May 21 - 27, 2006: Spring Gather and Branding

5/22/06 Monday

Just two folks here this week, a perfect number for the work we have to do. Attila from Washington is here for his fourth visit, Tim from Mn. is here for his second time.

We were up early with a list of things we had to do before leaving for camp, changing flat tires, putting new batteries in trucks, collecting camp stuff and loading water. Just as we were about half done Dustin arrived from camp where he had been for the weekend feeding the horses. He had the dismal news that the wind that blew up last night had demolished the big cooktent and scattered our camp all over the place.

We finished our chores and headed to camp about 9am arriving to find it just as he described, a real mess. He had done a lot of work collecting everything up and putting it in the supply tent but it was still discouraging to see.

We spent several hours getting things back in order. We quickly gave up any idea of trying the repair the cook tent and set up house in the supply tent.

The wind was blowing and it just got worse as the day went along.

Nate headed out about 11am with the guys to start collecting the 30 calves we branded back in April so we can take them to the sale for a bit of much needed cash flow.

I set Dustin to digging post holes for a fence around Pit tank. The cattle are in a generations old habit of just grazing T Bar Ridge and watering at Pit tank not using the rest of the pasture like they should be. The only way to break the habit is to fence off Pit tank and force them to go to tanks to the east.

Blue and I started measuring a couple of the ten or so tanks so I can file for water rights on them. It has to be done by June 1 so we are kinda under the gun. Measuring tanks is really boring work for me but Blue likes doing that sort of figuring and ciphering. Not me, I’m just a dumbass when things get beyond addition and subtraction.

The wind was the worst it had been all season. I know there were some 70 mph gusts and a constant blow of about 40 mph.

The riders did well, in the half day they worked they gathered 10 pairs and had them sorted and ready to load in a trailer when Blue and I got in about 6pm.

In short order we had them loaded and I took them back to H.Q. where I had the pleasure of spending the night with my wife.

Hi was about 78, sunfactor wasn’t too bad as clouds were around most of the afternoon.

5/23/06 Tuesday

Nate and the guys were gone when I got to camp about 9am after hauling water and loading fence posts.

The riders were back at it hunting up big calves to sell. They swept T Bar ridge and then went to Hay tank, cut over through the timber to White tank. It was a heck of a long day and they had some reluctant cattle so they really had to work. They got back to camp with 11 pairs, one bull and a bad titted cow, which Nate named Boom Boom.

The riders spent a bit over 8 hours in the saddle and then had to sort the cows from the calves once they got them in the corrals They did a good job at it, learning you have to wait for opportunities to present themselves and being ready to make the most of them rather than trying to make something happen and only stirring the cattle up.

Blue and I spent the day measuring more tanks. Nothing exciting from that work other than Blue had to strip down and went for a dip to get the depth of T Bar tank. He reported it was 11 feet deep and REALLY cold.

Dustin has dug some of the prettiest post holes I’ve ever seen. He’s also got a hand full of blisters, his first.

The weather was just like May in New Mexico is supposed to be, clear cloudless blue skies, Hi was 80, sunfactor well into the 90’s with a pleasant breeze to make it bearable. It was 27 over night.

5/24/06 Wednesday

We headed out at 8:30am, what now seems to be our regular time tho we get up at 5:30am.

We rode straight out to the far south side of Pitchfork pasture to check the two gates near Incognito canyon. It took a couple hours to get there and once we did we kicked some cattle out of their shade and took a lunch break.

Nate and Attila went to check an old hole in the fence and see if there was water in the canyon while Tim and I started up towards the east fence.

We rode a ways through a pretty canyon, found an elk shed and just when we rode out on top Nate called to say he had found a pair one the Canyon Creek side of the fence and had brought them over. The calf was lame with a badly swollen leg but was getting along pretty well. I asked them to keep drifting it west as far as it seemed like it could go and we would meet them at White tank.

Tim and I traveled awhile not seeing much of anything then when we were way up on the west slopes of Little Elk Mtn we started into cattle. I was pleased to see that a lot of cattle we had pushed up into that area of the pasture had decided to stay. We rode through about 80 before we found anything big enough to sell.

We were then just above White tank so we drifted them down there and soon were joined by Nate and Attila.

After a short rest we gathered about fifty head and pushed them to the new slat lick north of White tank and there we cut out the three pair that were big and moved them down to Doubtful tank. When we got to Doubtful we picked up the lame calf pair and the guys pushed everything down the valley and on into the corrals. There in short order Tim and Attila sorted the cows off and we loaded the calves.

Nate headed home with this load so he can sort and take a load of the calves we gathered so far to the sale.

It was a pretty nice day, not so much wind and just like the last couple, a classic May day with not a cloud in the sky. Hi was 80 after a low of 33.

5/25/06 Thursday

Blue came out last night delivering messages and mail. One of the messages was that a bull was back at the lake so we headed there today.

It was a pretty ride through T Bar canyon to the lake, seeing a couple bobcat and a few deer along the way.

We found the bull in the shade behind the campground and started him towards the gate. He was a pain in the ass from the start.

He kept turning trying to circle the lake and at one point I was working him alone and he was a smart bull and knew he could beat one horse. It wasn’t till Tim came and helped that we were able to get him along the fence and through the gate. From there it was more of the same, he kept drifting and if you pushed too hard he’d take of running making us lose more ground to him. He jumped the fence into Loco pasture so from there we changed our plans and got him into Long canyon that runs up to Loco flats. About half way along the canyon he finally wore out and became easier to manage. We got up into the Flats and then went up Hidden valley where we put him through the gate on T Bar Ridge into 7HL. All this sounds easier than it was, the bull took us two hours out of our way.

Once we got to camp we had to clear all the tack out of the trailer, pack up camp and load three mounts before we headed back to H.Q. Our plan is to ride our west fence over Corner and Bearwallow Mtn to check the fence I have been paying Crazy Fred to repair.

It was a pretty nice day for the most part. A bit of wind started up late just before we finished our 7.5 hour one bull drive.

Hi was about 78 with a low of 36.

5/26/06 Friday

We headed out to the mountains today.

We rode down into Rocker canyon and then started the long climb up Corner mountain. It was a tough way to start the day for the horses. We climbed for about three hours, often without real good going. Winding our way through dead fall and brush, over rocks, often getting our legs dragged along the wire at some tight spots.

We stayed with the fence a couple miles and all I saw looked really good so after awhile we left the fence and started our descent.

We rode about 6 hours, making a kind of short day of it but the entire time we enjoyed being in the mountains. After weeks, hell months of being out in the grass lands it was sure pleasant to be up high in the black timber, the smell of pines, the rattle of the Aspen tree leaves. It was like taking a ride in the Rockies for the day.

That’s the best thing about this place, the variety of terrain to ride.

After we got back Maggie laid out a big snack spread while we took a break then we went and unloaded some hay Nate had brought back with him from his cattle trip. After the hay was stacked we took the big cargo rack off the top of the van. It took all hands to get that big thing off. We just felt like it was dragging down the van too much and causing too much gas use.

After chores and a good steak feed everyone was headed to bed pretty early, especially Attila and I as he is leaving at 4:30 in the morning to start his drive back to Washington taking along Creek and Jesus, both he bought. It is such a great deal that they are going together. I bought them from the same guy and they are the best pasture pals.

Both Tim and Attila were great help getting those calves found. They rode about 8 hours every day, getting in well over 120 miles for the week, and were ready for more each morning. These are two long riders we hope to see in our corrals again.