Sept. 11, 2006: Fall Gather

9/11/06 Monday

Just two guys on the crew this week. Jeff from Texas is here for his second visit and Frank from Pa.

This morning was a bit of a slow start getting things pulled together. Nate went to camp right after breakfast to get horses in while Jay and the guys followed and hour or so later. Being Monday morning and excited about the week ahead I’m sure the drive to camp seemed forever and that we were wasting riding time. By the end of the day they were not feeling like they had missed any hours they would rather have been riding. They knocked out a bit over seven hours in the saddle gathering cattle out of the valley all the way over to Incognito gate where they put them into Canyon Creek pasture and then picking up pairs to brand on their way back. They penned these at Fence tank and we will brand them in the morning.

Jeff rode Juan today, Frank was on Villa, Jay rode Rusty and Nate was mounted on Porque. It was Porque first time out in over a month and we expected him to be a knot head but Nate was proud to say he was great all day and really had to work his ass off due to Otis the bull fighting them every step of the way. That damn bull hates having his women moved and gets in front pushing them against you.

They got into camp at a 6:30pm just about the time I pulled in with gear and supplies. I had spent the day out at canyon creek cabin cleaning it top to bottom and building a storage area over the breezeway where I put all sorts of things from boxes of nail to tents to electric fence chargers. It was al the crap that we had in the bunkroom, which is now getting set up pretty nice with three bunk beds. They each are a double below and a twin up top. The woodstove is hooked up and its all cozy now other than the windows that are sitting there waiting for the time when I take on that job.

When I got there were two trucks belonging to hunters parked just up from the cabin. They both had to drive past the cabin to get out. I stopped them both as they did asking them if they realized they were on private property. They all admitted they did but stated they didn’t see any No Trespassing signs. {This due to someone taking them down a few weeks ago.} I explained to them New Mexico state law does not require landowners to post their property. It is up to the hunter to know where he is.

I was polite about it and they were all friendly about it and things went well.

A nice day with a high of about 60, a few thunderheads around and rain at the H.Q. when I got there about 5pm. Over night low was 40, any day now we will be having our first frost. Tonight it is clear as a bell with a trillion stars so it just may be tonight.

9/12/06 Tuesday

We spent a bit of the morning getting camp stuff loaded up; we are moving camp to canyon creek Cabin today.

Once done with that we headed to the Branding pen at Fence tank.

There were only five calves to do so it didn’t take too much of the day.

Jeff who was here last year and did a bit of branding has gotten a bit handier with a rope. Frank spun some loops and with some tips from Nate here and there soon had his loop full of calf.

They both came out of the pen with a light coating of mud and shit and a little blood thrown in.

We were done there about 11am and the riders all headed up T Bar Ridge to find all the loose horses to move them over to Canyon Creek pasture. The horses were right in their usual place on the very top of the ridge and some over the other side. They got them thru the saddle gate and as they came down off the ridge on the other side they all took off at a run. Juan and Villa gave a bit of a problem wanting to take off with all their buddies so Jay, Jeff and Frank hung back letting their horses settle while Nate continued on towards camp with them. The horses all seemed pretty pleased to be there and went right to the corrals.

The other three arrived an hour or so later and they sorted horses for the next day and then were unsaddled by about 4pm. Kinda a short day in time, only about 6 hours but a lot of miles covered.

I spent the day breaking more of camp. Taking down the electric corral, getting kitchen stuff packed, loading luggage, moving hay and grain. All this went in the tack trailer. After I had everything loaded I headed on taking a different way out. I knew there was no way I was going to make it out the usual way, the rain had washed two and three foot ditches since we pulled into camp back in June. I went up a dim trail that was kinda rough but made it ok till I got to the top on the flat there things got a bit touch and go. Throwing mud and praying I made it out to a better road and all was good.

I was glad to get out when I did as I saw a big storm brewing. I had to swing by the H.Q. for some fuel and on the way I watched the storm churn and finally when it was right over the H.Q. it opened up. As I came down the drive I saw I was in for a bit of a wait as water was flowing over the road and taking out fences again. It took almost an hour before the water receded enough to cross. I said a quick hello to Maggie and got my fuel and headed on to Canyon Creek.

When I got there the guys jumped in and helped unload the trailer, set up the electric fence for a night lot and the new tent set up.

Then we were all set for the night. A meal of Jambalaya, a campfire and a long day sent everyone to bed by 9pm.

Frank and Jeff each took a bunk in the newly finished bunkroom. The first cowboys to snore in there. Jay was in a tent, Nate took the kitchen and I took the old camp trailer.

