February

February 4 - 10, 2001: No Guests

Sunday, February 4, 2001
Well I finally went down into Carcass Basin the other day. It was a nice day about 50 but a bit windy. Ben and I went along just one side but it took most of the day. It was pretty nasty in a couple spots, really steep. The slopes are covered in loose rocks that roll with every step. If we could make money on rocks we’d be rich. A few spots there were ledges with some pretty good drop offs, 50 to 100 feet. I would not have taken a horse in there. We came up with a total of 11 pairs, all but 4 were unbranded. As we pushed them toward the corrals 4 pairs broke and hit a real brushy draw not far from the last gate. I had to stick with what I had so I went on and pushed them through the gate a mile farther, and headed to the corrals. When I got there 14 horses stood guarding the gate. I hurried in and tried to get the horses out but they were reluctant to leave and as I was fooling with them the cattle drifted past the gate and headed down the stream. I gave up on the horses and went after the cattle driving them back. The horses stood ears pinned at the cattle and the cattle wanted no part of going in with them. I got really mad and cursing and yelling I mashed them through the gate, using Ben to body slam them. He was awesome. We got them in and I closed the gate. Now they were all mixed up and it was quiet a melee for a while as horses chased cattle. It finally settled down a bit and I opened another gate and by some miracle the cattle with very little work sorted themselves into the next pen. It was almost too easy. I went back for the other four pair but I didn’t see them anywhere and it was getting too dark to track them and besides I was tired and there is always tomorrow.

The next day John and Alan met me at the Ghost Ranch and we gathered the trap where I had been putting my cattle all week. It’s about three or four hundred acres and didn’t take too long. We pushed everything in the corral and sorted the rest of the day ending with plans to brand on Monday. Just as we were leaving the four pairs I lost the day before came in on their own, that’s the way I like to gather cattle.

Monday, February 5, 2001
Went back up top over the weekend. Dang good to see my wife! But it was not too nice to get back to winter. It was a combination of snow, ice and mud. Two steps in foot deep snow, next step slip on ice, then slide in ankle deep mud. It was pretty warm though, about 45 with a sun factor of 60 so a lot of melting was going on. Every draw and arroyo is running water, the river at the K lower range should be rising in the next couple days. I spent most of the weekend putting out hay and checking all the mares over. They are all nice and round bellied. We have our foals in May and June up here. Any earlier it’s just too cold. Sunday I did lay around a bit after doing some office work as the wind was howling.

Got up at 4:30 and headed down to the lower ranch this morning. Put out protein blocks to the horses in the dark on the way out. Got back in the truck and drove a ways then stopped to take off my jacket after warming up. That’s when I found I was covered in the molasses base that the protein blocks are made of from carrying them around. I felt like the “Tar Baby” in the Uncle Remus stories. Everything was covered. The steering wheel, gear shift, my face, hat, door handles. It was a mess!

I cleaned up in the snow as best I could and continued on. The roads were snow packed and not too bad, made it to the lower H.Q. in just over two hours. Met Frank, John and Alan at the Ghost Ranch and we spent the day branding calves. We only did 17 but they all were over 500 pounds and we were roping and throwing the old fashion way. I had not done any branding since last June, when I broke my arm. Boy was I out of shape. Frank earned his pay today doing most of the throwing as John and Alan roped and I tied. We were missing our usual crew of guests who sure help out during the season. We ended the day about three and left exhausted. It was almost hot, about 60 with a sun factor of over 75. Slept last night with a window open.

Tuesday, February 6, 2001
Today Frank, John, Alan, Tanya and I gathered the river pasture to get in the heifers that Alan and I had bought from John. I was riding Doc which was a pleasure, he was glad to get out and do something. Tanya was on Cool Eye a really sharp sorrel 4 year old with a flaxen mane and tail, big blaze face and blue eyes. He was working so well. Frank was on Cibique, the horse Tanya bought for us last week. He’s a really good working horse for just 3 y.o.

