leanin' H
Well-known member
We took salt and mineral blocks to the cattle today. We
unloaded at the homestead in the mouth of Ott's canyon
and loaded 6- 50lbs blocks on each pack horse. Then we
started up the trail to the top of the mountain. Here's my
cousin Phil with his horse "doc" and "scotty" the packhorse.
The trail up Ott's is a little western in places. We crossed
the creek 12 times and the bottom is choked with willows
and quakies. But it's the only place to get a horse as the sides
of the canyon are cliffs and shale slides. On we go!
It's about 9 miles up the canyon to the first saddle that we salt.
We put it up on natural saddles and ridge tops to get the cattle
up out of the bottom and away from water. Droppin' the first
blocks.
Then we take the old mustang trail across the tops of the draws
and ridges to each salt ground. We learned these spots from
Grandparents and Aunts & Uncles. Been salting cows up here
for generations. Here we are heading for the comb of the
mountain and west to spring canyon.
At the ridge between spring and Joe's canyons, i left Phil
to go to spring and i headed west to Joe's. The old trail follows
the top of the mountain as we mosey. The peak on the right is
Dutch peak named for my Dutch ancestors who migrated here
in the 1840's. It's the highest point on the Sheeprock range.
As i head west, Phil heads south to a saddle on the spring
canyon ridge. Can ya see him?
Can ya see him now? A little zoomage and there he be! 100 lbs
each left to drop.
Ridin' the old horse trail. The mustangs have been gone for
decades, but the wildlife and cattle still follow in their hoof
prints. Almost 9000 feet here.
Before i dropped down off the top into Joe's canyon, i found
a flat rock for a tripod and took a self portrait. Horses look
great but i gotta suck in my gut better. I look like a really
calvy, really ugly yearling bull with issues on my registered
papers! Pretend i'm dashing and skinnier! :shock:
I wouldn't make a pimple on soapweeds hired hands perfectly
chisled hind end! :?
The last block is on the ground! Yippeee! Reba still has to pack
me but Ranch is empty. Nows it's 12 miles to the truck. Total
mileage today..... about 24 or 25. Where's the cold Pepsi?
Drivin' back to Vernon, the old sun was surely settin' pretty!!
unloaded at the homestead in the mouth of Ott's canyon
and loaded 6- 50lbs blocks on each pack horse. Then we
started up the trail to the top of the mountain. Here's my
cousin Phil with his horse "doc" and "scotty" the packhorse.
![DSCF0026.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0026.jpg&hash=a7f4c188362f606827e3c69b4e3e34d0)
The trail up Ott's is a little western in places. We crossed
the creek 12 times and the bottom is choked with willows
and quakies. But it's the only place to get a horse as the sides
of the canyon are cliffs and shale slides. On we go!
![DSCF0028-2.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0028-2.jpg&hash=7a643c7f0cf55b71ef294e697ab2f7d6)
It's about 9 miles up the canyon to the first saddle that we salt.
We put it up on natural saddles and ridge tops to get the cattle
up out of the bottom and away from water. Droppin' the first
blocks.
![DSCF0030-1.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0030-1.jpg&hash=3a6da153e9d70fe65884281f79e8be59)
Then we take the old mustang trail across the tops of the draws
and ridges to each salt ground. We learned these spots from
Grandparents and Aunts & Uncles. Been salting cows up here
for generations. Here we are heading for the comb of the
mountain and west to spring canyon.
![DSCF0033.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0033.jpg&hash=ad78a31fe63e3d2c7c84eb87e7ffa33f)
At the ridge between spring and Joe's canyons, i left Phil
to go to spring and i headed west to Joe's. The old trail follows
the top of the mountain as we mosey. The peak on the right is
Dutch peak named for my Dutch ancestors who migrated here
in the 1840's. It's the highest point on the Sheeprock range.
![DSCF0034.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0034.jpg&hash=a3299105768884000c9318a4b1591dcc)
As i head west, Phil heads south to a saddle on the spring
canyon ridge. Can ya see him?
![DSCF0035-1.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0035-1.jpg&hash=3ff6bd5493d68d1368adc82eb207ea29)
Can ya see him now? A little zoomage and there he be! 100 lbs
each left to drop.
![DSCF0037-2.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0037-2.jpg&hash=2b7f23c138e6f0ed2a32bbd8551b6cc5)
Ridin' the old horse trail. The mustangs have been gone for
decades, but the wildlife and cattle still follow in their hoof
prints. Almost 9000 feet here.
![DSCF0039.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0039.jpg&hash=e981c50dfc715577d3b33b90c37012e9)
Before i dropped down off the top into Joe's canyon, i found
a flat rock for a tripod and took a self portrait. Horses look
great but i gotta suck in my gut better. I look like a really
calvy, really ugly yearling bull with issues on my registered
papers! Pretend i'm dashing and skinnier! :shock:
I wouldn't make a pimple on soapweeds hired hands perfectly
chisled hind end! :?
![DSCF0043.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0043.jpg&hash=387c23741894576a73a8f5497eb88bb2)
The last block is on the ground! Yippeee! Reba still has to pack
me but Ranch is empty. Nows it's 12 miles to the truck. Total
mileage today..... about 24 or 25. Where's the cold Pepsi?
![DSCF0046-1.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0046-1.jpg&hash=19beffdf2a300bc2d980b8886027dc07)
Drivin' back to Vernon, the old sun was surely settin' pretty!!
![DSCF0014.jpg](https://imagearchive.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi257.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fhh217%2Fcattle-rancher%2FDSCF0014.jpg&hash=e12377a3fc0cedb3788f421c9eb8994e)