September

September 2 - 8, 2001: POSSE WEEK

*EXTRA*EXTRA
SILVER CITY
DAILY PRESS
SEPTEMBER THIRD

DEADLY PURSUIT IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

NEWS HAS REACHED THIS REPORTER THAT DEADLY DOINGS ARE GOING ON IN THE HIGH COUNTRY OF THE GILA.

FEARLESS FRANK IS BACK WITH ANOTHER BUNCH OF RUFFIANS. THE RUMOR IS THAT HE IS HERE TO RETRIEVE LOOT THAT WAS STASHED OVER A YEAR AGO DURING THE HEYDAY OF THE FRISCO RIVER GANG, BUT THERE IS AN INTERESTING TURN TO THE USUAL STORY. HIS OLD NEMESIS, CAPT. BATES, IS OUT LOOKING FOR IT AS WELL. SEEMS THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO THE CAPT. CAME INTO THE POSSESSION OF A COPY OF FEARLESS’ MAP.

THE CAPT. IS BACK WITH HIS OLD SADDLE PARTNER SGT. HOBSON, BOTH FORMALLY WITH THE NEW MEXICO RANGERS. OUR INVESTIGATIONS HAVE FOUND THAT THE TWO ARE OPERATING WITHOUT ORDERS FROM THE TERRITORIAL CAPITAL. WE FEAR THAT THE TWO RANGERS HAVE CROSSED BACK OVER THE LINE OF THE LAW TO THE SIDE THEY ONCE CAME FROM. THIS SEEMS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE FACT THEY ARE RIDING WITH THE KNOWN OUTLAW ‘EVER READY ERIN’ WHO COMMITTED SOME HEINOUS CRIMES HERE A YEAR OR SO AGO WHEN SHE ACTUALLY RODE WITH FEARLESS FRANK. IT IS FROM HER WE ASSUME THE CAPT. CAME TO HOLD THE MAP.

AS WE ALL KNOW NEWS TRAVELS FAST IN THIS COUNTRY AND WORD GOT TO FEARLESS FRANK THAT THE CAPT. WAS OUT TO LOCATE HIS CACHES OF LOOT. WITH THREE NEW SIDE KICKS HE QUICKLY HEADED OUT TO CATCH UP WITH THE CAPT.

WITH FEARLESS ARE THREE COMPADRES FROM ACROSS THE BIG POND. LITTLE IS KNOW OF THE THREE OTHER THAN FIRST NAMES. PATRICIA HAILS FROM THE COUNTRY OF BELGIUM, MARIOLIJN FROM THE LAND OF TULIPS AND WINDMILLS, AND CLEMMEN FROM AUSTRIA. THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THEY ARE RIDING WITH FEARLESS ATTESTS TO THE LOW CHARACTER OF ALL THREE. IT IS SAID THEY SPENT SOME TIME IN CANADA KEEPING THE MOUNTIES THERE UNHAPPY AND THEN HEADED SOUTH TO WYOMING, WHERE THEY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE RUSTLED A BUNCH OF HORSES. IT HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THEY ARE THE USUAL KILLERS THAT RIDE WITH FEARLESS BUT WE ARE NOW SURE THEY ARE WELL ON THE WAY DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO, FAIR CITIZENS OF THE GILA COUNTRY, KEEP INDOORS AND YOUR HEAD LOW AS THESE TWO GROUPS OF MURDEROUS HOOLIGANS HOPEFULLY DISPENSE EACH OTHER IN THIS DEADLY PURSUIT. FARE THEE WELL AND GOOD RIDDANCE TO THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM.

WE WILL PRINT ALL THERE IS TO TELL AS NEWS REACHES OUR OFFICE.

  A great posse week. Tuesday we headed out. Frank and his crew left first, getting a half hour head start. We saw them several times as we headed out on our plan of loot bag getting’. One time in the open country coming down a draw we almost ran headfirst into them. Hiding behind an outcropping of rock, we waited for them to pass by. They never saw us. Lyndsey and Erin headed to their camp and I followed the other team’s tracks to figure out where they were going. I decided they were headed to the farthest loot bags first and felt we were fairly safe, so when I met the girls we used the outlaw’s food and cooked a quick meal at their camp. I never pass up a chance to use an empty camp. Then we headed a couple miles over to our camp.

Now I never like to stay in camp, so we loaded a bunch of stuff on my horse Dakota and I led him another mile into a deep timbered canyon where we set up a spike camp. For his first time packing and with a sloppy load Dakota did really great. He’s just 3 and gonna be a heck of a horse. Late in the day we went out after a loot bag, which Erin quickly found, then we spent till dark trying to find the outlaws with no luck. We got in just at dark and tended the horses and bedded ourselves down.

Frank and his outlaws rode about 11 hours that day. Getting two loot bags and really sore. They went to Incognito camp, then all the way down Pine Canyon, and then back to their camp, getting in about 9pm. It was a successful day for them.