We got about 60 head gathered by noon and pushed them into the corral in Alma along the river. The river crossing went well except one stupid heifer wouldn’t go in the water so Tanya and I had to push her in with our horses. The afternoon was spent branding big calves, only about 8. Then branding and tagging the heifers we bought. They are all 2 and 3 year olds and really nice. I was in cowboy heaven as I laid my brand on them and put on my green ear tags. We ran these through the squeeze chute making life so much nicer. Frank did have one wrestling match with a heifer that got out the side of the chute. He tackled her and they rolled around for a couple minutes, in the branding fire, back out, him on top, then her. It was hard to say who was going to win the round till we got some ropes on her and finally got her subdued. She is the daughter of a wild mother cow of mine and it just goes to show like mother like daughter. It was a beautiful day, about 73 and sunny with not a breath of wind. We were all sweating for the first time in months. We finally got done about an hour after dark and loaded up to head home when we found a flat on the trailer. Just an N Bar kinda day. The best part of it was Maggie came down from the upper ranch to stay a few days having finally gotten done with her Valentines orders.

Wednesday, February 7, 2001
Doug and Kathy, our horseshoers, came today and did all our young horses Tanya is working with. She has done a great job getting them all behaving. All took shoes with no fights and made us proud. Frank and I spent the day working around the H.Q. building some fence and hauling away some dump stuff. Kinda cool and cloudy with light rain in the afternoon. There was a nice rainbow across the bottom of the canyon and even some thunder. Maggie spent the day doing her thing...decorating the house with her latest thrift store finds. How she does it is amazing, she is the thrift store queen.

Thursday, February 8, 2001
Lyndsey called last night, we were out of water again at the upper ranch. Poor gal, she’s been up there in the snow and cold taking care of things and doing the phone work as I enjoyed spring down below. Any of you who call these days will get her on the phone. So I headed up the mountain this morning leaving the lower ranch with a light dusting of snow. Very unusual this time of year. I was hauling Maggie’s big black and white paint Kitten and my war horse Gambler back up after having gotten new shoes yesterday. It was snowing lightly and got a bit heavier as I got to Reserve. There was about an inch there. I did a few errands then headed up. The first five miles out of town the road climbs 4500 feet. After a mile there was 3 inches then a couple miles later it was over 6, by the time I got up on top it was about 8 inches and coming down hard. I felt sorry for the horses as it was our usual really light powder snow and the truck was blowing up sheets of snow that flowed through the sides of the trailer and covered them. We use stock trailers which do not have solid sides and only a canvas roof. By the time I got to the upper H.Q. they looked like the abominable snow horses. Lyndsey came and met me and we brushed them down and gave them a bite to eat. Gambler was in a really bad mood.

The temp dropped to about 10 by mid afternoon as we worked on the broken line and hopefully got it fixed. It’s hard to do plumbing in blowing snow and freezing cold. Then we took apart the round pen and loaded it on the trailer to use down below. Next thing I knew it was time to feed and then it was dark.

Maggie is still down below, she said it rained a bit then the sun came out and it got up to about 50. Now as I write this we are at -5 at 7:30 pm. up here, with 30 mph winds and drifting snow.

I WANT TO GO BACK DOWN!!!!

February 11 - 17: No Guests

Monday, February 12, 2001
We finally got water flowing on Friday. Lyns and I took turns keeping the pump fueled and running 24 hours till we had a couple thousand gallons in the tank. The weather was cold and windy Friday high was 17. I spent most of the day doing what I'm sure a lot of other folks are doing this time of year...TAXES! I just get pissed off this time of year doing them. I better not get started on my government tirade.

Saturday Frank returned from Socorro with hay. He was driving the 3/4 ton Dodge with a 24 foot flatbed loaded with 9 one ton square bales of alfalfa. When he pulled in the drive you would have expected to see a semi hooked to that load. The evening was spent unloading the hay with our tractor that is just a bit too small to handle those big bales well. The loader on the tractor could only lift them about a foot. Almost turned over the tractor getting one off the top layer. I slid it back to the edge of the trailer and when it dropped off the back of the tractor came off the ground and started going over side ways. I slammed the hydraulic lever down just at the last second and saved myself. After all was unloaded Frank and I headed off the mountain leaving Lyndsey there alone with 36 horses, 3 dogs, 10 chickens, 2 turkeys, 2 steers, and 1 pig.

