Gatherin' prior to weaning

[leanin' H]

Started from the house @ 6:30 this morning. It's about 45 miles in the truck to get to the ranch. Takes 1 1/2 hours on poor roads. The ol' clouds were sitting on the mountain like good felt hat.

It was a bit nippy today. Once the sun got up it warmed to the high 20's. But if the clouds covered the sun and the breeze blew it made ya shiver!

Here's the veiw @ the ranch as we saddled up. Fall in the west is kinda wonderful!

Picked up 50 pair Dad and Phil had pushed off the top yesterday and had stashed in a small pasture. We strung them out and followed them about 8 miles to a section they will spend the next week in.

Headin' east. They sure traveled great in the cool weather!

This cow may go 1000 lbs but she sure puts a beautiful calf together!

The granite ledges are neat looking and each one resembles something different. I think this one looks like a hen chicken!

After pushin' that bunch in we continued up the canyon looking for lost bovines. I saw 2 pair high on Green's ridge and started up after them. During one of the many rest stops for my mare i took this shot of the top of the mountain lightly dusted with snow.

Self-portrait.

Gotta make that pass to see if i am above all the cows. The 2 pair spotted from way below have turned into 13!

Desert Mountain Vista. Possible canidate for framing!

Kickin' thier butts down! It's tough to cuss good cows that will range and rustle this high when they could be lazy in the bottom!

Like a bovine avalanche we gather up more as we roll.

Hooked up with Phil and Adam and took the little bunch down the canyon to put with the first bunch. We are riding through a homestead in what used to be a hayfield. Next week we will vaccinate the calves and lock the herd in this 80 acre piece for a week and then ship the calves home to lot them.

My great uncles hay derrick and stack yard. In the foreground is an old hay wagon. This spring some joker cut the fence and stole the wheels out from under it. Should'a gathered them up i guess!

This old cabin is on the section we dropped the cattle. Another homesteaders home.

Had to throw in a shot of my chaps my wife had built for my birthday. They are really kinda too fancy but they are sure warm.

After returning to the ranch i ran the fourwheeler up a canyon to look for some cows and check tracks. Found some tracks alright but not cows. This cougar had been there today on top of the horse and cow tracks.

[Triangle Bar]

Enjoyed your gatherin' via photos, thanks.

leanin'H you'll have to get you a mountain lion license and try to bag that one....must be pretty good size by those tracks.

[Nebraska Sandhills]

Those were some great pictures in some big country. Thanks for posting them. The cattle look good.

[Soapweed]

Wonderful pictures, leanin' H. You must be a pretty tough cowpoke to wear your hat when the temperature is only in the 20's as the high for the day, and the breeze is blowin' to boot. My hat is off to you, and my cap with ear-flappers is on.

[Shortgrass]

You are tougher than I. When it is 19 degrees, My self portrait would be one with a scotch cap! When I was young, I liked tough, but now that I'm older, I prefer warm. Yesterday we were horseback at 7:00, and had vest, coat and cap. By 8:00 I shed my coat. Later, the vest, and then by about 10;00 it was 45 degrees, and I was hot! Good pictures, Thanks.

[Shortgrass]

[Soapweed]

[Shortgrass]

That confirms it!! I'd rather be warm than tough. Good story though, and believable too.