A special cousin, a special party, & flying!

What a joy to see Louise and Beeman! I'm so glad they made the effort to come to Pinedale to be with us for a while! Louise is still as gorgeous as ever.

What can I say about Nat and Ward's party? Wow...it was fun. I was wondering if the deck at the Lakeside would survive the dancing! The music was fun..the people were great...can you tell we had a good time? :)

This morning we flew for a little over an hour. It was raining a little on the upper Green, so we didn't fly clear up to camp...the smoke from the Jim Creek fire was laying low in the valley...and visibality just wasn't good. We flew over Willow Creek, as we usually do...my oh my it's dry there.

More news from cow camp!

Doctoring a Double Bar E yearling. Little Red's first time holding anything.
You have your fun where you find it!

This has been quite a week. Griz tracks everywhere we go. Yesterday we had two walking woundeds that we had to have shot, after they were verified as bear maulings. We had another possible that wasn't verified. The day before, we had two dead ones we found near the pot holes on the east side of the big bog in the north west pasture. I'm sure that means so much to anyone who hasn't been up there! However, one of them was verified as a bear killed yearling. Both had been in the hole, and drug out and eaten by bears. There was two separate tracks there. It's getting hot hot hot riding up there. It was 90 degrees at camp mid afternoon yesterday. We have had some rain, but not much.

We came down to get our four wheeler which was in the shop, and to do Nat and Ward's wedding reception party. A real plus for it all is that my cousin Louise from Houston and her husband Beeman will be here. I can hardly wait to see them.

A Few Pics

Dino and Pablo

Taking cattle into Trail Creek

Fire on Jim Creek view from up on Bacon Ridge

Cow Camp Journal

I'll try pictures later..I can't seem to get them to come up this morning.
July 18th. Tuesday. Little Red and Buckles. We arose at 3:00 a.m. Left about four thirty and headed to the Ridge Pasture. We gathered up a bunch of 70 south of the hay meadow and headed for Trail Creek. Bobby came along, and we took that bunch all the way in. We rode back and Albert’s and all only that their bunch of about 300 to the Trail Creek gate, where they were mothering them up and holding them. Albert had a walking wounded tied to a tree. They’d found two other dead calves on the way up. Rod Merrill came up and verified the walking wounded. However Albert wanted that calf left alive if it was determined to be a wolf wounded. We turned it loose. Albert had doctored it well. Dino came home with us. We met Rod down on the east fence of the se pasture with the calf that Albert had found. He was taking it to his camp to soak and try to determine ownership and if it had been killed. We rode 9 ½ hours. Meanwhile, this morning he had been acting as gunner and Arnie was ground crewing and they took out two wolves at Mud Lake..possibly three. He’ll do the same tomorrow. A little side story on that..as we were starting our bunch up through the hay meadow, Rod Merrell and Ted Jensen flew over our bunch. I was waving my hat at them...as they were really low in Ted’s super cub. Bob hollered at me, not happily, I might mention, “God dammit Gina, pay attention”. I was letting the cows get out into the bog. Later I told that story to Rod and Dino, and Albert, and everyone had a good laugh. Dino will ride with us tomorrow as we got to the Ridge Pasture and attempt to put that stuff in Trail Creek. Then he’ll remain here and go on the Fish Creek drive from here Thursday. I doctored Smokey. Also made some cobbler. Rod and I determined that he would fill out verification papers on the walking wounded, but only put the price down for the cost of doctoring it. Good way to go. Bob and Dino are finishing up the electric fence.

July 19th. Wednesday. Toots, The Pest, and Dino on Honda. We left early again and headed to the hay meadow. We were riding along under the pine patch east of the hay meadow, and south of the bog with beaver ponds in it, when we saw three grizzlies. Bob said “Bear” and took off on The Pest. There was too many willows and bogs to do anything. Meanwhile, another pops up out in the ponds, as one disappears in the timber. We had sort of a chase, and it was fun seeing them. The one in the ponds stood up and gave us a good look. They looked like a sow with two of last year’s cubs, or maybe even they year before that. Two were smaller than she was. We began gathering cattle, and by the time we got to the willow patch we had a huge bunch. About that time, Rod and Ted flew over again. I knew Rod was probably relating yesterday’s story to Ted as they did. They circled us, and waved their wings at ME. I had to laugh. Later Dino told me, as those guys were flying over, he told Bob, “Now dammit, pay attention!” We’ve all had some good laughs out of that one. We got our cows through the gate when Bobby showed up, and to Billy Bear Corner when Keith showed up. Keith found a Richard Huland wolf kill on the Oil Well Road. It was dicy getting them by Billy Bear Corner...but we did. Bob counted 606 into Trail Creek. We got there at a quarter after eight. We rode back through the gate at the hay meadow. We come into the ridge pasture through the gate on Side Wagon Creek.