Wednesday was a day of close calls. I got up early and headed back to our main camp, fed and put out the horses and grabbed some breakfast food. After cooking at our hidden camp I went back to the horses and got to the canyon rim above camp just in time to see Frank and his gang riding in. I stayed on the ridge and watched as they went through our camp and then left, taking some food with them. I scurried down the slope and grabbed my horse. Dakota had been rolling and was grey with a fine silty dust. It took at least tem minutes to just get his saddle area clean enough to ride. As we jogged out of camp hoping to catch up with Frank dust drifted off us with every step. I followed tracks to Hay canyon and then decided that I would head to Frank’s camp, thinking he’d gone there. I thought wrong.

We must have passed each other, because as I headed to hay canyon, he had headed back to my camp. I swung by fence tank then up 7HL canyon towards their camp. Unknown to me, Lyns and Erin were also on the move. They had headed over to the outlaw camp after I had left, going into the camp down the bottom. As they were doing that Frank and his gang were on top of the ridge headed the other way. Lyndsey got to the camp and saw there was no one there, waited awhile then headed back out. Again Frank was passing her on the ridge the other way back to his camp. They passed twice within a hundred yards of each other and missed at the camp by less than five minutes. I was less than half a mile away on the west ridge of 7HL and was in the open hoping someone would see me. It’s amazing neither of the two groups did, nor did I see them going back and forth.

I headed towards the camp and saw no horses but when Frank had come into camp, he had left Patricia behind while taking his horses to water with the others. As I came into camp I had a feeling someone was there. I rode in and decided to feed my horse as it was close to 6pm and unsaddle him, planning on having a gunfight with whoever was in the cabin now being sure I had seen a face in the window for a glimpse. I had just dropped his bit when I looked up and here came Frank and Clemment less than 30 feet from the corral. They had not seen me as they were tired and walking kinda head down. I slipped Dakota’s bit back up and swung on his back. That’s when Frank finally saw me and hollered. I gave Dakota some leg and he turboed out of the corral.

I loped up the long narrow canyon behind the camp and came out on top just in time to see John and Joy headed down the hill. They had been out armed and riding being the unknown third group out there. I later found out Frank had seen them and caught them in a narrow canyon killing both. I eased on home getting in about dark. Fed Dakota as Erin cooked dinner. After dark Lyndsey and I headed back to 7HL canyon where I planned to spend the night close to Franks camp. Lyndsey came to take my ride back to our camp so if anyone were out they would not see it. As we stood at the gate getting my gear together I heard a sound and realized someone was coming up the road to the gate. I hollered at Lyndsey to get going and grabbed my gear headed to the rocks. Just as Lyndsey got out of sight behind a cliff rim Frank came into view. I was stuck in the rocks with both of my guns unloaded. There was nothing I could do but sit and watch. He took a quick look around and headed back to his camp and I made a dark camp about a half mile from his and settled in for the night.

Thursday the plan was for Lyndsey and Erin to meet me at 8am. I got up about 3am ,went to the camp and fired a few shots into it and got no response so I headed back to my warm bedroll. Up again at 6am just as it was light enough to see to move and climbed the ridge and eased to a vantage point. I could see a fire going and the horses being fed and decided they were not going anywhere soon. I got back to the meeting point at exactly 8am and found Lyndsey and Erin already there. We made a plan. They were going to ride back above the camp and come in one the high ground. I was going to wait for them to engage and then come down the valley from behind the camp. The plan worked like a charm. I got near and hurried my pace as I heard gunshots. I pretty much walked right in and took the camp as the gunfight was a bit above in the rocks.

Frank had fortified a wagon and I heard the sound of his gun coming from that position so I eased towards it after grabbing a quick cup of coffee off the fire they had graciously left for me. A deep stream bed separated me from the wagon fort and offered a perfect approach. I went unseen and got within 20 yards and could see Frank through the cracks between the logs. He was having a hot gunbattle with Lyndsey who was on top of the rocks above him. I had my sights set on him and was squeezing the trigger when he ran to the base of the rocks for a better shot at Lyndsey.

Perfect I thought; I have him penned with no cover. I took a few fast steps out of the ditch and into the fort and raised my rifle on him. Just at that moment I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Patricia was under the wagon at my feet. Frank must have felt the sights burning a hole in his back and turned, seeing me. The look of surprise on his face was priceless. All in the same second he yelled a warning to Patricia as I turned on her. She was too close to shoot so I forced her to put her gun down and pulled her ribbon. Frank was trying to help her, pumping hot rounds at me that were slamming on the body of the wagon. Lyndsey seeing someone in the wagon fort and not knowing who it was or what was going on was also shooting at me. It was a hail of balls coming in, how I didn’t get hit I have no idea. But one round did break on a log in front of my face blinding me and forcing me to withdraw rather than fight it out with Frank.

He scaled the rocks and quickly killed Lyndsey and forced Erin down into a hole at the base of the rocks. I got back as soon as I could to find both Frank and Clemment above Erin about to dispatch her. I opened covering fire from the other rim of rocks across the canyon and told her to come to me. She did making it across the canyon floor with no hits though balls were striking all around her. When she got to me I told her to head to the rendezvous spot as I covered her retreat. She moved too slow, sauntering away tired. I covered her for a few minutes, then my gun jammed and I began a retreat also. Frank and Clement pursued us as we went two different ways. Frank ran Erin down and killed her as I held off Clemment with a useless weapon. Finally Frank hollered to him that my gun wasn’t working and he came and forced my surrender. Damn I hate that!

