Rewind: Our Trip to Hardware Ranch

While I was going through my picture files this morning I realized I never told you about our trip to Hardware Ranch. We went back in December, right before Christmas. We were busy-busy, so no wonder I slacked off. : )

So first of all, you are probably wondering what Harware Ranch is.  Here is a tidbit from their About Us page:

"Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area is a working ranch with the mission of enhancing big game winter range and other critical habitats, thereby maintaining healthy rangelands for all wildlife. The Ranch also provides facilities and support for long-term wildlife and habitat research as well as increasing public awareness and personal stewardship through community outreach and education programs. The Wildlife Management Area promotes year round public access for watchable wildlife, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation."

Fancy.  As far as all that pertained to us, Hardware Ranch has been on our "Places to Visit While We Live Here" list for awhile now.  Way back when we had heard that they host sleigh rides out to the elk herds. Sounded like fun. Then, this year, when we heard they were having their annual Elk Festival, how could we not check out something called an Elk Festival?

So off we went.

The drive alone was worth trekking out in weather that wasn't promising to get above 25 degrees.  It was beautiful!



And once we got up into the mountains, the fog and dreariness that was happening at our house was left behind, and there were beautiful blue skies.




As much as I love fall in the mountains, winter also has it's own special appeal.





When we got to the ranch, parking was pretty scarce.  See those cars way down there?  That's where we parked.  And then throughout the morning we walked up and down that hill a few times.  The walking kind of made all the layers we put on to stay warm kind of unnecessary, but you can't say we weren't prepared.



Some scenes from the ranch.







These guys took us on a wagon ride out in the middle of the elk herd.



All loaded up and ready to go.



The critters we came to see.  Brennan insisted they were reindeer.



The reindeer elk were definitely used to all the attention.  We pulled up right next to them and they didn't seem to mind at all.



Make sure you check out Brennan's hat.  I made that! I also made the one I was wearing, but there weren't any pictures of me from this trip.  Maybe next time. : )





Our tour guide.



This guy was very photogenic.  Thanks for posing Mr. Elk!



Some ditch jumpers.  Though as long as their legs were they were more like ditch steppers.







One of the other wagons.









Of course Brennan didn't get all the stuff our guide was telling us about the elk, but he had fun riding in the wagon.



And he really liked petting the horses after we got back.



Afterwards, there were some fun things for kids in the visitors center.  Brennan's holding a pine cone bird feeder he got to make.



And I have no idea why this elk had two Rudolph noses.  Somebody is so funny.

Though it did reinforce Brennan's reindeer theory. : )