July snowstorms are unusual. Cowboys Josh and Patchin rode through the white stuff for a day or two, and the top of ‘ol Taylor Peak, the highest point on our summer grass range, was white with wet mashed potatoes. The beeves loved it. Soils yielded nicely to their feet, and the grass and forbs softened […]
Skunk and the Punks
Skunky is a chronic problem child. He’s a distinctive Alderspring steer with a white stripe down the middle of his back, and is trouble with a capital Q for quitter. That’s what we cowboys call someone who leaves the herd for no good reason. He’s not a wild steer, by any means. He just wants […]
24/7 Grazing Project: How We’re Feeding the Field Mice
I’m out of the saddle for a few minutes along with my riding crew of two of my daughters, Linnaea and Melanie. I’m typing on my phone; later today I’ll head for a high ridge where I can hit a distant cell tower and send this out, and let Caryl know all is well. We’re […]
Conservation Ranching
The heat is cranking up a little on the ranch as we enter high Pahsimeroi summer. It was a perfect week for drying hay, though. It was a little humid (for us) and the hay dried over a several days instead of quick drying in two or three high heat days which can cause a […]
Wolves and Range Riding
It was a little after 5 am yesterday when I was startled awake by a blast of thunder reverberating up and down the canyon. Then the rain started in on my tent fly. It was time to get moving and check on the cattle. First, I checked on the horses in the makeshift corral we […]
Wild Range, Wild Beef
It was a rotten time and place for a wreck. Daughter Emily had already gotten bucked off her mare quite roughly (shredded her new jeans!), and now this! It was our annual Mother’s Day picnic on horseback up on the high ranges a few miles above the ranch. We’d eaten our hot dogs (yes, they […]