Later after our kill time we were back at it. Again we came in from the high ground. Clement saw me from the other side of the canyon and started after me. Damn that guy could move. We exchanged fire for about ten minuets then my gun did it’s thing again, forcing me to withdraw for repairs. I bailed off down into a pile of rocks and spent a few minutes getting things back working. When I got back into the killing fields I saw Lyndsey was at it with Clemment across the canyon and Frank and Patricia were in the wagon fort trading shots with Erin who was near the cabin. I moved along the rim to help Lyns but saw she had it under control. Clement was pinned below her in the rocks and she took her time not getting near and not letting him move. Finally with a well placed shot she hit him in the side taking him out. She saw me on the opposite side and gave me a big thumbs up.

She headed down her side and engaged the wagon fort and I did the same from up on top of the rim I was on. It was a long battle. I fired over a hundred rounds covering the fortification with shot marks. Frank is a great shot, at one point I stood to fire and from behind the logs he shot me twice in a row in the left arm. It was time to move, he had me dialed in. Lyndsey and Erin kept it hot as I changed position. When I got to another spot I saw Patricia back around the wagon exposing herself to me. I fired three shots, all hitting the wagon within inches of her. She was involved in her battle with Erin on the other side, she never noticed. My fourth shot got her in the spine and she went down in a heap.

Frank now had me spotted again and was whipping rounds by my head. They sounded like angry bees going by. Ducking behind the rocks in the brush I watched to see his location. All I could spot was smoke between the logs and knew he was in a great spot. I reloaded, took a deep breath, then stood and started throwing balls at the spot 1,2,3,7,8,10 they all hit the logs in the spot but none made it through. WHAK! I took a round in the arm again from Frank as he calmly and safely fired without exposing a bit of himself. I reloaded and jumped up again. POWPOWPOW powpowpowpowpow I emptied my weapon as fast as I could work the lever and dropped down again.

It was silent but for Lyndsey and Erin still throwing a few balls into the fort. Minutes went by with no return fire. Was he playing possum? Or was he hit? I rose and stood on the rocks my rifle trained on the spot in the logs where frank had been. Nothing moved. I hollered, no reply. I went down the rocks with Lyndsey and Erin covering my approach. I peeped over the fort walls and grinned as I saw Frank sprawled, his mask covered red from a hit between the eyes.

It had been a long week, the guests decided a soft bed, hot shower, real food and working cattle the next day sounded all real fine. So we called it a week of POSSE and headed home. Frank’s team had won with the most kills including John and Joy the day before.

Friday Lyndsey took the crew to Fence tank and drifted about a hundred head east 6 miles to White tank. It took all day getting in about 6pm. Frank and I worked on new corral fencing around the H.Q.

September 9 - September 15, 2001: Summer Ranch Week

A big crew this week, 11 folks. We have Shawn from Il. here for his 6th or 7th time. His buddy Mark here for a second time. Bill and Jackie from Tx here for a 3rd go round. Jersey Joe here for a 3rd time and he brought along his friend Bob this time. Then there are the first timers, Kip and Karen from Pa. Jerry and Kristi fron Sante Fe. And Rodney from Jersey.

Monday, September 10, 2001
Monday was a good shake down day. We split into two groups and headed over to hunt strays in the Firebase area, coming out with a couple bulls. Everyone got along with their horses and saddles, didn't sore anyone up too much. Our first frost of the season.  Low of 29 high 72

Tuesday, September 11, 2001
A day we all will remember. I turned on the news as usual and was greeted with the Horrendous sights of the day. As I watched the second plane hit the tower it was more than I could bare. Heading to the cookhouse later I had tears in my eyes and it was hard to tell the crew what had happened. All the Jersey guys as well as Shawn and Mark had friends in the building or near by. The morning was spent making phone calls and listening to the radio. As more bad news came in I told everyone it was a better thing to be horseback and try to leave the other world behind for the moment so we all headed out. I took one group out into 7HL to look things over, try to find the mares and foals and check them out. We found them at Elladean tank. They all looked great and the folks got a treat seeing them flow over the country. Lyndsey went to help Don gather up some strays and move a bunch to Slater tank. As I rode along looking at all the beauty around me it was heart wrenching to think of the chaos going on else where and all the lives that had been shattered. By the end of the day my anguish had turned into pure anger and hatred for those responsible. It now sits simmering in my gut. hi 72 low 32.

Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Frank took Joe, Bob and Rodney out maverick hunting in the Negrito Triangle. They made it out with 5 head and an afternoon of wild cow fun. Busting brush and jumping logs, getting the wild cattle home and penned. Lyndsey and I trailed over to Collins Park to help Don gather and get his heifers preg tested. We rode in two groups and got in about a hundred head. I was riding Doc who I hadn't been on in over a month. Jeannie asked me to cut out the bulls from the penned cattle and of course as soon as we walked in the corral Doc had to show off and set to bucking in front of everyone. It was a bit embarrassing to have my hotshot cowpony acting like a little fool. But he straightened right out and redeemed himself the rest of the morning drawing a few comments from some local cowboys who were there helping. It was a great day, high about 70 after a 39 night. A bit of fall drifting in the air. I rode by an Aspen grove that was showing a bit of color.

