A Full-time Life

ROCKY MOUNTAINS and BIGHORN SHEEP

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Geoff was every bit  good as his father is in his willingness to stop at every possible overlook on our daytrip to Rocky Mountain National Park.   It was nice for Bill too since he could look at everything instead of having to negotiate the mountain roads (and the frequent requests to stop for pictures).  It was a beautiful day, the company was great, and — scenery junkie that I am – I couldn't have been happier.

 

 

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But then …   something made the day even more wonderful.     We spotted our first Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep!     We have looked for years  in places where we knew they might be, but they had remained elusive.    Geoff and Lisa live very near the National Park, but they had never seen them either.  We were so lucky!

 

 

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I thought there were more than three that we were watching, but the most I got in one picture was three.  I'm happy with that.  It was so exciting to finally see them that I almost forgot to take pictures at all.  

    

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The Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep is Colorado's official State animal.  Their horns keep growing for all their lives — they  don't shed them. The Ram's curved horns can weigh around 30 pounds.    Ewes have horns too, but they are smaller.

 

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This day was definitely a Rocky Mountain High! 

 

LINKING to SCENIC WEEKENDS (thanks to Gemma); to SATURDAY CRITTERS (thank you Eileen); to SEASONS (thank you Jesh); and to NATURE NOTES (thanks to Michelle)

We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.

43 responses to “ROCKY MOUNTAINS and BIGHORN SHEEP”

  1. Laila

    What a adventure! Nice to see how it looks like over there. I’m really impresst by those horns.

  2. Michelle ramblingwoods

    I’ll say a rocky mountain high..I would love to see that part of the country and the sheep Sallie…Michelle

  3. Gaelyn

    Always a treat to have someone else drive, and stop, in a National Park. What an awesome sighting! Haven’t been to Rocky Mt in 40 years, and it was my first NP. Thank you for remembering to take photos.

  4. Donna@Gardens Eye View

    Oh wow what a spectacular spot and what a spot…bighorn sheep. I can feel your excitement!

  5. Jesh StG

    Hope you had a great 4th of July, Sally! Could have seen fireworks today, but decided to go home earlier:):) Many thanks for gracing SEASONS with your beautiful shot of Mr. Bighorn this week! Have a great week and “see” you soon!

  6. Jeanna

    What sweet babies. Must have been an effort to get these shots. Scenery junky, I love it.

  7. Carver

    The sheep are great looking. Beautiful shots of the mountains too.

  8. Gunilla

    Fabulous photos of the bighorn sheep! They’re beautiful animals.

  9. Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti

    I’m glad you finally got a chance to see Big Horn sheep in the wild, Sallie! They like to live at higher altitudes but I’ve seen them on Mt Evans and in Waterton Canyon as well as RMNP. Irful to see nature at its best. I’m glad you enjoyed your time in Colorado!

  10. Penny

    Magnificent! I was so excited to see the bighorn sheep and can only imagine how you felt seeing them. We spent the 4th in Rocky Mountain with the girls one year and have never forgotten that 4th. So, today, the 4th of July, I really appreciated seeing this post. Hope you are having a happy holiday.

  11. NatureFootstep

    with place like this one must be happy. Both scenery and critters are great. 🙂

  12. Debbie

    beautiful views all the way around. those horns are just amazing, they are amazing animals. it is always best to see them in their natural habitat instead of a zoo!!!!

  13. craftygreenpoet

    beautiful scenery and well done on seeing the bighorns – magnificent creatures!

  14. Gattina

    I remember the Rocky Mountains as so beautiful !!

  15. Yogi

    Great shots of magnificent animals. I don’t think I have ever seen them in the wild.

  16. orchid(Japan)

    Dearest Sallie; OMG!!! How much I wish I could be with you and see the Mountain Bighorn Sheep. I was born in the sheep year of the Chinese 12 zodiac sign, so sheep is one of my favorite animal♪　The huge horns are amazing, aren’t they♡♡♡ Happy for your gorgeous trip and the way you call yourself “scenery junkie” made me really smile. Yes, I am as well p:-)
    Have a wonderful 4th of July;
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

  17. Lowell

    Hi Sallie! Nice to hear from you. I’m glad that you can bear that 80 degree Oregon heat among all the wimps. Pretty soon you’ll be back in Florida where it’s really warm. Meanwhile, I hope you have a super summer and take lots of great photos!

