The official justification for Friday's trip into the desert was to check on the pronghorn.

How had they fared through the spring blizzard, and the sudden change from record-setting warm spring weather back to bitter cold winter (3 degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) during the nights) with snow covering their food?

Well, in the few herds I was able to find, they seemed to have fared okay. But they were all gathered on the warm asphalt road, rather than standing out in the snow.

But my other purpose was to check routes to strutting grounds. Spring blizzards bring spring mud, and it is best if that mud is discovered before you've put your truck in it.

I scouted three leks, finding grouse by two of them, waiting for night to fall so's they could start their courtship displays. Parts of the desert had only an inch or two of snow, but the ground below was saturated with water. The third lek had drifts deep enough they almost stalled us out.

So I knew there would be no lek surveys during the weekend. (The rains today make me wonder if I should turn off my alarm for tomorrow...)

As if to reinforce Friday's decision, along about sunset the weather changed abruptly from warming blue skies to threatening dark clouds with fresh snow. You've already seen images of the drive home. So here's one more, of the storm clouds boiling over the rims behind us, lit by the rising moon.