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The Drive Home, Part 1

leanin' H

Well-known member
We started our roundup Friday. It's been so windy and snowin' that we figured we'd best get em' to Delta or run into big trouble. Well, when we got to the ranch Friday 18 inches of snow greeted us! That was where the wind hadnt drifted it into little glaciers. We took 4wheelers cause we couldnt get a trailer within 20 miles of the place. Here's the snow at the gate!
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Turnin' around spot and unloading area for the "horses".
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We fought wind all day Friday and my camera battery was blinking so not much to show ya. Did get a sunset picture at day's end. We got 133 head in the orchard and fed a ton bale of oats.
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This mornin' we met at the ranch at 7. It was 10 below coming across the desert and was a balmy 3 at the ranch. The cold air made some pretty pink clouds. The cows were ready for a change of scenery.
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Let me get this perfectly clear! WE HATE USING WHEELERS TO MOVE COWS!!! If you like it that is great, but we always use horses. So today was a pain in the hind quarters! We put a bale on my wheeler and i was trail-breaker/ bait-packer. Those old sisters strung out and hit the trail.
Coming out of the lower field at the ranch.
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For the first 6 or 7 miles we followed the road. They were happy to follow as long as we kept pointed south and were losing elevation. Our cows like warmer climates for wintering! :D
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The sun hitting the mountain is one of my favorite sights in winter.
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We made the crossroads below the ranch and it was chilly. Kinda glad NOT to know the temp.
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Every time I looked back they were coming!
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Got far enough ahead to show off the latest in cold weather gear for cattle drives while riding a Japanese quarterhorse.
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Left the road at the fill wash and headed around the north end of the Allison knolls. Think sandhills without sand and add lots of sagebrush.
Breaking a trail sure helped for most of the trip.
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Morning traffic! The intersection of two rabbit highways was clear both ways. Wascwy wabbits!
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The snow was about 8 inches here. Cows were grabbing any grass or whitesage that was handy. We had to push em' instead of chumming.
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That's Desert Mountain pass we are aiming for. Atleast it's getting closer.
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Phil on his Yamaha bred cutting horse.
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Dad on his green pony with black main & tail. Check out his headgear? If it looks like somebody glued a rabbit to his skull that was pretty close to witnessing the "HAT" in person!
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Ever wonder why tumbleweeds tumble? If they don't migrate, they end up looking like the bottom third of a snowman. :shock:
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Heading for the low, smooth spot instead of the high, rockytops!
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Lots of granite ledges and homeward heading cows.
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Uphill grade. It didnt get out'a the 20s today. Phil like's to keep his cattle cool!
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Almost got er' made. Mile 20 with 4 more to go.
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Desert Mountain pass.
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It's all downhill to the corral. Good thing cause they were hungry, tired and lickin' snow for H2O.
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Rabbits like to hit high gear when trouble arrives. Unless a bunch of cows surround ya while napping. Then ya act invisible!
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We had dinner waiting at the corral. Phil counting them through the gate. It's hard to lose em' when you can see for 150 miles and everything is white cept for the critters your following! :D
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Home for tonight. It's like a Motel 6 for bovines! :D My Step-Grandpa built it lots of years ago. It makes a great holding area for one night. We'll start em' from here tommorow. 24 miles down makes about halfway.
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Soapweed

Well-known member
Your pictures make me cold and tired just thinking about a 24-mile cattle drive through 18 inches of snow with those chilly temperatures. Thanks for letting me go from the comfort of a 70 degree house and a cushioned chair. :wink: :)
 

Nicky

Well-known member
Great pictures! Can't believe you did that all day then took the time to post them for us...you're a better man than I am :wink: :p

That had to be REALLY cold riding a 4 wheeler all day...give me a horse any day, at least you can lead them and get warm.

Good luck tomorrow :)
 

WyomingRancher

Well-known member
BRRRRR! Nothing is colder than being on a four wheeler in the wind and cold temperatures :shock: . You're way tougher than I ever want to be :lol: . I hope the next 24 miles are as successful as the first :wink: .

Thanks for the beautiful pictures, I know in the cold, cameras don't always want to cooperate... neither do frozen fingers to snap the shot :D .
 

gcreekrch

Well-known member
Glad I stayed home, looks too cold for me. Notice ya didn't take a picture of your handwarmers on your mount. :p
I have walked beside the bike and ran the throttle with my left hand to warm up, just like leading a horse.

Kind of a marathon day here to, the wife did most of the feeding while I poured the calves with my late arriving contraband Ivermectin. We made arrangments to get it back in Oct but couldn't find a ride until about the day it turned cold. Hope to get the main bunch of cows done tommorow.

Good Day Manana Leanin H
 

Blkbuckaroo

Well-known member
Looks to be a cold drive ya' had,good thing is those japanese quarter horses don't tend to get as humpy on cold mornings,Least ya' got them off the mountain.
 

Jassy

Well-known member
This part of your drive would be a nice drive if the weather conditions were just a tad bit better...lol Sure pretty country! Thanks for a great view!
 

kolanuraven

Well-known member
Ok....Southern cattle person question here.... :lol:


Why did you wait till the snow was soooo deep and it was so cold?

I mean it does that every yr out there.....so why wait till now and make everyone, human and bovine, miserable in the cold?
 

Cal

Well-known member
Good set of pics. I'll bet the horses sure appreciated you guys using 4wheelers :D . I'm afraid we might have spoiled our kid....be it cold, or wind, or rain, we're out in the weather and he's cruising along in a kubota with a heated/cooled cab jammin' to either rock or Rush. It's a bit on the slow side, and has roll bars, so figure his chance of not getting hurt....or worse....is greatly improved until he has a little more sense. It's like the one that Wyoming Rancher takes pictures of sometimes, but has ATV tires.....but it is sort of a rough riding little so and so, unless it has weight in the box.
 

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