Oct 16, 2006: Fall Gather

10/16/06 Monday

A crew of four this week and all veterans. Peg from ma. is here, Ben AKA Fred Whitfield from Alaska, Brian from N.H. and Gary from Tx. A heck of a good crew.

Fall gather continues and goes slower than I had planned so we really have to find and move some cattle this week.

Today Nate took Peg, Ben and Gary out on a shakedown ride while Brian, Jay and I sorted camp food and gear. We are going to work in two teams this week to try and save the long ride grind on man and beast alike. Nate and I are taking Ben and Brian out with us to Canyon Creek Cabin where we will get going early and gather and sort cattle as we work canyon creek pasture then move them out through Wolf camp gate and over Loco Flats to Twin Tanks gate.

Jay is going to head up the H.Q. crew consisting of Peg and Gary. They will leave H.Q. mid morning and ride east to meet us with the herd. We will hand the herd off to them for the long push around T Bar Ridge, down into the valley, up over T Bar Saddle, down into Ewe Canyon and on to the traps.

After a late lunch we loaded up camp horses and supplies and headed out with two trailers and the water truck.

Once we got to camp about 4:30pm we settled the horses in as Peg and Gary took two of the trucks back to H.Q.

As the sunset we sorted the morning horses and cooked dinner enjoying the sounds of coyotes and elk.

The day was a bit grey in the morning improving as it went along. Hi was 52 low 29.

10/17/06 Tuesday

Ben was up early and made some Dutch oven biscuits along with his first batch of cowboy coffee. Both were a success.

We were riding by about 8:30am, which is just about the time the sun breaks full over Canyon Creek Mountain, which looms over the cabin.

We worked our way up towards Incognito on the mesa gathering big ready to sell pairs. By the time we got to the head of the basin we only had eight pairs since the cattle were spread so far and wide so we decided to take along any calves that could make the trip. As slow as the gather is going we would be out here till Thanksgiving gathering pairs if we are too particular about keeping each herd a certain class.

By the time we got to wolf camp we had about 30 pairs. Some were pretty young but were traveling well. The H.Q. crew met us at Ghost Tanks where after a brief rest we moved on with them getting the cattle through Twin Tanks gate. I am a bit concerned how the push went as some of the calves were beginning to tire. I am sure they didn’t get back to H.Q. till about dark.

We headed back hunting horses for the morning and saw no sign of them all the way back. Unsaddling about 5PM Brian took the four-wheeler and I a truck and looked till dark, still with no morning horses. Nate will go hunt them down as the sun is coming up.

Brian cooked us a good but late dinner and we soon called it a day all worn out.

The day was sunny but really windy with a bit of a chill to it.

Hi was 47 low was 30 scattered clouds and light rain at night.

10/18/06 Wednesday

Rain pattered the roof with sprinkles over night and the morning was warm, about 36. First night with no frost in weeks.

Nate was out at first light hunting horses. He went right to wolf gate and found tracks there and followed them up to Four Corners. Four Corners sits on the highest peak of T Bar Ridge and it is where Loco Mtn. pasture, Canyon Creek pasture, Pitchfork pasture and 7HL pasture all meet. Why they always go up there is beyond understanding. It is just across the fence from where they would run to when we were at Steve Canyon Camp back in the summer. He got them into camp by a bit after 8:00am and then of course we had to feed and saddle etc. We were riding by about 9:30am.

We stuck to the original plan of working Pine canyon and the east draws. We trailered up to Incognito and the guys gathered some cattle right away from the slopes. I rode into Pine canyon to check the gate and water and to ride the upper slopes.

As we were riding I commented to Gambler that riding way up there had become a tradition for us every fall. We found no cattle but saw some off in the distance in Pitchfork pasture. Another day.

The morning turned cold and a breeze started up. Off in the distance the mountains were disappearing in snow showers. It wasn’t long before we were riding in snow for the first time this season. Too damn early.

It made me anxious that I was running out of time so I radioed the guys and told them we were taking everything that could make the trip. We still have too many cattle way out here and the days are getting short and the weather is turning.

Riding the upper slopes put me way behind the others, Brian was down in Canyon Creek canyon getting some cattle from there while Nate and Ben were gathering a lot out of the basin. Before they were half way across the basin they had about 60 head and decided that was enough for the long push. I met up with them at the top of the basin after bringing the truck along.

