July

June 29 - July 5, 2003: Summer Ranch

Sunday, June 29, 2003
     I made the Albq. trip again this weekend, but for a great reason. Cassady flew in Saturday night! Yahoo!

     He traveled from Ma. with his next-door neighbor Rick, who works at the same school his mom, does. It was a long five months since I have seen him, and he sure has changed. He has new front teeth! He had his baby teeth knocked out when he was three, kinda started out being rough on his body just like his old man. He really looks so much more grown up now with them.

     Besides Rick our other crewmembers for the week are Barry from Tx. He is here for his second time, last time he left here as the new owner of Coal. Barry brought along his college age daughter Lisa this time, instead of his banker buddies. Dan is here from Ma. Don from Ca. Lisa and Andrea from N.J. and Bob and his son Steve from N.Y.

     A pretty good-sized, crew with a lot of work to do for the week.

Monday, June 30, 2003
    Maggie and Cassady had gone to Snow Lake last night and had seen lots of cattle around there so Frank went that way with a crew and worked the day around there. They Gathered cattle out of School House canyon and moved them around to Snow Canyon and up a couple miles, that took all day and it was a long one for them. Lyndsey took her crew out into 7hl and found about 50 head near Nedra, they were all ones that had been gathered out of there before. She pushed most of them into the south trap. We will go through them at the end of the week and work anything that didn’t get last week. She found another hole in the fence with lots of tracks going through so we will have to ride 7HL all over again, just like last week. Maybe along the way we can find old Banana Horns again.

     When both groups got home it was discovered that both sisters Lisa and Andrea who had been in different groups had fallen off. We had gone two years with no fall offs and here these two go and both do it in one day.

     Cassady and I worked on some fence both here at the H.Q. and down near Snow Lake, then just kinda hung out for the afternoon.  Hi 78 sun factor 88, lo 50

Tuesday, July 1, 2003
    Lyndsey had to run to Silver City to ship jewelry for Maggie and pick up a few vet supplies.

     Frank took the crew out into 7HL to fix the hole in the fence and hunt up some cattle. Maggie, Cassady and I left an hour or so behind them and rode into Negrito just looking things over then headed into 7HL as well. Frank found Banana Horns and a few cows hiding in a big bunch of elk east of T Bar tank, He started out with them back towards Elladeane. Rick and Barry our two wranglers for the week took a couple more folks north and came up on another big bunch of elk that was hiding a few pairs. They pushed them west towards where we were riding in Feathery basin. We all met up at Elladeane and cut of a couple small pairs then moved the rest into the south trap. Cassady rode six hours and was sure tuckered out at the end of the day. At one point he told me he thought the bones in his legs had broken. He needs to get back in shape; it’s been a long 7 months of no riding since we didn’t ride at all over Christmas.

     Today was N.J. Lisa’s birthday so we had cake and candles.  Hi 80 sun factor of 95 lo 49

Wednesday, July 2, 2003
     We worked the east side of Negrito pasture looking up some more unbranded calves and found a pretty good bunch, which we pushed to the Silver Gate. There we spent an hour or so pairing everything up the putting what we needed to brand through into the south trap. I then saw a few head that had already been in there from earlier in the week looking like they hadn’t been to water. Concerned I decided we should gather all the cattle we could find and get them to the spring. We worked a couple hours getting that done and found most of the cattle in the trap. When we got to the spring we found the tank had been moved an inch too far from the spout and had not been catching any water. So we had to move all the cattle the extra two miles to the H.Q. and put them on the water lot. It was slow going with a lot of real small and hot calves. But we had to get their mommas to water. When we got to the top of the H.Q. ridge most of the cattle ran down to the water in a stampede, they were that thirsty.

     Frank had taken the day off to go see his dad who is ailing.

