Green River, Wyoming.

The Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming shelters a 26,400-acre ecosystem along 36 miles (58 km) of the Green River. Established in 1965 to replace wildlife habitat lost due to dam construction, the area boasts a rich history inhabited by the Shoshone people and later crossed by pioneers on the Oregon and Mormon Trails. The refuge provides a crucial water source for plants and animals in this arid region.

The name is derived from a Shoshone word that means River of the Prairie Hen. The prairie hen is more commonly known as the prairie chicken, however, on our journey through the park, we didn’t see any prairie chickens.

My friend, Fred and I traveled a short distance from his home in Green River to Seedskadee in western Sweetwater County, Wyoming. Our hopes for photographic wildlife capture and autumn landscapes were fulfilled. Despite not finding prairie chickens, our park adventure wasn’t without wildlife encounters. At one point, a small herd of pronghorn antelope darted across the road in front of our moving vehicle. We slowed down considerably to give them ample space to cross. Luckily, from the passenger seat, I managed to snap a photo through the windshield.

In researching for this article, I found a few facts about pronghorns that I didn’t know. For example, despite their common name, pronghorns aren’t actually true antelopes. They are the sole surviving member of the Antilocapridae family and surprisingly their closest living relatives are giraffes and okapis!

Pronghorns are the fastest land mammal in North America, reaching speeds of up to 55 mph (88.5 km/h). They can outrun predators in their open grassland habitat, however, they still can get caught. While wolves, cougars, bears, and even eagles might occasionally hunt them, coyotes are the most frequent predators.

Their speed isn’t their only defense. Pronghorns have exceptional vision, with eyes as large as some elephant species. This sharp eyesight allows them to spot threats from miles away, helping them avoid encounters with predators.

Standing before a lone tree, I framed the shot, not even noticing the bird sitting in the tree. Suddenly, a movement caught my eye in the viewfinder. Reacting quickly with the camera still in bracketing mode, I clicked the shutter. Luckily, the three exposures captured the bird in different wing positions for me to choose from. Normally I would have used the bracketed shots to create a high dynamic range (HDR) image, however, merging them into HDR wouldn’t work due to the bird’s motion and changing wing shape. So, I opted for the image with the most impressive wingspread. Luminar Neo helped me save the shot. Neo’s Supersharp tool tackled the bird’s motion blur, and I lowered the exposure from the original +1 EVO setting. Finally, Enhanced AI restored the definition in the sky that had been washed out by overexposure.

The landscape defined autumn in a vibrant tapestry as we neared the banks of the Green River. Clouds were definitely rolling in and the blue sky was waning. Eventually, my images would be captured under a cloudy sky. Though it appears from this gallery that we were the only people around, we passed a few vehicles parked by the river, their occupants fishing or capturing the beauty of the wildlife in the refuge.

As we approached the river, our journey was interrupted by a curious sight. A long wooden fence stretched from the water’s edge towards the nearby hills. Its purpose defined a mystery to us. There were no signs of a corral nearby, so it likely functioned as a simple boundary marker, perhaps demarcating a previous rancher’s property line.

Driving away from the riverbank, our journey continued along a road that hugged the base of a towering ridge. Its unusual form was a testament to the relentless forces of nature. Millennia of erosion, sculpted by the powerful river and scouring winds, had stripped away the softer rock, exposing the harder layers beneath.

While exploring the ridge, I came to a point where I wanted a closer look at the curve. However, I noticed the ground near the edge might be unstable. Prioritizing safety, I used the curvature to my advantage, kept a good distance back, and used my zoom lens to capture the fascinating curve and its interesting detail. Although the photos might make it seem like I was right at the edge, rest assured I was on solid ground throughout.

From the lone tree standing sentinel in the desert to the vibrant autumn colors framing the Green River, Seedskadee was drawn to capture the refuge’s beauty. I captured many more images than I shared in the post. You can find them in 2KHD via my Flickr album here.

The mysterious fence by the riverbank sparked our curiosity, prompting us to ponder its history and role in the larger landscape. The towering ridge, sculpted by time and the elements, served as a powerful reminder of the Earth’s ever-changing story.

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is more than just a refuge; it’s a reminder of the importance of conservation and of the awe-inspiring power of nature. I owe a debt of gratitude to Fred for introducing me to this national reserve. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, photographer, or simply someone who appreciates the outdoors, Seedskadee is a place that will leave a lasting impression. Best of all, there is no fee to enter the refuge.

John Steiner

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Green River, Wyoming.

