Cold it was, but the promise of scenic vistas and wild game was irresistible.
Bison, antelope, cattle and red-tail hawks kept my interest.
Old homesteads were reminders of the tough life on the John Day expanses.
Before dropping into Mitchell it was 48 degrees.
Soon it would be a crisp chilly 32 degrees on the valley floor.
Love this photo spread.
For those wondering about the Jeremiah Johnson reference: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068762/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
Thanks Jason. And, for me, Robert Redford’s best acting role was as the star of Jeremiah Johnson. The 1972 movie is worth watching for the scenery alone.
I love the old cabin and the hawk. It looks like the antelope are on the right side of that fence–is that the 4J ranch they are sitting on?
I took the photos near the road that runs south of Spray to Highway 26 east of Mitchell. It’s a very picturesque route. You should visit the area in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom.
Why the hawk let me get as close as it did, I can’t quite figure out. Unless it was so cold that it did not want to fly.
Regarding the antelope, I believe they were on a ranch south of the 4J. Although, it’s sad to acknowledge how much of the land is posted these days.