October 17-23, 2004: Fall Gather

Monday, October 18, 2004

Another good sized crew this week, ten folks.

Petra is here for the second of her two-week stay. Walter from Maryland is here, all recovered from his wreak and looking better than ever, he's here for two weeks. Brian from New Hampshire is here for two weeks again. Kathleen from Ma. Is here for a third visit she brought along her cousin Cathy from Vermont. Mark from New Jersey, Stephanie from Bavaria, Peg and Helen from Minn. and Cathy from California make up the rest of the crew.

Today we gathered the south trap and brought in all the cattle we piled in there last week when we ran out of time. This crew really follows instruction well and it was a good gather only missing a few the first time out. While most of the crew went back out for the last ones, Lyndsey, Walter, Petra and I sorted what we had on the water lot. First out came little pairs then big pairs then dry cows and heifers. All going different places. We didn't get it all done before dark and weariness sent us home. But we got a good start on it.

It was a bit windy today but not too cold with plenty of sun. Hi 48 lo 36.

Tuesday, October 19, 2004

Today was a long one for all the riders. Nate trailered out to 7HL canyon with four riders while Brian took out four others and rode from here. They were looking for about 25 head I know are still out there in 7HL pasture. They combed it and came up with over thirty head pushing them all the way to the North trap and getting in a bit after 6pm. They really covered some ground.

Lyndsey, Walter, Cathy and I stayed and finished sorting the water lot cattle getting done about 1pm. They then went out and rode the south trap one last time and found one big bull calf out there just as happy as he could be by himself. I had been kicked in the belly by one of the colts this morning while feeding and riding wasn't too fun so I spent the afternoon fixing a little fence around the water lot to keep in what we will be holding there till shipping day.

Again another windy day, chilly at time with a hi of 46 after a heavy frost of 22.

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Now this was a busy day. We were out pretty early gathering the North trap where we have been putting our biggest pairs. I laid out a plan and once again the crew followed it to the letter. It was a sight to see the gather from the ridge and everyone doing things exactly right. Within a couple hours we had everything found and pushed into the corrals. There the fun began. I have privately sold 35,000 pounds of calves so we first had to select those and weigh them all till we had enough. Lyndsey and I worked the sorting with several different riders while Nate had a ground crew up at the small pens sorting the calves and weighing. Everyone had a job and did it well. It went really smooth and before I knew it we had enough calves to make weight. The steers averaged higher than we have ever had, 523 pounds! It was a combination of our herd getting better and the excellent summer grass growth we had.

After we had the steers sold we picked out heifers for replacements, we kept 20 of the best blacks we could find. It's a pretty lot of heifers. Then we sorted out all that was left for the truck tomorrow. Leaving behind a half dozen small pairs I'll feed over the winter here at the H.Q. as well as a dozen or so unbranded calves that we can't sell till we get a brand on them and it peels making them legal for sale. Next week crew will have their hands full as some are way over 500 pounds. We finished up just before dark, tired but pleased with the way things went. I watched the weather forecast for tomorrow and it calls for rain. That's all we need now, after all this work to not be able to get the truck in due to mud..

It was again windy with a bit of a bite to it. Hi was 44 with a lo of 23.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

I awoke last night to gusty wind and the sound of rain lashing the windows. I tossed and turned all night worrying what we would do if the truck couldn't make it in. We had things sorted three ways, some cattle not on water and no where else to put them. As the sun dawn it was a dreary day and I feared the worst. The truck was due to arrive at noon but I reached the driver about 6am and told him to get here as fast as he could. About half the crew dried their horses off and saddled up so we could get the sale cattle in the pens. The sun broke out and the rest of the morning went our way as we got all the pairs in then started cutting off the calves and sorting them. When we were about half done the truck rolled in. Within two hours it was loaded and on it's way, ahead of schedule. What a load off my mind! We had plans to deworm the cows that had just been weaned from but the threat of rain put that on hold. We are using a pour on wormer and it says not to use if rain is possible within 6 hours. It sure looked possible so we turned all the cattle out into the south trap and then put all the private sale pairs out in the north trap.

The afternoon was spent throwing horseshoes and playing cards. Just about chore time, it really started to rain and continues as I write this at 9pm. There is a winter storm warning out for tonight and tomorrow calling for 3-6 inches of snow. I don't care now that the sale calves are gone, everything else is here for the winter.

We still have a lot of work for the next week. All the calves we are carrying over the winter have to be vaccinated and year branded, all the cows need worming and missing tags replaced, bad horns cut, and other treatments as needed done through the chute.

Hi was 45 lo last night was 21.