I did another annual solo hike up my favorite ridge in Borrego Springs. There is no trail, no other people, just rough terrain high up on the mountain. When I hike there alone I have to be hyper alert since I can’t misstep so I don’t twist an ankle, or worse. Most of the time I am huffing and puffing, looking down for every placement of my boots.
Imagine then when I look up to catch a breath and find myself almost in the middle of a small herd of bighorn sheep. I am literally 30 feet away from them, just standing there, transfixed. And so are they.
If you click on the images you can zoom in. Some of them wear collars with trackers. Others have tags on their ears. The park service monitors and studies them closely, I guess.
As long as I am still and quiet, they just mind their own business.
I took an alternate route around them, so I would not disturb their grazing. They kept an eye on me nonetheless.
Here are a couple of videos I took, just so you can see them in their natural habitat.
Running into a herd of bighorn sheep during a hike always makes my day. It’s an awe-inspiring experience to be surrounded by these creatures who are superbly adapted to the rough environment of the desert mountains.