Sunday was beautiful down here, about 60 and sunny. Early in the morning I went and visited the folks selling the W.S. Ranch and made an offer on it. We will just have to sit on the edge of our seats and wait for an answer. In the afternoon Maggie and I went and walked around where we would build a new headquarters. It is a beautiful little canyon made of sandstone cliffs with a nice stream running through it and great pasture along the bottom. It has awesome views of the Mogollon Mountain and you can even see Bearwallow Peak which is just behind the upper ranch H.Q. We found an old indian ruin where in 15 minutes we had found pottery shards of every design. Some were black and white painted, some had texture designs carved in the clay. It is really humbling to hold a piece and think that the last human to touch it was a thousand years ago. The sites around here are from the Anastazi, Mogollon, and Mimbres era. Today we are going to train some of the young horses in the pens with some heifers we have here for that reason. It should be a fun day.

LATER...

Maggie, Tanya, and I worked horses in the pens today. It was a lot of fun, till our cattle jumped out! All the horses were feeling frisky as it was a Monday and a bit windy. Tanya got bucked off 'Custer' a mare we got a few months ago. She kept working with her and she came around. 'Doc' really bucked out on me, it was a blast. He had a nice rolling buck that was easy to ride. He got tired though and quit. I tried to get him to buck some more but I guess he figured it was of no use and he worked great the rest of the day. Maggie was on 'Newboy' a hot paint horse we have that's lots of fun with cattle. He was a bit balky as well but she made him do what she asked and he did great

February 18 -24, 2001: Winter Ranch Week

Sunday, February 18, 2001
The last week was kinda a lousy weather week even at the lower ranch where we had a dusting of snow a couple days. At the upper ranch they got about 6 more inches over the week. I rode a couple days looking for some heifers and unbranded pairs. Never saw a one. It's kinda frustrating to ride for days for no real accomplishment. I saw lots of cattle just none I needed. I cut every day short due to cold, blustery weather and a mule who was disliking it more than I was. He got pretty mad going out and especially not working cattle. Every bunch we went by he wanted to go get. He couldn't understand the purpose of it all. We now know where the cattle aren't.

Today our first guest of the 2001 season arrives. Just one this first week, Joe Corey from Pa. 

Maggie has been down most of the last week decorating the ranch house here. It looks awesome with all her antique finds she made over the winter. Lyndsey was right behind her scrubbing and cleaning. It needed it after Tanya and Frank being here by themselves. Neither one of whom are known for domestic skills. I must confess tho Tanya has learned to make good pancakes. I think that and peanut butter is all they lived on. We sent Tanya up top to halter break all the weanlings. Lyndsey and I will keep riding the 2 and 3 year olds that Tanya started. Frank spent a night in the county pokey after getting into a bar fight with a guy who was abusing his wife. Seems Frank should have gotten an award instead of a night in jail.

Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Joe our first guest is here. He's from Pa. and loving the weather that has turned back to the usual beautiful stuff we are used to. Yesterday after getting all set with horses we went up on to Sunflower Mesa and got a few pairs off there and into the Ghost Ranch corrals. Then we went into Vigil canyon and found a few more. The next thing we knew the day was done. Joe rode Doolin, I rode Coal, and Lyndsey was on Bud. Doolin and Bud are old veterans. Even tho they had not worked since last November they walked off just as great as the day we turned them out. Coal is pretty new, arriving here last fall. He is a 6 year old and was just gelded right before we got him. He was a bit humpy and excited for most of the way out but as soon as we got cattle in front of him he settled down. These horses like to work. I left the other two for awhile and he is a lot better alone.
Today we saddled up at the Ghost Ranch, Joe was on Butch, Lyns rode Rio, I had my trusty cowmule Ben. We rode a lot of miles around the Hicks pasture. We took a break from cowboyin for awhile and explored a deep canyon we had wanted to ride for a long time. It was really nice down in there, huge cottonwood and sycamore trees some walnut and fruit trees as well. Large pools of crystal clear water and boulders the size of a truck. There were lots of sign of wild pigs around all the water and you could see where they had rolled in the mud. 

