The muted crack of a twig woke me from a full body fatigue sleep. Holding my breath, I strained my ears for a clue as to who was stalking in the night. There it was again, this time with breathing. Then, the rhythmic ripping of green pinegrass as whoever it was severed it from roots. […]
Why We Do What We Do
There’s an old saying among old cowboy packers—those wizened hands who knew the craft of moving camps and gear on horseback in wild country—that if you’ve packed for 40 or 50 years of your life, you’ve actually only done half that. It’s because the other half you spent looking for lost horses. I was concerned […]
Art and Science of Cattle Care
The Sego Lilly, or Mariposa, is in full bloom. Like a Milky Way of stars twinkling and trembling in the breeze of the sagebrush ocean, the view of them is enthralling on the Hat Creek Ranges, starting at 6000 feet elevation. As I sailed on the narrow trail through their fragrant and wavering stems, I […]
Maintaining Wildness on the Range
As I was engaging my new crew members in lively conversation, the tall guy’s silver belt buckle glinted in the sun and caught my eye as I bent down to pick a plant from the ground. The buckle had a violin cast onto it. I made a mental note, bookmarking the silver image for later. […]
Quiet Mornings and Long Days
The first light of dawn unfolding at 5 AM woke me. I had slept well at our new camp in my usual spot on the ground under the cook fly, only wakened by the occasional stirring of doggie dreams from the border collies True and Gyp who liked to sleep with their backs against mine. […]
Real Diamonds on the Range
As I pulled the mohair saddle cinch tight on the paint mare, Roxy, I had time to finally consider what I was doing, and wonder if it was a good idea. Roxy could be a little out of sorts on occasion and has introduced several riders to the unexpected sensation of flying. Although she occasionally […]