Hi 81 sun factor 95 lo 50

Thursday, July 3, 2003
      We spent the morning gathering the south trap getting everything we could find and getting it into the water lot. When we got in, half the folks went on ground crew with Frank, as we got ready to worm more cows. But first we had Banana horns to reckon with. The first try he blew on through the chute as before, but this time we were ready for him and had a couple cows waiting in the corral below so he stayed with them and we were able to get him back up for another try. Plan B worked, we slowed him down with steel pipes in the chute and finally got him caught! He was none to happy about it but we were able to get his horns cut, one had gone almost two inches into his fat head. Getting him out was exciting, he had gotten a pipe up under his chest and we couldn’t budge it. We loosened the squeeze sides and he started thrashing around and finally busted the whole side of the chute open bending a few rods and levers a long the way. I quick grabbed the pipe and Frank quick opened the front and he finally got out and went of to his lady friends sporting a new horn style. A couple folks asked how long till they grew back and we would have to do it again. I told them I didn’t know or care, as we would not be his owners at that time.

     We got an assembly line going to work the rest of the cattle. Lyndsey and I with our riders Barry, Lisa, Rick, and Andrea sorted cattle out of the lot. We pushed small bunches up the ground crew who ran them through the chute. It went well and we had everything sorted and wormed by 6pm. We left a bunch in the corrals for branding in the morning; the week is going just like last week. It was hot today; we are looking to the skies for the summer monsoons to start but so far no luck.

     Hi 81 sun factor 98 lo 48

Friday, July 4, 2003
     We branded while it was still cool and calm, a good crew that got right to it. We didn’t have but a dozen and a half but it was plenty of fun and everyone got a chance to do what they wanted to try.

     A bit of roping, branding, throwing and laughing.

     After branding and a long lunch break we saddled up and gathered the entire north trap where we had let everything we had worked yesterday drift into. We got them headed to the T gates when we spotted a cow and new born on the other side of the fence in the south trap we had left yesterday on purpose. The momma started along the fence following the herd and we wanted her to go into the north trap with another newborn pair we had left there. So we had to turn the herd around till she got back with her baby and then get her through the gate then turn the herd again and get going back the way we were started. The herd thought we had gone crazy but we knew the old cow would walk off following the herd and leave her baby. We finally got the herd to the gate after a long push over not to far a distance. It was hot and they just didn’t want to go anywhere. We all wore out our voices and our patience. Once through the gate most of the riders headed home but a few went longer into Negrito with Lyndsey trying to find a Prolapsed cow they had seen earlier in the week. There was no luck in finding the cow. Along the way Chili who was toting Dan around stumbled and Dan found himself on the ground. Number three for the week! We have never had a week like this!

     My birthday is on Monday and someone let it slip so we had cake and candles. The crew got pretty loud and woke up pretty quiet in the morning. It was a heck of a fun week and a crew we wont forget for along time.

July 20 - 26, 2003: Summer Ranch Week

Sunday, July 20, 2003
A small crew this week, just four guys. The Cruse brothers are back, Wayne from Fla. for his 4th time, Robert from Ky. for his 2nd time. They brought along Henry who also lives in Fla. Then we have Frank; originally from Holland he now lives in Oregon.

Monday July 21, 2003
We got right to work after getting everyone set with a horse and gear. Headed out into 7HL and gathered about 50 head, all of them ones that we have gathered out of that pasture time and again. We have ridden the fence over and over and just can’t find where they are getting back through. This time we pushed them all the way back to the H.Q. so we can truck them over to the south side of Negrito pasture and hopefully break this cycle.

It was a long push back thanks to old Banana Horns who was once again out in front scattering the herd all the way home. Damn that bull really pisses me off. It should have only taken about three hours but ended up taking almost five hours. As we were getting to the T Gates a light rain started and lightning popped all around. One bolt struck the top of the hill right above us, it spooked all the horses. Cassady was on Creek putting his slicker on when it struck and his horse jumped and bucked but he did a great job looking like a bronc rider with one arm waving in the air. Creek is the best sort of horse and stopped after the scare was gone. Cassady was pretty proud of himself, so was I.

Unfortunately the rain amounted to nothing but a dust settler and fire starter. A new spire of smoke was soon spotted about two miles north. It was a long first day and everyone walked like it this evening. Frank and I hauled a few loads of cattle till light ran out on us and we called it a day. Hi 85 lo 47.