Thursday, September 13, 2001
Cloudy morning, which we don't see often here. We rode in three groups today, I took a few of the crew into Egleberger, a rough mountainous area north of the H.Q. We were looking for 40 of Don's heifers. The rain started about noon and became a steady downpour. About 2 pm we decided we were wet enough and headed home seeing no cattle. We got in about 4pm. Frank and Alan each took a crew and headed south into Negrito and Bearwallow. They really got dumped on by the rain and neither group found any cattle. We now know where not to look. They got in about the same time we did, soaked to the skin despite slickers and rain gear. Here at the house we got over 2 inches in less than 30 min. It rained most of the evening. hi 70, low 46.

Friday, September 14, 2001
Awoke in the clouds this morning, grey and wet. Frank and his week-long compadres, Joe and Bob went looking for a maverick bull that has escaped them three times. It seems it's a matter of honor now. They rode five hours in the Negrito Triangle but came out empty handed. Bob is another convert to mules after riding Ben The Wonder Mule for a couple days. It's not everyone who gets along with him, but Bob and Ben bonded. You could tell every day when Ben came in he'd had a great time crashing and bashing through the rough country chasing wild cattle. He had a smile on his face and a shine in his eye. Bob looked about the same too.
Lyndsey took Kristy and Jerry out on a 'big loop' according to Lyndsey. As it turned out, all they did was a 2 hour loop ending up at the Indian ruin. There they spent 3 hours napping and looking for artifacts. Jerry found three nice arrowheads of different sizes and they all had a handful of different style pottery.
The rest of the crew stayed around the H.Q. today trying to figure out travel plans. As it ended up Joe, Bob, Rodney, Kip and Karen are all renting a van and doing a marathon drive cross country back to New Jersey and Penn.
It sure will be an interesting trip with a van full of interesting individuals. I wished I sent along a video camera to set on the dashboard pointing rearward to capture the antics and comments. Good luck to them.
I drove out to White tank and Dead Horse Corral area putting out salt. It was the first time I drove that old road in a year. Boy was it bad! Washed out and ruts about big enough to swallow the truck or bend the frame. It would have been faster I think to have done it our usual way with pack animals. When I got home I had a message that Don had three head of mine penned at Collins Park about 25 miles from here. Maggie and I drove over there and got them. On the way back we ran into a two mile long pocket of rain that was coming down so hard the wipers didn't help a bit.
After our usual Friday big steak feed we joked that we should build a Bin Laden effigy and get out the paint ball guns. The idea was met with mixed reviews but you know me...Mr. Politically Incorrect....or in this case Correct, I built it anyway. Maggie had a carved wooden face I used, robe, raghead, beard, the whole works. It was truly a work of art. Well, before the sun had set everyone had taken a turn blasting away at the sorry son of a bitch. And we all I think felt a bit better for it.

September 16 - September 22, 2001: Summer Ranch Week

A lot of rain over the weekend, almost two inches. We are back to mud and bogs.
A big crew this week, 11 folks. Most everyone has been here before. We have Chuck from Ma. here for his 5th time. Lynn from In. here a 3rd time. Dean from Va. here for his 3rd time, he brought a long a friend Allen a first timer. Joe from N.C. here for a 2nd time, brought along a friend Kevin another first timer. Tom from Ca. here for his 2nd time, he brought along his wife Basha and a friend Sanjay. Two other first timers Mike and Rich are here from Md. We have really been looking forward to this bunch of riders to arrive and were pleased they were able to make it in considering the travel problems around the world.

Monday, September 17, 2001
A fine, fine fall day. Frank took Sanjay, Chuck and Dean back out into the Triangle looking for the maverick bull that keeps giving him the slip. After 4 hours they came in empty handed. Lyndsey took Joe, Kevin, Lynn and Allen with her to track down reports from hunters about cattle in Eckleberger Canyon. None were found.
I went on a recon with Basha, Tom, Mike and Rich doing a Huge loop through 7HL just looking things over. About an hour into the ride we were at Elladeane tank just standing around when suddenly the horse Basha was on, 'Coal' slipped and went into the tank. Basha was lucky as they went into the only spot not covered with rocks. It was scary with her in the mud and water under the horse but she came out ok other than a bruised knee. She's a trooper, drying out her clothes a bit she was back in the saddle for another 5 hours. She earned the range name 'TADPOLE'.  Hi 70 low 40.

Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Lyndsey took half the crew and gathered some strays around the Firebase and moved them out to Nedra tank, then went looking for the mares out in 7HL pasture. I sold one 3 yo and the fellow is coming Wednesday to pick her up. I had seen them the day before from a mile or so away but she rode long and hard and never found them. They got in about 4pm.
John, Alan and I took the rest of the crew and trailered out to Canyon Creek pasture. It takes an hour to trailer out there. We were hunting up strays and checking gates. We split into three groups, John took Dean and Ben the mule into the rough country on Loco Mtn. Alan took Chuck up through S.S. Basin. I took Sanjay, Tom and Joe. My group found a dozen head pretty quick and I sent them with Tom and Sanjay to catch up with Alan. Joe and I headed up Pine canyon all the way to the top of Canyon Creek Mtn. We rode three hours and never saw a cow. Swinging around the north side we met up with Tom and Sanjay and could see the others pushing at least 75 head up and over T Bar Ridge. There was no catching up to them so we just waited at the bottom of the ridge for 'em to come back. We got home about 6pm.  Hi 70, low 39.

Wednesday, September 19, 2001
We all went over to Collins Park to help Don get his heifers in for shipping. It was a usual NBar- morning with flat tires, trucks with no brakes, so we were slow getting going. When we got there they had most of the cattle already in. While we sorted, the crew split up and rode the Park, about 5,000 acres. Everyone had a good morning riding on their own. At about 2 pm we were done sorting and had gotten three trucks loaded and on the way. There were about 85 head that needed to be moved 8 miles to a new pasture so we headed them out. It was a long push! The cattle did not want to go anywhere and we hollered ourselves hoarse and wore our horses out getting them there. We didn't get done till about 6:30pm. On the trailer home I had a flat which slowed us down. We finally got home about 7:30pm. Chuck and Sanjay had gone out with Alan and told us they had the best day ever, riding the Willow Creek area chasing some wild cattle.  Hi 70 low 40.

Thursday, September 20, 2001
Another fine, perfect day!
Frank and Alan headed out to Pitchfork pasture with Dean, Allen, Joe, Lynn, and Kevin.. They started putting cattle into 7HL pasture. Fall works have begun! They got over 120 head, having to brand a couple late calves at fence tank. On the way home they spotted 8 head of Don's heifers and brought them back here to the H.Q. They got in about 7pm.
Lyndsey had a list of things to get done with her crew. Get in three bulls a couple miles away, get in some heifers we had seen on the way home the day before, and go out and find a filly we have been looking for a few days. She rode out with Sanjay, Chuck, Rich, Basaha, Tom, and Mike. By 5 pm they had accomplished all tasks. It was a very productive day.
John came up and brought the folks that are buying his ranch. We met to see if we could work out the same range share deal that John and I have had the last 6 years. Coming up here in the summer, and then going down there for the winter. I had been stressing the last two months or so as I had no where to take my cattle. I had a choice of selling my herd or wintering them over here up top. Neither idea was real appealing. I think they are going to go for the plan. After seeing the country and the way the cattle look they were pretty impressed with what this high country can do for a cow.  Hi 70, low 38.

Friday, September 21, 2001
A kinda short day, everyone just wanted to kinda goof around on horseback. Some of us went out to the north and rode some fun country along the rim of Rocker canyon. A few went out to Feathery Hill and some others went out around the Firebase. Everyone was in by about 2pm. Later Dean, Joe, Allen and Kevin went to town with Maggie and saw all the sights and had a few beers at the local bar.
It's been a great week. We love having this crew come. There is never a shortage of laughs when they are here that's for sure.

September 23 - September 29, 2001: Summer Ranch Week

Nine folks this week, four having be here before. Bill and Cathy fom N.Y. were here about 5 years ago. Fred from Ca. here for his 2nd time this year, his 6th over the last three years. And Roseanne here for 2 weeks, she's been here at least 5 times.
Also with us are Collette from Co. Tim and Leslie from Fla. and Phil from In. Sanjay is still here, deciding at the last moment to stay on a second week and not go back to the other world just yet.

Monday, September 24, 2001
Monday was the usual shakedown day getting horses and folks all set. I took Tim, Leslie, Phil, and Fred on my big 7HL pasture loop. We covered a whole heck of a lot of country, saw the mares and foals, getting in about 6:30 pm. Frank and Sanjay went maverick hunting, seeing nothing getting home about 4 pm. Lyndsey took the rest of the crew heifer hunting, they saw none, got in about 3 pm. My group saw the heifers they were looking for on our way back but it was too late to mess with 'em.

Tuesday, September 25, 2001
We all trailered out to 7HL cowcamp and rode into Pitchfork pasture from there. Splitting into five groups we all rode different areas gathering cattle. A few hours later we met at Fence tank with about 125 head, We then sorted through them coming up with four to be branded. It was a quick job getting them done, the crew are fast learners. When we were done we put the cattle through into 7HL pasture. We were done by about 3 pm, got home about 4 pm. A real good day. More of the same in the morning till we feel we have everything out of Pitchfork.  Hi 68, lo 32

