To our surprise, we discovered that the tiny wind blasted cubicle still stood as we clambered up to the prominent peak at nearly 10,000 feet. We had left all forest vegetation behind us several hundred vertical feet back on our climb. This weathered and decomposing shed was in the alpine tundra zone, that area of […]
When Bridges Fail
There were now only three of us horseback on the darkening backroad. Linnaea had fallen behind and was scooped up by Caryl, piloting truck and trailer. The 7 year old was frozen and tired on her aging gray mare, who now happily had wheels under her. The little blonde haired girl in the truck was […]
Four Months in the Mountains
Well, we got them hired. Six twenty-something gals and guys, hailing from Ohio, Colorado, Texas, Utah, Indiana and Idaho, for a range riding position on Alderspring. Ohio was the strongest state repped this year, with 3 of our hired hands calling the Buckeye State home at one time or another. Ohio does sound a little […]
Bird Meets Bulldozer
Bird Meets Bulldozer Madelyn, my blonde haired and a little-wild-animal-blooded 14-year old was waiting for me, smiling as I pulled up to the house for lunch. She eagerly came up to my rolled down window, as the warm spring air tousled her hair over her face. She had news: “The killdeer are back, Dad.” Her […]
Bonnie Before Time
I felt the pulse of the helicopter before I heard it. The thumping seemed to reverberate through the ground on which I stood, and then, in a blast of rotor wash and noise, the Jet Ranger erupted over the ridge just below me. The ship swung into a curved trajectory aimed for the head of […]
Idaho’s Oceanfront Property
It’s a lovely, bright sunshine day over quiet waters. As you look east, surprisingly, there’s no vessels of any kind on the vast body of deep azure blue; and there is no end to it. The sea alone is the horizon, and the sky is dotted with white clouds. There is no haze, typical of […]