Three Sister Denizens of Baldy

arocknoid · Post by **arocknoid** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:11 pm

Sweethearts, actually. I've been following these three for several years now. On a recent hike they let me hang out for an hour, as close as fifty feet from them. A few pics for fun:

This one is from 2007; the middle girl is preggers at the time:

A chill wind rolls in the clouds as sunset nears, and the bighorn trio emerges to browse:

"Does snowbush make me look fat?"

Limned on the skyline:

With my (cheap trick) whistle for this photo, only the older girl paid heed. The younger didn't even turn her ears to me. "Meh."

"D'OH! Sorry I'm out of sync..."

Ommm...

Thanks for looking,
kind regards,
arocknoid

KathyW · Post by **KathyW** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:16 pm

They're beautiful. I saw a boy today on Register Ridge:

cougarmagic · Post by **cougarmagic** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:19 pm

Wow wow wow wow wow!!!!

Beautiful!!!!!

Do they get a lighter colored coat in the winter? Or are they "dusty"?

Those are great shots!

arocknoid · Post by **arocknoid** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:43 pm

That was a good catch of that 3/4 curl fellow, Kathy. I think I know which one that is. On the west slope of the RR route these curled fur girls 'n guys have a few well-trod use trails. Looks about halfway up in your photo, with the broad steep expanse with sparse trees. (should be skiable this winter if the snow comes as hoped... :^)

cougarmagic, thanks for the kind words.
Their winter coats do appear lighter and brighter, with a darker denser ruff. There may well be a "dust effect" for much of the year, til the winter white stuff cleanses the critters.

Their bedding areas for the most part have dirt floors, during the dry months. (from which I keep my distance, generally, these days.) The grassy crop-cot-circles of springtime are a transitory dream by the end of summer.

cheers,
arocknoid

Post by **HikeUp** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:00 pm

Dude! Keep posting and we'll keep looking

Mike P · Post by **Mike P** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:17 pm

arocknoid wrote: cougarmagic, thanks for the kind words.
Their winter coats do appear lighter and brighter, with a darker denser ruff. There may well be a "dust effect" for much of the year, til the winter white stuff cleanses the critters.

Their bedding areas for the most part have dirt floors, during the dry months. (from which I keep my distance, generally, these days.) The grassy crop-cot-circles of springtime are a transitory dream by the end of summer.

cheers,
arocknoid

Could some of that blotchy color be their winter coat coming in?

snmtbaldy · Post by **snmtbaldy** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:43 pm

Hi,
I saw those three sisters at the top of cliff of Bowl last 6/14/2008. Two were on the main section and one on west side. (I can't upload the photo now.)

I saw three boys on Ski hut trail around 7300 feet area in July 2008.

They are out there but it is hard to see them close.

Shin

Post by **Taco** » Wed Dec 02, 2009 11:28 am

Moving topic to Flora and Fauna. 8)

KathyW · Post by **KathyW** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 4:31 pm

Great pictures Shin!

We're heading back up register ridge tomorrow but I think the size of our group will scare the sheep away. It seems like I see sheep most of the time when I'm alone.

snmtbaldy · Post by **snmtbaldy** » Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:35 pm

Hi Cathy,
Thanks.
I recently found this site.
I'll start 6:00 am through Ski hut. Hope to see you at the summit.
I have to drop off a gift at Ski hut tomorrow.

Yes, every time I saw them was I was alone.
If you try to look for them, they are not around at all. But, all of a sudden
they show up middle of nowhere and next minute they are gone like a wind.

See you on the trail.

Shin

EManBevHills · Post by **EManBevHills** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:10 pm

Looks like the alpha ram. Pretty extraordinary!

Ze Hiker · Post by **Ze Hiker** » Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:53 pm

wow! cool cool cool!

KathyW · Post by **KathyW** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 2:04 pm

Another beautiful picture Shin. We didn't start up until 8:30 am yesterday, so you were way ahead of us. I hope to catch you out there sometime soon. I hope to do my first snow climb of the bowl for the season in a couple weeks - I can't wait.

snmtbaldy · Post by **snmtbaldy** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:46 pm

Hi Kathy,
It was very cold, around 35F, and strong NW wind at the Mt. Baldy summit at 8:40 on Saturday.

My friend who lives in Mt. Baldy village told me that it is snowing even around 3500ft elevation today. There will tons of snow by this weekend.

Hope to see you on the trail.
Shin

Hi everyone,
Please send your bighorn sheep sighting information to

jvillepique@dfg.ca.gov

OR

There is a form called "SAN BERNARDINO & SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS
CITIZEN SCIENTIST BIGHORN SHEEP SIGHTING CARD" issued by
California Department of Fish & Game.

Send information to:
Mr. JEFF VILLEPIQUE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
PO BOX 3222
BIG BEAR CITY, CA. 92314

The director of Mt. Baldy visitor center is a researcher of bighorn sheep. He will enjoy all information you can give him. He is there once a week.

KathyW · Post by **KathyW** » Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:46 am

Not the San Gabriel Wilderness, but on Thursday morning I saw a herd of Big Horn Sheep when I was running along the Art Smith Trail out in the Santa Rosas:

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/Trail-Runn ... 5175_Szuh4