Wednesday, September 26, 2001
Fall is really starting in. The hard freezes the last few nights have set things in motion. It must have really gotten cold up above 9000 ft, the Aspen are showing a lot of color just since the weekend. Fall here is very subtle in it's color. You have to stop and notice it, it doesn't slap you in the face the way New England does. But in its own way it's just as pretty. 
Today we went back out into Pitchfork and went a little farther east into the pasture. Riding in five groups we got a good gather done. Everyone met at Fence Tank about 2 pm. We had over 150 head, with 17 calves that needed to be branded. The crew worked really well and it was all done in pretty good time. We got in about 6 pm, everyone comfortably tired. But not so much that there wasn't loads of laughter around the campfire. Collette is just a riot. She had a trick of getting a cork out from the depths of an empty wine bottle. She showed the bit of magic at the fire where the light was dim. At times we weren't real sure exactly what she was doing with that bottle! It took awhile and before she was done she had us all rolling with laughter till our sides hurt. We're mighty glad that Roseanne brought her along.
It was a chilly morning with a heavy frost. Maggie gets up at 6 am everyday and saddles up in the dark to go out and get the horses in from the night pasture. The pasture is about 16,000 acres. Usually they are within a couple miles but sometimes as far as five or six miles from home. Wrangling in loose horses is the most dangerous job of a cowboy. The loose horses run by and kick at your horse, usually getting your leg, or take off at a run and your ride usually wants to take off with them. It's not every horse that can be a 'Jingle' horse. This morning she was riding Rocky, a little palomino gelding who had never jingled horses. The cold morning and all the excitement got to him and he set to bucking in the frosty, rosy light of dawn sending Maggie sky high from which her landing was not too pretty. She's no cupcake, she kept hold of the reins and was soon back in the saddle getting the job done and all the horses in. She's ok, just a little sore.  Hi 68. low 25

Thursday, September 27, 2001
The weather just couldn't be better. Highs in the upper 6'Õs, sun factor of about 75. Puffy clouds drifting by and gentle breezes.
Today we went out to the far east side and worked Canyon Creek. John and Frank along with Bill, Cathy, Collette and Tim gathered S.S. basin and pushed over T Bar Ridge to Fence tank. Alan took Sanjay and Phil onto the north slope of Canyon Creek Mtn. pushing cattle down into T bar valley. Lyndsey took Fred and worked Pine Canyon. Leslie and I worked the flats between S.S. and Pine. I met up with Lyndsey about 1 pm and we had a pretty good bunch so I sent her along with Fred and Leslie to ease the herd down T Bar Valley towards Fence tank, about 5 miles. I headed up top of Canyon Creek mtn. As i got up there I looked back and way off in the distance I could see the main herd numbering about 150 and moving along the valley floor. They looked like so many ants on the march. Trailing down the slope were three other riders each alone moving bunches into the valley dropping them ahead of the main herd. I love it when a plan comes together. Way up top I met up with Alan who had a few head and I helped him move them down, they sure didn't want to leave the good living up there. When we hit the valley I left him to catch up with the herd and I went back to where we left the trucks. On the way I saw about 30 head of cattle we had missed out in the south east corner of the pasture. It was about a 50 min. ride then an hour and a half drive around to Fence tank. When I got there all the riders from all directions were just getting in with over 250 head of adult cattle. We don't count the calves till they are weaned so in actuality there were over 400 animals. We sorted through them and pulled out a dozen or so to brand. The crew has it down now and everyone jumped to the job. When everything was done we opened the gates and let them drift west into 7HL pasture. We got home about 7pm. Collette was back in the spot light again last night after dinner when she broke out her belly dancing scarves and persuaded Leslie and Lyndsey to become students. After enough whiskey they both began to catch on as none of the onlookers could catch a breath for the laughing.

Friday, September 28, 2001
We trailered out to Canyon Creek again to get the ones we missed yesterday. I was feeling a bit under the weather so I didn't ride. I was shuttle operator. Lyndsey left for two weeks vacation so we're a bit short handed right now. Why I ever agreed to let her go when she asked in June I have no idea! We are so busy right now. Any way I dropped off Frank and the whole crew in S.S. Basin and they split up into teams of two and three and started searching for cattle. It's fun country to ride out there. Not to bad for rocks and lots of draws and coolies and canyons to check. They spent several hours gathering to Juniper tank. When they were all ready for the push over T Bar Ridge they had over a hundred cows, calves, and bulls.
I drove one rig back to the H.Q., got Joy to follow me to 7HL cowcamp where we left that truck then she drove me back out to Canyon Creek to get the other truck which I drove to fence tank. It's days like this that you realize just how big this dang place is. I spent five hours driving. When I finally got to Fence tank they were just moments later arriving with the cattle. It got a bit western as there were some wild ones in the bunch. Calves jumping fences, cows taking off for no good reason. But we eventually got everything sorted and had five to brand. It was a long day, we got home about 7:30 pm. It was a week of long days but we sure got a good gather on that pasture done. We will spend the next week riding for strays in the same area. I think we came out about 35 short, but I'm not worried. There was a huge area of the pasture we never got into so I'm sure we'll find 'em.

September 30 - October 6, 2001: Summer Ranch Week

Compared to the last couple weeks it's a small group this week. We have Roseanne still here for her 2nd week, Ron from In. here for the 1st of 2 weeks, Francis from N.C. here for her 3rd time. She brought along a friend, Billy a first timer. Shell from Ca. is her for a 3rd time her friend Chris is here for his 2nd.