Then it was back to work as we cleared the cattle out of the Hicks and moved them into Frisco pasture. By the time we got back to the Ghost Ranch it was getting dark and we were treated to a great sunset as we fed horses. Being the only one here Joe gets to experience it all, from feeding and catching to watering and working gates. He's just part of the crew. Maggie has been cooking till Amy gets back next week. I am in no hurry for her, as my wife is an awesome cook and has really been putting it on. Tomorrow we might go into The Blue Range and explore a bit or go to Charlie Moore camp and see if there are any cattle in that area.

Thursday, February 22, 2001
Yesterday we trailered out to as close to Charlie Moore as we could get before the mud stopped us. We unloaded and rode down to the camp. A really nice ride into the canyon. 

Charlie Moore Camp and mountain are named for a fella who settled in the canyon in the mid 1880's. The cabin is in Arizona, the corrals are in New Mexico. The pass going through the mountain behind the cabin runs about six miles to the edge of the Mogollon Rim. It is the best pass for miles and all the rustlers would push stolen cattle through Charlie's place. He got paid for never seeing or hearing anything and was always there to remind any lawman that may come along that he stood on the state line and they had no reason to cross. It was a good thing he had going. The tale has it that most of the rustled cattle headed west were off the WS range, the biggest outfit around. When the Wild Bunch hit the country they shut Charlie down telling him they could not have the ranch which they rode for losing so many cattle. More important they didn't want to have the law coming to the area on the chance they may have been recognized. So they asked Charlie how much his little operation made him and matched it, adding a little more to keep horses for them out at his place. After the Wild Bunch left the country a few years later Charlie was back at it and continued to supply horses to riders on the Outlaw Trail. That's the story anyway. If you look at any book showing the Outlaw Trail it will end in Alma, New Mexico. Home of the WS and Charlie Moore.

Maggie was on Newboy, her mom Natalie was on Doolin. Joe was on Bud, Lyns was on Zeno,Ii rode my mule. We decided to hell with the cattle hunting for the day and went into the Blue Range on the Base Line trail. It was really tough going on the horses up the north slope of Charlie Moore mountain. There was still snow and the trail was a running stream of water. Boggy it was every step of the way. We finally got up on top and I got my first look into the heart of the Blue Range. It just made me want to keep going. Way below us the heavy timber changed to high chaparral and you could just make out the Blue River, easily located by the cottonwood trees along it. High mountains rose in the far distance, I'm not sure which they are. 

It was hard to turn around and head back. 

Even harder getting back as I decided to bushwhack down what I thought was the dry side. I had been looking over on the south slope as we went up the north and saw no snow. As we got into it, it got worse and worse. It was thick mud with a crust on it. Every step was over the ankle, rocks every where. It was steep and I was feeling pretty terrible taking the horses through it. Especially Zeno who had not worked a day since November. I feared bow tendons and split coronary bands. He did great and every one else too, getting back to the corrals with no cuts or sprains. It was a long day we got in just at dark.

When we got home Shawn Lilley and his daughter Ashley from Michigan were at the house. They are long time N- friends, been here too many times to count. They had been skiing in Az. and got melted out by this great weather we have been enjoying.
Today Frank, Lyndsey, Joe and Ashley went with Alan out hunting up pairs to brand. Shawn and I got roped into helping Maggie paint the interior of one of the bunkhouses here at the H.Q. About 2:00 pm we heard cattle and looked down the road and saw they had a whole bunch. I went and helped them pen and sort and found it was not as many to brand as first appeared. A lot of the cattle we just along for the parade. So we had a lot to cut out, finally leaving us with five to brand and a few to doctor. One calf was a big 600 pound maverick. Expecting the worst we got two ropes on him and jumped to the job. Well that little man just kinda laid down and let himself be tied up. His attitude changed in a real hurry when Alan approached with a hot iron and I with a sharp knife. Little he could do at that point but beller and holler. The other calves were pretty big and took awhile to get done as the corral here is a bit to big for easy ropin. Too much room to run and we try to keep the calves as unexcited as we can to keep the stress down. Didn't work today, one 400 pounder went through the 2x12 board fence like it was twigs. We got him back in and finally got the job done. We had one cow with a bad eye and she was a hand full. Had to put her in the trailer and rope her tight to doctor her. One of the cows we had in today was the one that had run Alan down a year ago and put him in the hospital. Her calf was just as wild. We separate the mommas from the babies when we work on them and it was a good thing. This ole cow paced the fence snortin' and pawin', wantin' to tear into something. When we finished and turned every thing out, that pair hit the steep slope of the canyon and headed up never looking back and disappeared. Weather has been just great this week, days have been windless and about 65.

