cabin program so it can be refurbished.
An intack stone fireplace was the centerpiece of the old wood home, it looked as if it would be standing long after the planks have fallen.
Outside was a natural spring with enough flow to have created a few small lakes. Tall green grasses along the banks meandered for about a quarter
mile through the arid tan desert. Birds darted in and out, unaware of the contrast.
Weathered boards had fallen off of a trough used to move horses from a corral into a truck. The corral was made of a stone, was intact, and was huge.
The ground inside the round structure was covered with horse manuer. Horse flies buzzed around some of the fresher deposits. The corral was still
in use by someone. This old stage stop was still a point of use, over a hundred years later.
Loaded back into the 4wheelers we caravaned past the spring, past the house, and then past the corral. About 4 miles in I stopped and took the steps
off my vehicle so as to have higher clearance. It turned out to be a smart move. The other vehicle's step brackets all got bent.
We climbed out of the valley and into the hills, everyone rotating their heads from left to right and back again, searching, hunting; looking for the
elusive wild mustangs that frequent the area.
We drove until the road didn't allow us to go any further. Away from the buggy meadows, we stopped for lunch. The folding tables, chairs, and
umbrellas were set up quickly and a fancy lunch was set out. Icy cold drinks came out of the cooler. It only took about 3 minutes to set up, but it
looked like we had been camping for days.
Even though no one had seen any wild mustangs, we had seen beautiful back country and several abandoned cabins. The day was not wasted, not at all.
Just as we finished putting away lunch, some clouds rolled in overhead. We began to drive back the way we had come. Rain threatened but didn't fall.
In a wide valley I kept watch. I really wanted to see the horses. Suddenly something white caught my eye. It had to be one! I stopped the Hummer,
jumped out and climbed on top of the roof rack with the binoculars. Yes!!! It was a herd of wild mustangs.
Their manes were untouched by humans. Long and natural. Their heads came up, they knew of us as the group excitedly jumped out of the cars. Their
were 9 and two were fowls. If it hadn't been for the one white mustang, I don't think I would have seen them.
We watched for awhile from the road, then two of us decided to hike towards the mustangs for a closer view. The clouds were heavy and dark now. An
occassional lightening bolt and surround sound thunder narrated the day. One thunder clap was so loud that the entire herd bolted about 30 feet in
sheer terror. Hmmm. I would have thought they would be used to such a sound, but it clearly scared them.
We kept a watchful eye on the herd, trying to advance when they grazed and standing still when their eyes watched us. At 300 feet the mustangs
decided that was close enough and they broke into a run. I saw a herd run, complete with dust rising, just as I had watched in a thousand western
movies, run into the sunset that broke through the clouds.
Back at the vehicles, with the mustangs no longer in view, the storm became our focus. Everyone stripped of metal objects. When the rain drops
became enough to nearly knock us over, we hopped in the cars and drove.
Five miles along and the leading car stopped. We all gazed in amazement at a forest fire that had started from a bolt of lightening. Pete called 911
to report it.
Everyone in his car decided to chase the fire. The rest of us headed back to town. They called a couple of hours later. They had found two fires
and attempted to put one of them out, but without success. We had seen 5 fire type vehicles pass us as we drove west on highway 120, towards highway
395. Pete and his group hadn't had a single one of those fire crews pass them.
The day was finished with Joshua making homemade pizzas for everyone. Jalapenos and pineapple; Greek toppings; and a ton of vegetables on the third
pizza provided us with the best pizzas we've ever tasted. A game of Star Trek Risk completed the day, and everyone made off for bed.
It was an incredible two days.
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GeoRock
Nomad
Posts: 329
Registered: 3-7-2003
Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always have one
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Wild Nine Mustangs:
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Fantastic!!
Thank you for bring back the beauty of the Herds of wild Mustangs!!
While living in Bishop in 1966-68 i would take our Super Cub to Reno for Checks eic. on several occassions flying low and scouting several herds of
those Mustangs!
I am glad they are still there, it is a sight of a lifetime!
have you been out to the small Ghost Town of "Masonic"?
Skeet/Loreto
"In God I Trust"
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