It was a slow bunch of cattle and plenty of heifers along to run around and act like fools. By the time we got to wolf gate we were two hours behind schedule. The wind was blowing hard and snow was falling to the west and coming at us like a wave.

We met up with Jay, Peg and Gary at Ghost tanks. They had been waiting for an hour in the cold for us.

They said the push yesterday was perfect with no problems at all.

Getting back to H.Q. about 5:45pm.

Nate rode along with them as they took the herd, Brian, Ben and I were more than happy to turn them over.

It was a big enough herd and a long trip yet to go so Nates help would be needed. We also have a few things we need here at camp that he will bring back out via truck.

Gary had carried our dinner out to us in his saddlebags, pork chops and corn bread.

I felt bad for the trip they had ahead of them. The wall of snow was coming fast and they were headed right into it. It was already 4pm and they had over four hours to go. They will not be home till long after dark. And it was just plain cold!!!!!

Brian, Ben and I headed back to the truck at the top of the basin. We picked up 6 loose horses at wolf gate to take home for the morning. We were moving along well but after about a mile they just took off up the steep side of T Bar Ridge. I tried to cut them off but they were determined to get to Four Corners. I followed them up to the top of the ridge and after some cussing, well a lot of cussing I got them headed east. This was all while it was snowing pretty hard and seeing was difficult. Brian and Ben stayed with the road and were ready at the truck to catch Porque who was the main troublemaker; he will work for Nate tomorrow.

We loaded our horses and headed to camp.

From the back seat I heard Ben mutter “I left Alaska for this? Sheeeit”

Just as the heater was warming up the sun came out.

We got back to camp about 6pm. Sorted and fed horses and headed to the cabin. Built a fire, made coffee and got warm as Brian made up a damn good dinner of pork chops, potatoes and onions.

At 8pm it was 24 and clear as a bell out. Gonna be a nippy one tonight.

We all felt bad about setting the H.Q. crew so late today, so our goal is to get up and get a herd together and meet with them well to the west of where we have been and try to make a short day for them.

10/19/06 Thursday

We were out in good order this morning. We worked the basin and the juniper thicket again today. We came out with a pretty good bunch of about 45 when we got to Wolf gate at about noon.

Once we got them thru Twin Tanks gate Nate and Ben headed back to the cabin and to collect horses for the morning.

Brain and I pushed the herd around T Bar Ridge and down into the Valley where the H.Q. crew was waiting.

Maggie had ridden out with them with her dog following so we stayed away from the herd as we headed home. The cattle moved well all day, no real little calves to slow us down so we were done and home by 6pm.

I sent Jay out to camp along with Brian and Gary who wanted a night out.

It was a whole new season as far as the weather goes from what we had yesterday.

Today was sunny a bit of a breeze with a high of 55 after a low of 19.

10/20/06 Friday

This morning Peg and Maggie drove out to canyon Creek to get some trucks back to the H.Q.

They each drove one back while I stayed out in the pasture directing the riders. After gathering some cattle out of the Pine Canyon area Nate, Ben and Brian went on a long loop home through Pitchfork pasture hunting up strays. They rode all day getting home at 6:30pm only finding two bulls.

Jay and Gary were on a recon getting an accurate count on what cattle are left in Canyon creek pasture.

They rode all of Loco Mtn. and the basin, not seeing many cattle, which is a good thing. It means this gather has gone better than I’ve been thinking it had. They counted about 15 dry cows and heifers and 29 little pairs that we had been leaving behind the last couple weeks. We will haul these home later next week.

After I got home I took salt out to the south trap. On the way I met up with Peg who was out on a solo ride checking things in the north trap. After dropping salt I decided I would check the silver gate. A good thing I did. When I got there I found it open and about 30 head drifted into Negrito pasture. I got them in and then did some loops around the east side of the meadows checking for tracks. I found no tracks anywhere else. I think I got them all in, I hope I did.

Another great day hi was 53 low was 21, sunny with little wind.

I couldn’t have asked for a better crew for this week. From long days in the saddle, pushing slow cows in driving snow, getting in after dark, cooking their own breakfast, whipping up some great dinners, driving trucks, you name it they all were right there, all the time. Like Peg said, “There’s a lot more to ranching than riding around on a horse”. Many, many thanks!