It had rained all afternoon and most of the night. I was camped along a little spring fed mountain valley about 7 miles into a Colorado wilderness area at 10,250 above sea level. When I left for my morning elk hunt it looked like it was going to be a bluebird day. Before leaving I took the turnout blankets off my burros so they could dry out and not get too hot in the sun.
I came back into camp around lunchtime. The sun was shining and the temps were in the upper 60’s, a beautiful day. One of my burros, Sabina, had found a nice spot in the warm sun and laid down for a mid-day nap. She heard me walk into camp and slowly turned her head and lifted her ears in my direction. I put down my bow, took off my pack and walked over to her. To my surprise she didn’t get up. I gave her a scratch on the neck and decided to sit down beside her. I leaned back against her. I could hear her breathing and it was getting deeper and deeper. Her head slowly sank until her chin was on the ground; she was falling asleep. As she drifted off she let her body lean against me so I leaned back against her to keep her weight from pushing me over. I was very relaxed sitting in the sun so I pulled my cap down over my eyes, stretched out my legs and drifted off to sleep. It was so peaceful listening to her breathe as I felt her rib cage rise and fall in a gentle rhythm.
It was not long when my new hunting partner came into camp. I had only met John a few days before; he was camped just up the valley. Sabina didn’t know him so she decided her nap was over and she stood up. Before she stood up John took a picture of us sitting there on the ground.
Sabina
I know it may sound silly, but I shared a moment with Sabina and somewhere in that furry head I think she felt the same way. Burros are always “talking” to us, we only need to stop and listen. Their easy, quiet ways can be very therapeutic. For some reason, that nap sticks in my mind as something important, special. I struck a bond with my little burro that day. I am thankful that Sabina allowed me to share a quiet nap in the sun with her.
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