July 20th. Thursday. Little Red, Buckles, and Sweet Pea. We got up at three again. We left a little late as I had a bad nose bleed about the time I was putting on my chaps. It was cloudy, so it was dark, and Bob was happy to wait until it was a little lighter, as he is riding Buckles, and she’s such a pain about not staying on the trail. Anyhow, when we got to the Ridge Pasture, Dino went south, to meet up with the bunch from the bottom of the hill, and we picked up stuff along the hay meadow and points east. We had a goodly bunch that we took clear to Fish Creek. We came back and met the bunch behind, and got some of them up there. We had big time run back problems, and many of us stayed behind about fifty calves at the Fish creek gate for over an hour waiting for the others to let some of the cows loose to come get the calves. Finally Albert got on Jonita’s four wheeler and went after those guys. Jonita took her four wheeler up and was taking many pictures and vidio for Stan. My little red horse did way better than two days ago. We also so 3 head of elk. And also, he nearly bucked me off when he had to jump a badger digging a hole. He was so startled he knew not what to do, so he went straight in the air and came down bucking. As I was about to loose my balance, he quit...and that was all there was to that. Albert saw four grizzlies on this drive, and Ryan and Dino saw one. I found a bear kill of Stan’s, # 55, and Bob found a bear kill of Frosty Steele’s. Keith found a bear kill of Charles’. We got home about four, after riding eleven hours. And yes, I was dead meat. I did dinner, doctored Smoky, and that’s about all. Bob is out trying to get our electric fence finished up. It’s been a long day, but kinda fun. I enjoyed Red a bunch. It’s fun to see a young horse come along so well. The flies weren’t bad. Keith called about a larkspur J Bar X cow.
July 21st. Toots and The Pest. Bob and I rode the south part of the sw pasture and gathered what cattle we could see and took them to the nw pasture. Bob counted in 148. Then after I doctored Smoky, we loaded the truck and came to town. We moved the horse trailer to the sw pasture. Saw a bunch of cows that had come out of the trees and were by the lake. We stopped at the Place for lunch. We sort of couched up after we got home. Ohh, a shower did feel good. We went to David’s art reception at the library. Saw Judy Crandall there. We took Michael, Jennifer and kids and David to the Stockman’s for dinner.

Somebody's Birthday!

Thursday was Artist Guild at Rendezvous Point. We had a lovely meal, and laughed throughout the meeting.

Meanwhile, I had Bernie Gosar make us a sprue birthday cake, so Kirsten could eat it too. Bernie as usual, outdid herself. It was awesome! All in all it was a neat evening, with David, Michael and family.

There my picture came up!

A Couple of days at Cow Camp

This is a couple of days from my journal! Also Betty wanted me to get the "dead thing" off the front of my blog, so this a picture when we were on top of Bacon Ridge the other day. It was gorgeous! Well, I can't get the image to come up! Darn.
July 10th. Monday. Toots. Bob went to Buffalo Meadow and fenced..ie cut logs across the fence, and tightened it up a lot. I rode the pasture. I found bear tracks up on the cattle trail from the head of Wagon Creek that goes over to the Bacon Creek road. The dead heifer was consumed by both bears and wolves, I think. The rib cage is gone..a small part of the backbone is still there. I think the head is wrapped up on the hide. I found a very lame bull of Harry Steele’s. I couldn’t get him to walk. He was very much on the fight too. I wondered if he was the one they were unable to load on bull day, that Richard brought up several days later. I saw six swans on the lake. I found the remains of a dead double Bar E calf about a quarter mile off of 661 on 631, near a large wallow with a large rock in the center of that. There is a bunch of tail hair in the vicinity that appears to have been pulled out by a wolf. I notified Bob on the radio, but he elected to stay and work on the fence and try for Rod in the afternoon. I continued to ride south. Much bawling, and lots of cows in head causing much commotion. I found no more dead animals. However I found a salt block on the lower end of 615 near Fence Creek with blood on it. I found bear track about half a mile down the fence from there. Also I found water dogs in the pond that I let Toots have a drink in. I didn’t know they were up here. I got to the cabin about eleven thirty, and Bob got back exhausted about an hour later. We were unable to get ahold of Rod. It turned out he was attending a mandatory meeting in Lander. He will be up in the morning. Bob put front shoes on Toots.

