The earth shaking rumble of the oncoming freight train in my dream was real enough to startle me awake. I sat bolt upright in my tent where I was sleeping quite soundly. It had been a long previous day. My crew and me had switched with the previous range riders in the afternoon, and then rode horseback, herding the cattle until just before dark. It …
Ruminations & Newsletters
Death on the Ditchbank
The long ditch was on. We had diverted a cleansing flow from the Lemhi River, and now it was going to be several days of shepherding the water with a pitchfork down the 6 miles to the ranch. It was early Alderspring, when we were running on 650 acres of rented rocky terrace land pasted against the abrupt uplift of the Continental Divide. Summer was …
The Shocking Truth About Sandy
The county fairgrounds are unusually quiet for the week before the fair. It’s yesterday afternoon, and it is cool. Big thunderheads cruise over the mountains that reach up to the sky along this valley, the Lemhi. The clouds promise at least thunder, and perhaps a shower. I have many memories here, with my 4-H daughters going through the paces …
The Currants of Hat Creek
Dear Friends and Partners About midway across the span of Little Hat Ranch, along the north banks of the bubbling creek, steep and broken desert hills cascade down to the impenetrable willow thickened swamps inhabited by beaver. These abrupt foothills are cloaked with mountain big sage and greasewood, bluebunch wheatgrass and an occasional …
Feeling the Trail with Goldy and Goudie
Dear Friends and Partners My coal-black mare, Bobbi, tripped on her feet for the last time with me on her back. She had a good excuse, to be sure: it was quite dark. I quietly pulled her up, and swung my leg over to dismount on her uphill side. The steepness of the hill made getting off as easy as sliding my foot back on to the rocky ground, as …
A Stud Pile Story
The Brumbies are back. These wild horses of the open range first stole into camp back in Bear Basin two weeks ago and tried to make off with our own cavvy of horseflesh. Some of you probably read about it on Instagram. If you haven’t, here’s a take on that tumultuous night from crew boss Linnaea’s (3rd oldest Elzinga daughter): “We'd made it …
Nighthawk Country
Dear friends and partners: “Stop!” yelled Caryl from the passenger seat as we bumped down our driveway in the gathering dark. I slammed on the brakes, and as I did a shape fluttered in my headlights and flew into the darkness. “I thought it was a rock!” I said. I had forgotten. The youngsters were out. Young nighthawks. They look like a …
Theft on the Range
As I trotted horseback with purpose, cutting through the sweltering still air, I had no idea that treachery had been afoot in the Hat Creek Country. It was hot for the 15th of May, particularly in this deep cleft in the rocks that we call Pig Creek. I nudged my stalwart mare, Missy, up the elk trail that cut through the spiny greasewood out of …