Over night it started to rain and continued till dawn. A good long soaking rain. It was a good thing everyone was in a warm dry place, even Jay; he said the new tents were great.

9/13/06 Wednesday

Rain till about 7am and another hour to let the horses dry enough to saddle. The crew headed out, Jeff on Shane, Frank on Cisco, Nate riding Sombre and Jay tuning Rocky up.

The plan of the day was to drift everything to the west side of the pasture and collect calves to brand.

I am going to try and keep the cattle over on the west side and away from Pine canyon and Canyon Creek Mtn. This is the area where the Saddle pack of wolves seems to be hanging out the most.

They got about 30 head out of Canyon Creek canyon and moved them over towards Juniper tank then picked out 11 calves to brand in the morning and moved them down to the corrals and penned them. The last couple hours they were working in heavy rain getting soaked even tho they all were wearing slickers.

They got done about 4:40pm and headed to the bunkhouse where they fired up the wood stove, made coffee and dried out.

I was once again Camp Monkey. I did a few things around here and then drove the hour and a half to the H.Q. got Maggie who was busy cooking our dinner. She came to Steve camp with me and helped me hook a camper up and she drove her truck, which had been left out there a few days back home.

It started raining there just as we were heading out and it was touch and go as to if I’d get that rig out. But we did and after a long four-hour drive I got it to Canyon Creek.

The boys were ready for the good dinner Maggie had fixed up and it wasn’t long after that the four guys headed to their warm and cozy bunkroom and I headed to my tilted camper.

Rain in the morning clearing for a nice couple hours about mid day then heavy rain in the late afternoon. Hi was 53 low was 47.

9/14/06 Thursday

It was cool with low clouds as we headed to the corrals after breakfast to start branding. We had nine calves to work in the muddy pens. It was so slick with weeds which had grown up and mud that we had to sort on foot. The branding fire took forever to get going with everything being so wet. We must have put a half-gallon of diesel on it before it took.

Everything went well with the branding but by the time we got half done rain was drizzling down and we had to hurry before the calves got too wet.

By the time we were done everyone was a mess, wet, muddy, shitty, everyone but me. For the last few brandings my job has been that of fire tender.

We got done about 11am and took a long sit down lunch.

After lunch Nate, Frank and Jeff rode out checking the east side of the pasture, drifting a few cattle back west and then picked up the spare horses on their way back for tomorrows ride.

Jay stayed in camp and dug a hole.

We selected a site for our outhouse and he has taken that on as his mission to complete. He is already about waist deep.

I went back to H.Q. for grain and water, hitched up the trailer and loaded up a bunch of lumber. Some of it will be used for the front porch on the cabin and some for the outhouse. Those of you coming in October will have the luxury of a comfortable spot to sit. Man we are really moving up.

The afternoon turned out to be just beautiful, scattered clouds, sunshine and warm temperature getting up to 62.

This evening I sat out and listened to the range. Several groups of coyotes howling, a bull bellowing, a bull elk bugling. Watched the clouds drift over the milky way and remember I sure am a lucky son of a bitch to be able to hear and smell and see this all the time.

9/15/06 Friday

I gave the guys a choice of going stray hunting in Pitchfork pasture or take a sightseeing trip into the wilderness area. They choose the wilderness much to Nates pleasure.

They headed out about 9am. Taking the trail right behind the cabin, across Aeroplane Mesa and down a steep trail into the Middle fork of the Gila River. They traveled the river a ways, took a lunch break then climbed out on a different trail, which brought them to Harleyville. They got home just a bit after 4pm; both Jeff and Frank were pretty pleased with the ride.

I stayed at camp and worked on the corrals. I put a second 1x8 on the top rail making it a 2x8 for a bit of extra behind the jumping calves we get in there. Then I went around and nailed the woven wire to the top board so it wouldn’t sag.

It was a good week, we got a lot of work done, got camp moved, and the weather didn’t mess with us too much.

Frank and Jeff both were great hands to have around. Jeff is getting pretty seasoned now. I remember commenting last year that it sure is a pleasant discovery to find someone who underestimates his or her experience and ability.

Frank was a pleasure to have around besides being one of the best camp hands we have had it was fun to see his confidence level explode. The first day he was feeling that he was in over his head a bit. He explained this at supper saying he thought he knew more than he found he did. We assured him he was like many and it would all come together. Every day Nate reported he was getting smoother and more relaxed and understanding how to work the cattle. Friday afternoon, after working cattle in the rain, after riding for miles over T Bar Ridge pushing horses, after the steep trails in the wilderness there was a different guy unsaddling his horse in the corrals.