U.S. Forest Service – Page 2

Driving Part IX

Day 9 – June 25, 2010 Today’s drive is from the Circle S, through the Tin Whistle (a giant culvert under the highway), past the spot where the highway ends, and finally across the Kendall Bridge at the Green River. We are getting into bear country now and I’m pretty sure I crossed the pathContinue reading “Driving Part IX”

Driving Part VIII

Day 8 – June 24, 2010 Often times this day proves to be very difficult. We move the cattle through a lot of trees and on steep hills. The cows, especially yearlings (one-year-old cattle), will escape down the hill and into the trees. A dog can prove invaluable on a day like today. However, theContinue reading “Driving Part VIII”

Driving Part VII

Day 7 – June 23, 2010 After a good day yesterday, the cattle got counted onto US Forest today. I know I said we would push the cows up to US Forest land for grazing, but the drive is not over yet; we still have a ways to go. This is the day where weContinue reading “Driving Part VII”

Driving Part VI

Day 6 – June 22, 2010 We picked up where we left off yesterday at Mickey Adam’s (the end of the driveway). I should mention that the very tail end didn’t make it to Mickey Adam’s yesterday, the calves got tired at the back and the cows wouldn’t stay with their calves so they endedContinue reading “Driving Part VI”

Driving Part V

Day 5 – June 21, 2010 We pushed from what we call Barlow’s Corrals (the end of the driveway) to a place we call Mickey Adam’s today (It’s common practice for ranchers to name our pastures and other places on our ranches. This makes it easier to communicate when we’re conducting business). Not a bad drive,Continue reading “Driving Part V”

Driving Part IV

Day 4 – June 20, 2010 Today was an easy day and it provided a nice break after the last few days gathering off the Mesa. The cattle are contained in a pretty small area at the drift fence, so they can’t wander far unless they go up the river where we want them. SoContinue reading “Driving Part IV”

Driving Part III

Day 3 – June 19, 2010 Things went fairly smooth today. We were a little short on help for such a large area to gather, but things came together in the end. The cows didn’t bother to move forward from where we left them yesterday, they just spread out, so there was a lot ofContinue reading “Driving Part III”

Driving Part II

Day 2 – June 18, 2010 The cattle are starting to come together into one large heard now as we near the end of the gathering process on the Mesa. This year the grass has been good on the Mesa, so the cattle don’t want to leave, but we had plenty of cowboys and cowgirlsContinue reading “Driving Part II”

Driving (Hint: This has nothing to do with cars)

Upper Green River Cattle Drive Day 1 – June 17, 2010 Today we began our yearly cattle drive up the Green River Valley onto U.S. Forest land for summer grazing. Our ranch is part of an association called the Upper Green River Cattlemen’s Association. Last year approximately 5,700 head (head=number) of cattle from the UGRCA wereContinue reading “Driving (Hint: This has nothing to do with cars)”