Monday, October 1, 2001
A cool partly cloudy morning, fall is really here! Cattle had gotten into the North trap so we went and gathered them up. Got about 60 that we pushed 5 miles out into 7HL to Elladeane tank. There we split up, Frank took most everyone up over Feathery Hill and back home. Chris and Shell wanted to ride more so we went on farther east. We came across the broodmare band and I decided to bring them in so we could get the 2 Yo's shod on Wednesday and start working them next week. They came home real smooth and easy. I think the mares thought it was weaning time and are ready to get rid of the kids! We beat the short group home by a few min. Everyone getting in about 4pm.
Frank rode King - a big 3 yo paint, it was his first time out and he did really really well. I rode Dakota who is quickly becoming my first pick of horses to grab. He handles moving the loose horses in well. When we got into the corrals I used him to cut the 2 yo's out of the herd. They didn't want to leave so he had a real job on his hands. He got it done then when we were moving them out of the corral to the barn they wouldn't go up the alley past the pig. It was a real fight for about 10 min. They would go so far then turn and charge past us to the other end. At one point Preacher kicked Dakota right in the mouth and then kicked me in the leg. Dakota and I got pissed. I turned him backwards to them and he went in butt-first with a few kicks thrown in, police horse style. That did the trick and we got them up the alley and settled in at the corrals at the main barn.
Hi 58, low 32.

Tuesday, October 2, 2001
We all trailered out to Canyon Creek. We got word from an outfitter that wolves were seen chasing a calf at dawn. So we headed to make sure all our cattle were safely out of that pasture. We found one cow....with a big bag and no calf. Chalk another one up for the introduced wolves. With no carcass we can't get paid, not that we have ever been paid even when we had a one. Not much we could do. The cow wouldn't leave 'cause she was still mourning her calf so we left her there. We will go back in a day or two and get her.

We went into Pitchfork pasture and started hunting up strays we missed last week. John headed up T Bar valley with Roseanne, Billy, and Ron. Frank along with Francis, Chris and Shell went up on the slope of Canyon Creek mountain. With the plan he would push cattle he found down in front of John in the valley. It's some rough country up there but the plan worked great. They got out 38 head. Half way to Fence tank Frank and Ron headed back to the trucks to drive one around and meet John on the other side near 7HL cowcamp. John got to Fence tank at 6pm, a long day!

I had left the group at noon in Canyon Creek to head out to the gate at the West end of T Bar Ridge, about 8 miles. A friend had called and told me he had seen it open. It was undecided whether i would ride from there to the H.Q. or back to the truck. Either way I was to get to it and drive it around to met everyone at Cowcamp. I was on Dakota and he is in top physical shape now, so away we went. We walk/trotted all the way looking for tracks but seeing none. I did see Elk, Deer, Antelope, Hawks, and a Porcupine. The Porky got Dakota a bit excited, he was sure it was a rock with legs and all the old mares tales about horse eating rocks were true. He finally got over it. About a mile from the gate at the Ghost Tanks I found 4 pairs and 2 heifers, this being Loco Mountain pasture now...a pasture they shouldn't have been in. Everything should now be in 7HL. So I gathered them up and pushed them towards the gate. All went well till we got to it and the heifers didn't want to go through. Dakota and I had a rodeo for about ten minutes cutting them along the fence. He was great, totally into what he was doing and thinking and anticipating the cattles' moves. Finally we got them through and closed the gate. We continued on home. It had been a bit over two hours getting to the gate. We headed down into Snow Canyon having to get across to the other side. It's really steep going in on the only trail that goes across, it's really just an Elk trail hoofed into the canyon wall. In the past Dakota had been a bit wide eyed on some spots where there a trail was near a drop off. I didn't really think much about it till we were committed to the trail and it started getting kinda edgy. He was hesitant but went on a bit stiff legged. Then at the worst spot he balked and tried to turn around. It was not a good situation. Only about 30 foot drop but I knew it would hurt. I got him stopped half way through his turn around, his head up hill and his butt down. Rocks were sliding out from under us as I settled him and laid my hand on his neck, my sign for him to relax. He took a few deep breaths, as I did, then I turned him back on the trail and let him just look at it a bit. When I asked him to move on he did, a bit stiffly but thinking instead of reacting. We made it to the bottom and I let him graze along the creek as I told him he was the best, most bravest horse in the world. We headed up canyon about a mile and took the Red Cliff trail out. Up over to Elladeane tank where we hooked up with the two track road. The road is pretty smooth so I put him into a lope. After a mile or so he was going smooth so I asked him to run out. Young horses have to learn how to run with a person on board, especially in varied terrain. I hear a lot about horses that people have that are perfect until they ask them to run, then they buck or become uncontrollable. The horses and riders don't know how to run. Too many horses are kept in stalls or small pastures they never have a chance to go and bust it out at a run. When they do get out and get a chance to run they go nuts with enjoyment and scare the riders who react with fear that the horse senses and he gets scared or out of control. They have to be taught how to run with confidence.
Dakota ran out clumsily at first, making me a bit nervous tripping and not watching where he was footing, then he began to get it together. After a mile or so he was having a great time. We went zipping around corners, through stream beds and ditches. He was loving it and my smile was big. He dug into it for another mile, ears back just striding out as hard as he could go. Then he eased back into a comfortable gallop another two miles till we hit the top of the ridge above the H.Q. valley. From there he walked out home with even breath. When I pulled the saddle off he'd hardly broken a sweat. Canyon Creek to H.Q. 16 miles....3 hours and 40 min.
After turning him out I found Joy and had her drive me back out to Canyon Creek...1 hour 20 min.
There I got the other truck and headed all the way back around to cow camp to meet the riders. I got there just as Frank did and the riders were waiting and happy to see us pull in. It was 7:30pm.
Hi 60, low 41, cloudy.