  18. Phil

    You had me humming John Denver there Sallie. Such amazing horns on those sheep and also incredible that the sheep never shed the horns.
    Thay must be quite scarce or shy if you have looked for years and not spotted any. It’s quite a thrill when something like that happens.

  19. Mick

    Beautiful scenery and the sheep are magnificent!You were very lucky to see them!I hope to see them in the 10years I lived in BC and NW USA but was not so lucky!!

  20. Lady Fi

    What wonderful scenery and great shots of the sheep!

  21. Margaret Birding For Pleasure

    the sheep’s horns are fantastic. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

  22. Barb

    Great shots of the sheep, Sallie. They look like they’re shedding the winter coats. We often see them right along the road at Georgetown, as we’re coming west toward the tunnel. It’s been raining here for several days – the forests and undercover are very green!

  23. al

    What amazing creatures to see. You’re posting from my favorite part of the country 🙂

  24. Mary Cromer

    How wonderful this entry is. Sally, I want you know that I am going to try and post this comment, but have tried others over the past several weeks and they would not post and I have not been able to contact you in any other way to let you know. Here goes another try~

  25. Sondra-SC

    Dontcha love those wonderful animals? I saw my first herd of Bighorn in Montana, and I generally see them when I visit Colorado. YOU got some awesome close ups shots!! My SC sister is in CO today with my CO sister! Her and her husband have already purchased their retirement home there…they have tickets to ride the Durango/Silverton mid week, I have never done it would love to tho…Now I want go play my John Denver album….

  26. Dianne

    Looking at those sheep horns I wonder if the Swiss girls copied them with their curled pigtails?

  27. ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©

    Amazing shots, congratulations on your great fortune!
    ~

  28. Hazel

    Fantastic scenes and I love the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep😊.

  29. artmusedog and carol

    Beautiful mountain sheep ~ what a vista you are photographing ~ Majestic ~ USA is so beautiful!
    Happy Independence Day Weekend to you ~ ^_^

  30. Lowell

    Way to go, Sallie! We have seen a number of these in southwestern Colorado where our daughter lives. I’ve got some photos of them, but not as clearly as I would like. Sounds like you’re having a good time! Keep it up!

  31. Rajesh

    Great shots of the rocky mountains and sheeps in a mood to fight.

  32. Terri @ Coloring Outside the Lines

    Wow! We have seen them before many years ago..I would say the 80s. But in recent years nary a one. I thought maybe something happened to them. Fantastic to see!

  33. Alexa T

    Indeed, wow… Amazing critters! It’s so lovely to have a surprise like this and to observe them in their natural habitat! Wonderful scenery, as well! Have a great weekend!

  34. Eileen

    Hello, Sallie! I love the scenery and the wildlife. The Bighorn sheep are cool critters. Great shots. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your 4th of July weekend!

  35. Ratty

    Seeing those sheep makes me wish we had them around here too.

  36. diane

    Wow How exciting. The photos are fab. “A scenery junkie” …I like that. I’m one too.

  37. Gemma Wiseman

    What impressive animals with those horns. Amazing that the horns keep growing for the animal’s lifetime. I would be ultra excited getting photos of these characters too.

  38. Felicia

    they are beautiful animals. we actually seen our first ones in Canada.

  39. TexWisGirl

    wow, that’s awesome!! love the cool looking snow, too.

  40. Jesh StG

    Lucky you – this must have made your day! Their horns make them look distinguished and impressive. Nice you didn’t have to be alone!
    You commented on fire works in my neighborhood, probably not! What mostly happened in Southern Cal. – went home and made sure we would pass Disneyland between 8 and 10 pm, so we could watch a drive-by firework show on the freeway from them:)
    Have a happy Fourth and hope to see you around that time at SEASONS!

  41. Linda, Shenandoah Valley

    Magnificent animals!

  42. A Facebook User

    Gorgeous!

  43. ellen b

    Wow! Definitely a Rocky Mountain high. What great photos of the land and bighorns!

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