A Slient Reminder
Passing through the rugged expanse of the Owyhee Mountains on my way to explore Succor Creek State Natural Area, I came across the weathered skeleton of an old gate -- a silent reminder of the region's enduring ranching heritage. The sun-bleached terrain and dramatic ridges offered a backdrop both imposing and alluring, shaped by ancient forces.
Out here, cattle roam the wild backcountry in small groups, unhurried and mostly indifferent to my truck's approach. Now and then, though, they halt my progress by commandeering the road -- sometimes even lying down on it and regarding me with an expression that seems to say, "This land is ours too," or "What's your hurry?" Encountering them while hiking, I instinctively give them a respectful distance... many people don't realize that cattle can be dangerous.
Amid such stark beauty, it occurs to me that these creatures, so much a part of the landscape, never really pause to notice the breathtaking scenery that surrounds their everyday existence.
To view photos of this year's overlanding journey in chronological order, click www.flickr.com/photos/stevefrazier/albums/72177720328383895
_DSC5263
© Stephen L. Frazier - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, printing, publication, or any other use of this image without written permission is prohibited.
A Slient Reminder
Passing through the rugged expanse of the Owyhee Mountains on my way to explore Succor Creek State Natural Area, I came across the weathered skeleton of an old gate -- a silent reminder of the region's enduring ranching heritage. The sun-bleached terrain and dramatic ridges offered a backdrop both imposing and alluring, shaped by ancient forces.
Out here, cattle roam the wild backcountry in small groups, unhurried and mostly indifferent to my truck's approach. Now and then, though, they halt my progress by commandeering the road -- sometimes even lying down on it and regarding me with an expression that seems to say, "This land is ours too," or "What's your hurry?" Encountering them while hiking, I instinctively give them a respectful distance... many people don't realize that cattle can be dangerous.
Amid such stark beauty, it occurs to me that these creatures, so much a part of the landscape, never really pause to notice the breathtaking scenery that surrounds their everyday existence.
To view photos of this year's overlanding journey in chronological order, click www.flickr.com/photos/stevefrazier/albums/72177720328383895
_DSC5263
© Stephen L. Frazier - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, printing, publication, or any other use of this image without written permission is prohibited.