Wednesday, October 3, 2001
Alan, John, and I with Maggie, Chris, Shell and Billy trailered out to Steve canyon in Pitchfork pasture to hunt up more strays.
Frank, Francis, Roseanne, and Ron had the "Short day" getting in a few of Don's heifers that Alan had seen on his way in, then push the mares out of the North Trap where we had left them the day before.
While they were gathering the cattle up Don came by and asked if they would help him move them All the way to Collins Park. 14 miles and 6 hours later they were done getting home about 5:30pm.
We rode all over the north side of Pitchfork, finding 3 pairs. About 4:30pm Maggie, Shell, Chris and I decided to call it a day and head on home. Alan, John and Billy continued on to put the cattle through into 7HL. Everything went well getting them in and then heading back to the truck. As they were leaving they looked behind them and they saw one of the mavericks Alan had caught and branded this spring. So they figured while they were that close they'd just get him and put him through as well. The dang thing was sure no less wild than he'd been in the spring and he took off. They finally got around him and got him stopped but he'd have nothing to do with the gate. They had to go into 7HL and get some gentle cows, bring them back to Pitchfork and put them with the wild Maverick. Once this was done they pushed the whole bunch back into 7HL. An hour and a half later they were headed back to the trailer again. They got in about 6:30pm.
The fall colors are at peak right now, The Aspen on the mountain are glowing like gold coins and all the oak and mahogany are shades of red and orange. It's amazing how the seasons roll by. Seems just a few weeks ago we were spreading cattle out, now we're gathering them again.
Mostly cloudy, a few sprinkles, hi 60, lo 35.

Thursday, October 4, 2001
The green is gone just about everywhere. But it is still beautiful in it's own way. Varying shades of browns and grays, a few yellow flowers still left on the upper slopes where the frost hasn't laid hard yet. There are still some Indian Paint Brush left spotting the country with it's florescent red. The Aspen everywhere are at peak as well as the various bushes and shrubs that turn red this time of year. We've had a fire in the cookhouse every morning this week, tho it hasn't been that cold. The weather people say it's coming a cold front over the week end with a chance of snow in the northern part of the state. We need 6 more weeks before that stuff!
Today Frank along with Roseanne, and Ron went into the Firebase area to hunt up a few of D on's heifers and a bull of mine that were spotted there. The mission was accomplished getting the heifers penned and the bull in the South Trap.
Alan and John took Billy, Francis, Shell and Chris out into Negrito pasture near the Silver Gate. This is where 7HL, South Trap, and Negrito pastures come together. I had seen cattle there a few days before. They rode and rode and finally came out with four pairs a few drys and a couple heifers....but not with Chris. He was last seen riding the wrong direction not hearing the calls of the others or seeing them. He was riding Ben the wonder mule who is always up for seeing new country. If you point him off in some direction he won't argue about leaving the other horses and just keep on going. And so he did. They last saw him at 11am. Getting home about 4pm they hoped he was going to be here at the H.Q. Nope.
So they went out in trucks looking around and fixing a bit of fence in the area he was last seen hoping he would hear the noise of post drivers and chainsaws. Nope.
I had gone to Collins Park to help Don and Jeannie work some cattle. When I got home about 6 pm John and Frank were waiting for me in the parking lot of the main barn. I knew it meant trouble. We made a search plan and the three of us headed out just before dark. I had a truck and trailer and went towards Snow Lake. I found Chris and Ben strutting down the road near the Bearwallow Lookout turn off. He was as happy to see me as I was my mule.
Doug and Cathy were here the last two days shoeing and entertaining us around the fire with Doug's fine voice. Hi 74 low 34

Friday, October 5, 2001
While out driving around last night looking for Chris, John spotted some more cattle in the Negrito pasture so he and Alan took Roseanne and Shell out to get them in.
We had been missing a few horses for a couple days so Frank went looking for them with Francis, Billy and Chris. They found the horses about 5 miles away and pushed them home. They came along reluctantly. Then they went and pushed out some cattle which had drifted in the North Trap. We are trying to save the grass there till the last week or so of gather when we will have them filled.
I stayed home to unload 2 1/2 tons of feed. That was enough for me. Everyone was home by about 4pm. hi 70 lo 33.