Friday, February 23, 2001
Well our weather changed. Today started out great, then about mid afternoon the wind kicked up. Off to the west a wall of snow swept in with thunder and lightning. The snow didn't amount to much down here, but Tanya said they got a few inches up top.
Lyndsey and Joe went riding down in the Breaks. It's a really cool area of sandstone bluffs and canyons, it's a maze in there. Then they went shooting with Joes .45. I spent the day rewiring part of the bunkhouse. Cowboys should not play with electricity! I didn't burn any thing down but did make some sparks fly.

It's the end of our first guest week, Joe was a great one to start out with. Seemed he always had a smile on his face and every thing was fine with Joe. What ever we suggested he was willing to go along.

Thanks Joe!

February 25 - March 3, 2001: Winter Ranch Week

Monday, February 26, 2001
A fun crew this week! They include Peg from Ma. who has been here I have no idea how many times. John from Ct. and Johnathan and Jordan who both grew up in N.Y. Lots of joking and chop busting going on.

Yesterday the weather started out pretty good as we got all set with horses, saddles etc. Our usual slow Monday morning. We caught horses out at the Ghost Ranch, in the saddle about 10. We worked the small pasture around the Ghost Ranch, it's about 1000 acres and our mission was to find two cows that had gotten into the pasture some how and were raiding the hay barn at night. We rode the whole pasture which is thick with Live Oak, Pinion and Juniper making it hard to see anything and to ride through. We had spread out as we worked our way down, finally meeting at the far end without seeing anything. Just as we were turned back Lyndsey saw the cows way up on a ridge so we headed to get them. It was a hard climb up but we got them and moved them to the gate a mile east. The cattle got a bit frisky and took off just as we got to the there. I was riding Rio and had forgotten what a great little cow horse he is. He took off like a shot and got around them and slid to a stop cutting them along a fence. One black cow leap over the fence but into the proper pasture. The other we finally got through the gate. We then did a big loop around Vigil Spring, over Sunflower Mesa and then bush whacked down the side of Buzzard canyon. The wind came up and it started raining but the temp stayed pretty warm. The mud was deep as we went down into Buzzard. Earlier Jordan had asked how steep a slope our horses could handle. As the horses slid on the haunches down I said he found out just how steep they could go. It was quiet a slide. By the time we got back to the Ghost Ranch it was getting late so we called it a day. Or so we thought until Frank pulled in with a load of hay as soon as we got done unsaddling. It's a lot of work getting the bales off the trailer and up into the barn loft with no hoist or conveyer. That's when we appreciate these young guys like Frank, Jordan and Johnathan.

As we rode in I was watching the mountains disappear into the clouds and sheets of snow falling above 6,000 ft elevation. Maggie had gone back up top earlier in the day and I called her when I got back to get a weather report. She moaned that it was a complete white out and snowing about 3 inches an hour. Glad I'm not up there!