Tuesday July 22, 2003
Frank and I hauled the cattle that were gathered yesterday out to Gilita Ridge. Now those damn fence hoppers better be happy there, the grass is knee high and the water fresh. We’ll see if they stay there. We saw plenty of other cattle that we had taken over there last week and they sure looked fat and slick. The deworming we did is really showing. Then Frank and Lyndsey headed out into Negrito to the Little Fence Spring area to hunt up some small pairs to push home then truck over to the same area. It’s time we got them out of the north side of the pasture and all out to the south.

I then went to town and spent the day meeting with a lawyer, a sheriff and a judge trying to get some legal stuff taken care of. A fella is trying to steal some equipment I have in Alma and it’s come to going to court. I hate feuding but hey force me into it and I’m as good as the best. I got home about 6pm and the riders had not been home long. I heard the usual comments that we don’t know how short an hour is or how long a mile is. They brought in ten pairs a couple of which needed branding.

It was warm and humid after a light rain over night. Hi 80 lo 44

Wednesday July 23, 2003
We spent the morning branding a few calves and cutting a horn off a cow, then hauled them all out to N Bar Lake. When we were done with that the crew headed out with Frank and went through the Dog Spring area. They brought in a trailer load to go to Gilita ridge. It was a long day, they didn’t get in till after 6pm.

I drove around the south half of the ranch just seeing what there was to see. A lot of cattle at Snow Lake and a gate open into Loco Pasture, so now we have a few head in there. It’s ok since that’s the next pasture we are going into.

It was cloudy most of the day giving some shade but no rain. Hi 80, lo 43

Thursday July 24, 2003
The guys and I loaded up our horses and headed out to Loco Mtn. pasture to ride the south fence there. The fence border the Gila Wilderness and is always in bad shape and hard to get to. We started at the Loco Trail head #104, also known as Harleyville after a guide who pretty much lives there all fall. The short ride to the top of the ridge brings you to views that make folks say every thing from poetic expressions to down right cussing. Today was no different. From there we rode across Aeroplane mesa till we picked up the fence about three miles out and headed west along it. We found a lot of elk damage, a few trees over the wire, several spots the fence had been cut and all the wood posts were burned through at the bottom from last years Middle Fire. Then we headed off the Mesa into two rough dang canyons to ride a section of the fence I had never ridden. Because I never wanted to cross those two rough dang canyons. Well we headed into them, got across them and everyone was a better rider for having done it. Wayne is one of those guys I have watched over the years who is just a natural, his brother Robert is the same way. The only time they ride is when they come here and the difference makes me smile. Henry was a beginner when he came but is a master of several Martial Arts and had good balance. Today he was really hitting his stride He was worried about the canyons and brush we headed into but he trusted his good horse Zeno and came out feeling pretty pleased. Once across those we headed up a long ridge that runs along the Middle Fork Canyon. For years I had looked up at it from the river and wondered what was up there. It was a country of dead fallen trees and 150 footers reaching to the sky, Of 400 year old Alligator Juniper and sweet ponderosa parks, views to boggle the mind and a fence that was a mess. We patched some holes here and there in the areas where cattle might travel but we just on a recon, to see what I needed and how much repair there was.

The day ended on a ridge way above Snow Lake in the black timber of Douglas fir and Spruce and steep. We swung off our horses and led them about a half mile down the slope that was moss covered and strewn with downed timber. It was a tough walk down but there was no way it could have been ridden the timber was just too thick, the slope too steep and the footing treacherous. From there it was a short ride to where a trailer was waiting for us in Snow Valley. We covered a lot of new country and did it in good time. I was riding Doc, never had he been in country that rough before and he did a great job. He did go to his knees in the rocks coming up out of one of the canyons and I thought for sure we were going over. He was athletic enough to get himself stopped, steadied and gathered back up.
The farriers are coming in the morning, I have a long list and the top on it is Dakota, he’s been lame for a month now. I was hoping it was a stone bruise but it’s been too long now, should hava abscessed already. I can’t find a specific sore spot with hoof testers other than general soreness all over his hoof.

A hot day hi 80, sun factor 90 few clouds and rain in the distance.

