The Highline Volume 3: Issue: 39. Hello Everyone!

Transcription

1 The Highline Volume 3: Issue: 39 Hello Everyone! It s a beautiful fall morning; we ve just waved to our guests, and we re off in our different directions to ready ourselves for our next group. Again we had a family reunion like week, and got A LOT accomplished. Randy was a little worried we would be behind in our cattle moves, but with our diligent friends we were able to move the red herd clear up to Coniff Creek Pasture, and had some successful rerides for the elusive ones tucked away in the brush of the back country. Our main focus for the week was gathering the charolais herd. As you already know from previous Highlines, I ve only seen about 25 pairs each time I ve gone out since they ve been in the Pearson Reservoir/Montana Academy/Gobbler s Knob area, so the gather has been a bit of a challenge; 4 pairs here, 10 pairs there, 5 pairs here, 2 pairs there. We gathered little bunches and overnighted them in the Secondary Rd. Pasture, an area that is completely fenced so they would be easy to pick up and move the following day. Wednesday Spencer came out with me and my group. I made maps of the area for everyone, and appointed Jim Genow, from Michigan, as cowboss for the day. He was highly honored to take on the task and listened closely to all the details of their mission. They were to start at the west end of the Secondary Road Pasture and gather 9 charolais pairs, see if #10 calf found his mother, make sure 308 cow was still with the bunch, also pick up the two black bulls, and two pairs of the neighbor s that had been traveling with our cattle. Quite an extensive mission and I gave Cowboss Jim a radio

2 to keep me updated on their progress. Once they had gathered everything, they were to hold the herd in this open area next to where we parked the trucks. I figured with such a small pasture that was completely fenced, how much trouble could they get into? Spencer and I left the confident crew and trusty cowboss in search of other cattle in remote areas. Now and then I d check in and all seemed well from what Cowboss Jim let on. Spencer and I had found 8 pairs and put them in the Stump Pasture (the pasture we were ultimately headed for to gather cattle in). At around 12:30 pm Cowboss Jim let me know they had everything gathered and were by the trucks but were now looking for Karen. Hmm Spencer and I were riding back in their direction on a good dirt road and saw some horse tracks that weren t ours. Hmmm A few minutes later Cowboss Jim said they d found Karen and were ready for their next task. Okay, take the cattle on the road the trucks are parked on, through the gate I told you about and drive the cattle along that fenceline all the way to the gate into the Stump Pasture. 10 4! Meanwhile I was just riding up on the above mentioned gate from the other side and saw Keith standing there - with the gate closed. Hmmm Whatcha doin? I asked. I just closed the gate that Karen went through. She went through a gate? Mind you, this isn t an easy gate to work with as it s barbed wire with wood pole stays and it s a good 16 feet long! Karen is just a little thing. Okay, I thought, now this is the gate they should bring the cattle through, Cowboss Jim has said they are on their way with the cattle, Keith has just closed the gate. Keith, have they started moving the cows yet? No, Jim and Janet (Jim s wife) are arguing about which gate to take them through. Janet says the green gate, and Jim says the cattle guard gate. Hmmm the green gate just blocks a road, and the cattle guard gate goes into the pasture we just gathered out of. I jumped off my horse and quickly opened the gate again. Spencer, Keith and I boogied towards the trucks hoping they hadn t started yet and found everyone in good cheer to have Karen back (she s got her cheeks full with her sandwich as if she s been gone for days), Cowboss Jim muttering to himself that it s the cattle guard gate and trying to think of a firm but diplomatic managerial way to put his foot down on his decision to his wife, and Michelle from England and Mary Lou from Connecticut having giggling fits hearing Karen s story. We all kept saying I can t believe you went through a gate! Hers were the tracks we found a couple of miles down the road she said she went through the gate a couple of times and reassured us she always kept a hold of the mecate so her horse wouldn t leave her. At the end she decided to head uphill for some reason and then concluded with heading for the meadow (the cattle holding spot) that she knew. Apparently I heard later that they had found the cattle in the first half hour, and had been looking for Karen who had gone after a lone calf, the rest of the time. The cattle they were all stretched out, relaxing and chewing their cud seemingly amused by us humans! Cowboss Jim and Janet both approached me with the gate dilemma, and waited like a couple of blue healer dogs eager for me to throw a stick, for my answer to see who was right. They found comfort in both being wrong as Janet had already won the who is the best rider round. So off they went in the right direction through the gate and off to the Stump Pasture. (I radioed Brianna that they were headed her way, she picked them up above and a little passed the pasture).

3 I know I m right. What did she put in that water bottle anyway! I knew it! Hey! Quit horsin around! I m under a little pressure here trying to get a job done. Come on! Stop goofing off. My stomach hurts. I should ve waited an hour after all that trotting to eat that sandwich! Okay, now we re getting somewhere. Who s that sniggering behind me!? Mary Lou!!

4 We continued gathering cattle in little bunches the rest of the week and the grand finale was moving them all to the T-5 ranch. My mom and her hubby Jerry are here for two weeks and riding right along with us way fun! Jerry s counting cattle through the gate as Brianna helps keep the herd in single file.

5 Mary Lou riding Ike. Lookin Good! Keith had a great time riding Chrome this week. I ve been riding Easy and Goose this week. What a face! In frustration this week, we decided to let the last of our applicant cooks go. Kathy hung up her chinks and put on an apron, and housekeeper turned breakfast cook, Ashley and she took over. They are doing a SUPERB job and I must say the best meals we ve ever had (and we ve maintained some great standards in the meal department). The guests applauded them every night. Jim having humbly turned in his cowboss badge, presented them with awards for Best Wrangler, and Best Cook. And Jim presented Jo-Anne with the Best Owner award for all the decorating, cooking expertise, and jewelry making she does. Mary Ann received the wrangler of the week award for getting up mornings and jingling the horses in with one of us in the dark, and Karen of course got the cowgirl of the week award.

6 Here s Ashley! Great job! Shayne sitting in for Jo-Anne s award. He s so proud! Thank you Kathy for all you are doing! A pair of dehydrated boxer shorts where do Jim and Keith find these things! We look forward to next year Mary Ann! Have a terrific week everyone and wish us luck on finding the last 7 charolais pairs! Dori