Tuesday, February 27, 2001
We rode with Alan today, trailering down to The Breaks. He had seen a few head of our cattle in there so we went looking. Lyndsey, Jordan and Johnathan rode in from the east as the rest of us went to Good Water Corral. There Alan and Peg went in a loop west into the easier country and John and I went south into the thick of the Breaks. I was riding a green 3 yo named Cooleye. He hadn't ever been out for a real day of work and was pretty soft. He was a bit chargey so that's why I opted for the rough stuff. Up and down and up and around we went through this maze of breaks and draws and ridges and arroyos. John was on Butch, one of our best rough country horses and he was loving it. Every time I looked back he was right there with a smile on. We did a lot of trotting up and down and Cooleye lost his edge pretty dang fast. We got into a nice sandy arroyo about 10 feet wide and put them into a lope. By the time we got back to the corrals we had gotten no cattle but had a great time. The others where there with a couple pairs and a few dry cows in the corrals. After a real quick bite to eat we headed back up through the break's onto Stout Mesa. It was a hard climb with my horse who was already really getting worn out. We saw a lot of cattle but none that we were looking for. At the top we split, Alan, Lyndsey and Johnathan went down the west side. Peg, John and Jordan followed me down the east side. It was rough going, really steep but not too rocky any where. It was a long ride back to the corrals but Cooleye was game all the way walking out in front and really trying hard. I could get to really like that horse. Best of all the saddle I had made for Mangus {my best horse who died last year} fits him well. It's an A-fork saddle with a high cantle and unique basket stamp, but being pretty narrow it doesn't fit too many horses. We loaded the cattle in Alan's trailer and his horse and mine in my trailer. The others rode back the 6 miles or so home. They made record time as a lot of galloping was done, the country there is made for it. They got back pretty tired but not near as tired as they were an hour later after unloading another 200 bales of hay. It's a great crew, Jordan and Johnathan are good for lots of laughs. They are pretty green and they joke about it but the difference in their riding between yesterday and today was probably the most improved I have seen in a long time. Yesterday they were tense and rigid. Today they were easing along, relaxing a bit as they trotted and galloped. But of course I won't tell them that. They are riding Bud and Zeno who are really accommodating guys and get along with about everyone. Peg was on Newboy today and Coal yesterday. She's a good rider and we can put her on about anything so we will let her get a couple of our string horses worked well this week. John and Butch are a match made. Perfect size and attitude for each other. He told Lynds that Butch was the most responsive horse he'd ridden. Butch is about 14.2 hand little sorrel horse with a chunky build who can handle anything. He's not much to look at but a lot of fun to ride.

The day was pretty gray for the most part but warmish, about 50. raining tonight. Maggie reports 8 more inches up top and still snowing. Tanya came down today and was pretty happy to be out of the winter up top. We have not seen the tops of the mountains for two days now.

Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Heavy rain all night with lots of thunder and lightning. Over an inch fell before changing to snow about 5:00 am. It snowed till about 9:00 then the sun came out to make a fine day. The mud every where was so bad we couldn't ride. It was just too dangerous footing. After the sun came out we all migrated outside. Lyndsey got John and Jordan to help her clean out the only two stalls on the N Bar. Alan had used them last winter and they were a mess. They did a great job that really needed doing. They earned a whole lot of 'atta boys'. I saw Jordan spending some quality time with his horse Zeno. It's always a pleasure seeing a not so horsey person really connect and realize just how wonderful horses are. As I always say the best thing God put on the earth are horses and women...in that order.

About lunch Frank arrived from the upper ranch having driven my classic '67 Airstream down for staff quarters. He also brought paintball stuff. It wasn't long before Johnathan, Jordan, John, Frank, Tanya, and I headed to the canyon for a little action. Little hell, we played for five hours out there. One of the best paintball actions we've ever had. Over a thousand rounds shot, everyone covered with paint, mud and grins. Got a few after the actions pictures I will try to post. I think all the fun convinced the guys to come out for a Posse Week.

Thursday, March 1, 2001
The day started out cold, about 25 but sunny. The crew is getting pretty good, we were ready to go and waiting on Alan by 8:30.

When he got here we set out across the stream behind the H.Q. and immediately started up the side of the canyon. The trail is really steep and lots of loose rocks. I was on Cooleye and as soon as I hit the saddle in the corral he was ready to go. Prancing around and rearing a bit, a little problem he has. He almost came over on Tanya a few weeks ago. Well when we got to the rim of the canyon he sure was a lot calmer. Tanya was riding Chilli for his first real day out since last June when he got hurt. He was a handful coming up the hill, taking it in leaps and bounds with a few joyful bucks thrown in. He was just damn happy to be out doing something, there was nothing mean about it. Lyndsey was at the corrals watching us go up and said her heart was in her through out as she watched them go up.