Friday July 24, 2003
The crew rode with Frank around the Negrito and H.Q. area taking care of a few odd chores. Getting in the Prolapsed cow that had jumped out day before yesterday, sorting a couple trailer loads to move out, gathering in a few we had left in the traps.

I stuck around here to get the bad news on Dakota from Doug. He had white line disease so I watched as Doug cut his entire toe off and the front hoof covering up to his coronary band. Then he was fitted with a heart bar shoe with a big toe clip, his other feet were trimmed and left unshod the he was led into the corral where he will spend the next few months. It broke my heart, not so much because I have lost use of a great horse but he is just to full of loving life to stand for months in a corral. We will keep him up at the guest corral where there’s a lot of activity since he is so social. We can’t take the chance of even letting him in the night lot, without that front hoof and toe one good whack on a rock could break his coffin bone.

It was a good week and a lot of work got done, these guys really got a lot of cattle moved around and I feel pretty good about getting them to better graze at the right time. As always it was fun having the Cruse brothers here again, and Henry and Dutch were a great addition. We hope they will warm our bunks again.

July 27- August 2, 2003: Summer Ranch

Sunday, July 27, 2003
A big crew this week, and one we have been looking forward to. We have two of the original “Cupcakes” here, Averille from Texas and Katie from Colorado, here for visit number 6. Also Averill’s daughter Carrie here for her 3rd time. The rest of our ten person crew are Kim from Georgia, Bonnie, a friend of Katie’s from Colorado, Brad and his son Alex from Virginia. Rounding out the crew are three members of the Black Cowboys Federation from N.Y.C. Lenard, Carl, and Curly. The second time we have had representatives from that group.

Monday, July 28, 2003
Monday we got right to work back out in Negrito pasture bringing in more to move to the south side. We rode in a couple groups and got about 25 head gathered up and eased on home. There we sorted off a half dozen pairs that needed branding and penned them then put some on the water lot to drive to Burnt Cabin in the morning.

Hi 81 sunfactor 98; a few teasing thunderheads but still the country begs for real rain.

Tuesday, July 29, 2003
We branded early before the heat and the wind got high. It wasn’t much of a branding with only 6 calves to do. It gave the first timers a taste and left the Cupcakes wanting more. They know what the heck to do in a branding pen and it’s always the favorite part of their visit.

Then everyone saddled up and headed out. The federation fellas went with Frank and moved a bunch of dry cows and heifers up Negrito Canyon to Burnt Cabin. It took them only about four hours but it was a long, loud four hours through that rough canyon. The rest went out to Little Fence spring Area, Ewe Canyon, and the Negrito Meadows hunting up more to move out. While they were doing that I hauled out the fresh branded pairs to School House canyon. On the way back I come around a corner at 40 mph and there in the middle of the road was a wolf. I slid my truck and loud clattery trailer to a stop 15 feet from him and he stands there. Then I honk the horn and he finally moves to the shoulder of the road. He stands 8 feet away looking at me as I take a couple photos. Then I holler at him but he walks up on the road to my trailer and starts sniffing around it like a dog at a fire hydrant. He obviously smelled the blood from the just castrated calves I had just hauled. I got out of the truck and he just turned and looked at me as I hollered at him again from 10 feet away. It wasn’t till I grabbed a hand full of gravel from the road and hit him square in the face did he run away. These wolves aren’t wild, they are like dogs. The researchers and study groups handle them and follow them around too much, now they have no fear of man what so ever.

After a long day of riding in a relatively small area the riders came up with another 20 head which were brought in to the H.Q. Three pairs were left behind at Dog Spring, the calves were too small to make the walk home. These cattle we trucked out to Gilita Ridge late in the day since there were no calves to brand, disappointing everyone.