July 11th. Tuesday. Honda. I rode the pasture finding nothing. Did see two eagles on the dead calf. Rod came and verified it as a wolf kill. Bob shod the back end of Toots. It was hot and the flies were horrific today. After dinner he went over to do the fence that Albert doesn’t do by the middle gate. I doctored Smokey. He worked on his maptech program with the Crow Creek Fence.

July 12th. Wednesday. Buckles. Again, I rode the pasture finding nothing. I did see a griz track in a dust wallow near the lower end of 615. Also saw a doe with twins. I rode up to the lame bull at the north end, and couldn’t get him up. He wasn’t on the fight today, however. When I got in, we loaded the truck and headed for town. We stopped at the Place for lunch. I called Jennifer, and went out there after my shower. Betty was getting a hair cut, and so did I! It’s good to be clean and trimmed up again! Good to see Betty. They are remodeling their house a little.

Verified Wolf Kill

Rod Merrill is the Wild Life Services person who checks our deaths for wolf kills. He's a great guy, and again this summer his son Zeb is up there with him. Here you see him examining the yearling, and then writing out the verification slip, as Bob gps's the location. These guys we work with make the nasty smelly jobs easier..and they are a pleasure.

Life at Cow Camp!

Gina & Lori Dino and Lori came up for a few days!

Bob Lori & Dino

Not a great photo of bull day..taking photos of bull day when you are short of help is dicie!

This is a photo I took about the 7th of May, and have tried to get it on here since.

Well, we're down from the high country for a day. As usual, this is rush rush rush, and trying to catchup on many undone things. However, last night we had the pleasure of spending the evening at the Box R on Willow Creek with Irv Lozier. It's almost like going home! I was mortified to see how dry it is up there. Only those places under irrigation are green. In my sixty five years, I've never seen it look like that.

We are dry up at Union Pass too...but it's not as bad. We could stand a few days of rain though, and it would be invaluable. We have not seen grizzlys or wolves, but daily we see their tracks. We already have a confirmed kill of each, and six dead ones that we've found. I don't know how the ranchers do it. Of course, if you raise cattle, you are going to lose some too.

We have lots of elk, deer and antelope. We are seeing more moose for this time of year than usual. We've seen no moose calves.

I'll give posting pictures another try.

Not Much

I've tried to put some pictures on here the last few times, and they won't fly. Someday, you'll see a bunch. I have some from when we flew several weeks ago, and quite a few from camp.

It's true..things are quiet up country. The feed is good, and in our pastures, the water is good. Elsewhere, the water isn't up to par.

We came down to re-supply. We worked in bringing a horse to the vet...the vet is gone, and we elected not to use another as the horse seems to be better...and a cattle drive up the Well's Trail. Now, any of you locals reading this will know that's the drive where Bob was so badly hurt last year. Well, other than a flat tire on the trailer, and my horse throwing a shoe, it went well this year. As I write this, Bob's in town having a new tire mounted on the rim.

Checked out a filly of Sally's that had been badly quicked. Bob say's it's the worst "quicked hoof" he's ever seen, and he's seen plenty. Greg and Robyn were there as was Sandy. Sally planned to treat us to dinner at the Stockman's, however she "conveniently" left her purse at home. Then Greg said he'd do it. Meanwhile, I was prepared to do so..anyhow, Kay picked up the tab, and we all left full and happy. Ran into Benny and Pat Pearson with his double cousin, George Pearson and his family. That encounter was definately a plus.

More on life at camp. We got our cows..uneventfully. So far we have not even seen a bear track. We have seen wolf tracks. I'm fairly certain all this peace will end, but for now it's great. We've seen many elk, including a few calves. We have two doe antelope with twin babies at camp. One pair is quite large, and well on their feet...running around thinking they are big stuff. The other pair are so tiny, and have much trouble negotiating the sagebrush. They are a hoot. They are entertaining. Bob's feeling well, as am I, and we have some nice horses. We are enjoying having Keith Murphy back...he's holding down the Bend camp. And Todd Sterns is back, and he's riding Tosi. Bobby Gilbank has been helping Stan Murdock's crew all spring, but he's finally up at the Fish Creek camp. Phil McChesney is enjoying his second year on Gyp Creek. That rounds out our crew, with us at Mosquito Lake.

It may be a while till you see another post on here. We're headed back to camp when Bob gets the tire fixed. I had sort of a laid back day playing catchup yesterday, which I kind of enjoyed, but I'm more than ready to go back. I do love riding that country. I'm in heaven up there.