When we got on top we split into two groups, Alan went west with Tanya and Peg and I went east with John, Jordan, and Johnathan. 

The ground was still a bit mushy but not as bad as I expected. Within half an hour we came on cow tracks and then the cattle. They were on two benches on the canyon slope with a really steep brushy draw separating the two. We rode around and looked things over then made a plan of attack. We pushed one pair off over the rim and watched her go till we knew she wasn't coming back up. Then we crossed the draw dropping into it down a really steep side where we just kind of directed the horses slide so it didn't get too out of control. Then up the other side, which was even steeper. We headed up, switching back several times. Rocks from the person above rolling under the horses below. When we got to the top we let the horses blow and adjusted saddles. For a couple green horns the guys did great. They didn't seem to have any fear, I think it maybe because they don't know any better. We rode through the cattle on that bench and got 5 unbranded pairs started down leaving behind some dry cows and branded pairs. Alan's horse remuda was up there also so of course they had to ride over to visit and mix everything up. We got the cattle headed down a rough trail towards the stream in the canyon below, then we slid our way along behind them. I had to pull up short near the bottom on the steep slope due to thick trees and low branches. As we were all getting off Alan's loose horses and all the cattle we tried leaving behind came over the rim and piled up behind us. We walked our horses through the thick growth of oaks and Sycamores along the stream bottom, stepping aside when we could so the loose stock could get by us. We finally broke out onto to the stream itself and got out of the thickets. The cattle were down stream which was good and in short order we had them lined out and headed to the corrals. We got them penned like we knew what we were doing and took a well earned break. Within just a few minutes we heard Alan's group coming up the road. We got out of the way and watched them pen those cattle like they knew what they were doing. We then headed back up the canyon trail to the top so we could check some cattle we had seen from a distant. Those horses really were not too excited to leave the corrals and head up that canyon side trail again. Once we got to the top it was less than a mile before we came across the cattle, it takes no Daniel Boone to track in this mud. We found the cattle weren't ours so we turned around and headed back down. The view of the H.Q. and corrals is really great from up there. I will try to get a picture next time I go up.

We took a lunch break then got the fire going for branding. After cutting off the momma cows we handed the guys some ropes. Alan showed them how, then we told them have at it. It's always fun to watch Alan explain roping to a left handed person such as Johnathan. He just can't think in those terms and tells them just to figure it out. They all did, it wasn't long before they all were throwing some pretty good loops. They threw enough to get lots of practice. Finally we had everything roped, thrown and tied and in short order had them all branded, earmarked, dehorned, and castrated as needed.

We then pushed all the cattle, about 40 head out of the corrals and followed the canyon up stream about two miles and put them through a gate into new graze.

Pretty dang good day.

Friday March 2, 2001
A pretty nice weather day down on the lower range, a few clouds but mild about 50. Tanya and the crew took an exploration ride up to the old town site of Claremont. There is not much there but and old cabin, barn and foundations. About a hundred years ago there were a couple hundred miners and families living in the area. The views from there are just incredible looking to the west. They took an unknown trail headed home and bushwhacked a long way. Finally getting home about 5 pm. It was a great crew and I think we will see them all back again someday. At least we hope so, they sure kept us grinning and laughing a whole bunch.

I had to go to the upper ranch to put out hay. I left early and got there about 10 am, spending the next few hours riding the tractor putting out hay in each pasture. It was a mess up there! Mud and snow and ice and slop. Snow fell most of the day but the sun would come out every hour just long enough to melt it and make more mud. 

It was good seeing all the horses and especially the babies. Tanya did a great job getting them halter trained. She did six in two weeks. Maggie is carrying on where Tanya left off. Doing a lot of handling. They are really friendly little guys now. The 2 year olds, Tom, B.C., G Man, and Preacher were excited to see me, being a pain in the butt as I tried to work. All the mares are looking good, some are just huge as foaling time gets closer. The roads were so so, two well beaten tracks that make it feel like your driving a kiddy car at the amusement park. Once you're in them there is no coming out. It was a quick trip getting back to the lower ranch, taking only two hours and ten minutes.

I got in just as the riders got back at 5. I did get to spend about three hours with Maggie though which made the drive worth it.