Wednesday July 30, 2003
We all headed back out into Negrito pasture to hunt strays once again. Averille took a crew to Negrito meadow area to hunt up some we had seen there yesterday. They found them and moved them on home to the H.Q. corrals. Lyndsey went out into the Ewe Canyon rim and rock country and came up with a few more. I headed down Loco Rd and sent Hebert, Lenerd, and the Federation Fellas on a loop to meet up with Lyndsey. Kim, Cassady and I did a big loop up over Negrito Mountain, along the Triangle to Burnt Cabin then on home. We saw a few around Burnt Cabin but they were in a good spot so we left them there. We got into some steep rocky stuff but Cassady never uttered a word of worry though I was thinking about it.

Hi 81 a few clouds in the afternoon, early evening light shower. Lo was 50.

Thursday July 31, 2003
Most of the crew decided to see some new country and ride a long loop through 7hl with me. We were looking for stray cattle that might have slipped back in but also checking to see if we had gotten any grass growing there yet after a few light evening showers. On our way out we gathered all the loose horses out of the north trap and pushed them all into 7HL. I figured when they got out in that 15,000 acre pasture they would be gone grazing. But for the first two hours they followed along with us being in the way. Finally we stopped above T Bar tank for a break and when we left they stayed there.

We covered about 20 miles and it went by pretty fast. Only saw one pair and they were pretty happy along the creek in T Bar valley. When we got to Fence tank I opened the gates so any cattle out in Pitchfork could drift in. Then up past cow camp over 7hl mesa, into Feathery Basin, over Feathery Hill and home. We got in just before a good little rain came down. All day it had been raining around us. I had mentioned earlier in the week that the ranch seemed to have an umbrella over it. After just being missed by big thunderstorms a few times during the day Carrie decided it was me who had the umbrella. When we got back home it had rained hard there. I guess she was right.

Hi 76 sunfactor 80 before noon clouds. Lo 51.

Friday August 1, 2003
I trailered Lyndsey, Curly, Kim and Bonnie down to the N Bar Lake area, about 9 miles from H.Q. Thhe rode from there checking where cattle and water were.
Frank rode from the house with the rest and checked the Negrito area one last time and to bring in a few little pairs that we had left out since the wolves are close by.

Averille was in her role as extra wrangler and with her crew they made a good last sweep. I feel confident that all but just an elusive few are out on better range. They were all in by mid afternoon and six of us crammed in the pick up to drive around the snow lake and loco country just to see what was going on there. Frank followed us out with the little pairs they had gathered earlier in the trailer to drop them on Gilita ridge. About two miles from the H.Q. a light rain became a torrential down pour, which soon came to driving marble size hail. The truck was sliding in the road as 2 inches quickly piled up, before our eyes it became December. I stopped under an over hanging tree worried my windshield would soon be smashed. It was coming down so hard you really couldn’t talk in the truck, it was so loud. All we kept saying was we sure hoped Lyndsey was already home. If she was out in that I didn’t want to meet up with her when I got home. We headed on our way and within a couple hundred yards it was all over. We continued on to Snow Lake where we saw lots of fat happy cattle. Then on out into Loco and Canyon Creek where we didn’t see any cattle. Just the way it was supposed to be. We stashed a loot bag for next week's Posse at on old line camp cabin while we were in Canyon Creek. All the way back it rained. When we got home I was glad to find Lyndsey there dry and in a good mood. They had just gotten in when the storm came through. After dinner it was our traditional Cupcake egg toss won by Brad and Alex. Cassady and I were the first to break our egg.

This was Cassady's last week here; they went by way too fast. It was such a pleasure to have him out there riding along with me. Chugging along on Creek all smiles and confidence. He got in 53 hours of riding time while he was here; long days and some pretty rough country. The day Kim, Cassady and I rode the top of Negrito Mtn. it was steep and really rocky. I give all the credit to Creek for the confidence Cassady had. Every day he was given the option of riding or hanging with Maggie. We never pushed him into it, I have seen too many kids get burned on horses by having to do it. He rode three days a week on average. He knows what to do with the cattle and how to move them. He’s a good hand.
I hate to see this crew leave, they were all a bunch of fun. We got the pasture cleared but just wish we had come up with more branding for them. The fire restrictions were lifted Thursday but it was just too late to set up pens at Snow Lake and start there. Heck I still need to get out to Loco Mtn and fix that mess of fence there before we start going into that pasture.