Was driving into Idaho Falls this morning when a group of critters caught my eye. Didn’t have my camera with me, so after I finished my chores in town, I went home and got it. Wouldn’t you ???
Mammoth. Donkeys, that is.
One week old, up close.
Ten hours old, up close.
With his mom.
These are Mammoth Donkeys. The owner welcomed us to take pictures and let us into the meadow for close ups. We were surprised at how friendly they are. All except the little guys walked right up looking for treats or some petting. The owner told us that they will follow you around like a pet dog if you let them.
The donkey that is mostly hidden in the first photo is also carrying. The owner thinks she will deliver in about a month.
The peak in the distance directly over the little guy in the first photo is the Grand Teton ( 13,770’ ).
That same feller owns the Sabre Tooth Mule that I fell off of last year. It’s the one on the left, and JW is the guy to the right of the mule.
http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/2boomers/?action=view¤t=100_0586.jpg
I’m working up another case of stupid for this summer. He wants me to accompany him and a troop of boyscouts up Bear Creek for a scout camp, and I’ll probably have myself talked into it by that time. Fishing oughta be good by then.
He’s getting quite a menagerie around there isn’t he?
Hey John,
Looks just like the critters and view I saw from near the South Fork Anglers back yard. Am I close?? About a mile North of where US 26 crosses the South Fork. I usually put in with my kayak right at the bridge. Beautiful area and great fishing.
No - this is just north of 26 on the outskirts of the Idaho Falls area. The place you are describing is about 35 miles east of here.
Lew -
Thought you would probably recognize this fellow and his critters. That’s a neat photo you put up. Where was it taken ??
Also, have you heard anything good about Bear Creek in the past few years ?? I understand it used to be really good but hasn’t produced too well over these drought years. I was up there last summer, about the end of July, and it looked awful. Of course, it had rained a couple days before and it had a lot of color, but even at that it didn’t look very healthy.
Just to clarify for others who take a look - JW has some buffalo on his place, along with some other domestic stock.
Jeral is a good friend of mine, John. Knowed him all his life. The photo was taken in a saddle on the north side of Elk Mountain, which is a couple of miles up Bear Creek, and then up the mountain to the South. The saddle they put on Barney (the mule) didn’t fit me very well. The stirrups were adjusted about an inch too long, and I had on steel toed boots that had to be wedged into the stirrups. Coming back down the hill, I couldn’t get centered in the saddle, and it rode up on his withers, which made him very uncomfortable. (Me too) We stopped at a flat spot, and I couldn’t get my feet out of the stirrups. Jeral came over to help. I was standing up in the stirrups, to get a bit of relief, when Jeral reached for the halter rope. For some reason, Barney shied left, and I left right. Landed hard on my shoulder, and rolled about four times down the hill. Cracked a rib. Fortunately the feet came out of the stirrups. Had to walk about a half mile down the steep part, and then jounce the cracked rib those couple of miles, back to the outfits. Fun day. Here’s a picture of Palisade Reservoir that I took as we were coming out, with all the fall foilage showing off. http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/2boomers/?action=view¤t=PalisadeLakebyBearCreek.jpg
Bear Creek hasn’t fished very well for the past several years, I’m thinking because of the drought. Even then, it’s a stream that you have to watch for the fishing to get good. It gets pounded down low, and it isn’t a very big stream, so the better fishing is up the canyon three or four miles. There’s some beaver ponds up near the headwaters (at least there used to be) that are fun to fish.
As I said before, Jeral has quite a menagerie on his spread. He’s got those Mammoths, and three big mules like Barney, He’s got Llamas, goats, buffalo, and all kinds of baby calves that people like to bring their kids to feed. He’d have camels and elephants if he could. A nicer guy you will likely never meet, except for his cruel intimations that I’m really not much of a fisherman. He’s never seen me catch a fish.
One more portrait of Barney and me, a few minutes before the wreck. http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/2boomers/?action=view¤t=BarneyandMe.jpg It’s a long way to the ground from that saddle, especially on the downhill side.
Lewie, you know what else those mules are good for? Packing in your kickboat to some lesser known places.
BTW- this weekend Daniels- come on down.:tieone:
Are you going to clean up this weather by then Big Al? I think the wind blew most of the shingles off the south side of my house last night. I’m looking for a place to go this week-end, and I’ve never been to Daniels. Is it warmwater stuff, or trout? I’d be interested to know about those “lesser known” waters as well. AAaahhh. Spring in Southern Idaho. Two hours of a wind-free sunny day, in the middle of the week, interspersed with corn snow, sleet, rain, and the occasional tornado. Green lawns sprinkled liberally with ubiquitous yellow flowers. Remembered excursions that stir new urgings to sally forth to try it again.
