Today we took the jeep out to the nearest point of interest - at the end of the road (literally!), there are a couple of signs that describe "Water Tanks" and the wildlife that use them. Water tanks are rocky crevices and/or hollowed out areas of rock that collect water when storms send water flowing down the solid rock mountains. Some of the pools are so deep or large that water stays there year round, and bighorn sheep, deer, coyotes, foxes, rabbits, birds, insects, and even frogs gravitate to these pools for survival in this otherwise harsh landscape. Swaths of green shrubs and trees, as well as flowering plants surround the tanks and fill the cracks and crevices that feed the water holes.
We followed the narrow trail past the signs into the rocky, mountain-y terrain ahead, and before long came to the first tank. From the map we learned that its name is Horse Tank, but there are no signs or other information about it.
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| Sometimes, they've added small concrete dams to channel more water into the tank to benefit the wildlife |
We saw several more tanks as we hiked, but we're not sure how they correspond to the names on the map, as the trail was at times quite indistinct, and we did a lot of rock scrambling - great vistas! Darell hiked a bit on his own, and saw one we're pretty sure is the "Arch Tank" on the map, and I spent some time near what looked like might be the "Grey Tanks" (not to be confused with RV wastewater tanks!).
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| This one had a little beach in front of it! |
We saw a shrub that we hadn't seen before; I call it "firework flower"
More tanks:
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| I sat by this tank for a long time, watching a big frog that was watching me. There were also huge tadpoles swimming around in it! |
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| This tank was just below (down slope) of the tank I sat beside. |
We've barely scratched the surface of the water tank viewing available here at the Refuge - we'll be seeking out more!
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