In October 2023 we headed out west on a short autumn junket to visit friends in Green River Wyoming. Fred Mast and his wife Ellen are gracious hosts and with Fred’s expert guidance, we can always expect to find beautiful places to photograph. Fred selected a perfect place for a Sunday drive in mid-October. Outside Green River is a road known to locals as Wild Horse Loop Drive. The 24-mile (38 km) self-guided tour winds through stunning high-desert landscapes and offers the chance to see wild horses in their natural habitat. On the day of our drive, we were not to be disappointed in seeing small groups of the descendants of mustangs brought to the region by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.

The scenic drive ascends to a high plateau and offers panoramic vistas of the vast desert below. Along the way, informational placards detail the surrounding landscape, this image featuring the prominent Pilot Butte. Though a dedicated road leads directly to the butte, it requires a suitable vehicle for the rugged terrain. Given our vehicle’s limitations, we opted to enjoy the beautiful view of the butte from the scenic highway itself.

Not far from the Pilot Butte placard, we spotted our first wild mustangs! The trio, seemingly a family with a young colt, grazed peacefully in the distance. The opening photo provides a closer view as captured through my Nikon D500 and Tamron lens at 250mm.

Standing at this vantage point, we can see the ridge carving a line between the parched lowlands and the desert highlands. Even in mid-October, the mountains wear their winter covering of snow, a stark contrast to the desert’s sun-baked palette.

At one point, a road with a steep dropoff leads to the town of Rock Springs. We chose not to take this route as the scenic drive provided a much less precipitous descent to the highway that led us to the city and our late lunch. After our meal, we headed back to Green River, a 20-minute drive on I-80 and a tunnel through a rock ridge separating the two small communities.

The views on the scenic highway are spectacular, especially where the roadway winds toward the edge of the high desert plateau. The journey’s many viewpoints provide lots of opportunities to stop and enjoy the natural desert beauty. At each stop, we hoped we might encounter a larger herd of wild mustangs.

Near the end of the drive, we spotted a larger herd. They were spread across a larger area than I could encompass in a single shot. Fred was driving and he elected to turn off the scenic drive to an unimproved road to get us a bit closer to the herd. I stepped out of the vehicle to capture a few shots. This image, captured at 110 mm with my Tamron lens allowed me to keep my distance to avoid scaring off the mustangs. Interestingly, the mustangs appeared completely unfazed by our presence and another vehicle that had followed suit. Their indifference provided a unique opportunity for observation and photography.

If you’re on I-80 and seeking a wildlife encounter, the Wild Horse Loop is a welcome scenic byway. Accessible from Rock Springs or Green River, this scenic detour offers a chance to witness wild mustangs in their natural habitat before rejoining the highway at the opposite city. Though the drive is paved, certain sections require caution due to loose gravel and potential wildlife encounters. Ensure your vehicle is suitable for such conditions before embarking on the adventure.

The scenic drive offers numerous pullouts and opportunities to soak in the scenery and unique wildlife at your own pace. Consider packing water, snacks, and comfortable shoes for exploring the area further.

My Flickr gallery also includes several extra images captured on our scenic drive. You can see all of the images above as well as the extras in 2K HD here.

John Steiner

Sheep Creek Overlook, Utah.

Out of Vernal, Utah, we headed north on U.S. 191, then came to a junction. On our first trip to the Flaming Gorge area, we took the right fork of that junction (staying on 191) and it led us east to the dam and reservoir at the town of Dutch John and then into Wyoming and our eastbound trek home.

On our second trip, at the junction, we proceeded westerly onto State Highway 44. Turning north, this highway parallels much of the reservoir on the western side. Hwy 44 veers left and then follows ridge lines above Flaming Gorge. It provides access to Red Canyon Visitor Center and overlook, Sheep Creek, the town of Manila, and then Lucerne Valley Marina. A more detailed look at these scenic drives is coming in a Travel Tuesday post. This Cellpic Sunday features a view of Flaming Gorge from the Sheep Creek Overlook.

About the photo: Captured with my Samsung S20U in 108 MP mode, I had lots of pixels to play with as I found the best crop for the image in Adobe Lightroom. Moving over to Luminar Neo, I made the final tweaks to the image and uploaded it here and to my Flickr site where you can view the image in 2K HD.

I encourage fellow bloggers to create their own Cellpic Sunday posts. I never have a specific topic for this feature, and the only rules are that the photo must be captured with a cell phone, iPad, or another mobile device… If you have an image from a drone or even a dashcam, that’s acceptable as well. The second rule is to link your challenge response to this post or leave a comment here with a link to your post in the comment.

Note: If all goes well, we’ll be on a cruise ship when this journey is published on September 11, 2022. I have found Internet connections to be less than stellar, so I didn’t even buy an Internet access package for the week. It’s been a long time since I’ve “unplugged” for a week. Who knows what the withdrawal will be like. >grin<

John Steiner