The Game Plan - Part Two

In his younger life, Jerry was a packer in Idaho. Using horses and mules, he packed deer, elk and bear hunters, into the back country to his hunting lodge. He also tamed wild mustangs. He is a horseman and rugged outdoors man to the core. The years went by, he found himself living the suburban 'good life' in sunny California; the outdoors... his green lawn, the horses... only in the cowboy movies he enjoys.



More than a decade ago, a rancher friend and fellow packer in Colorado, needed help getting his hunting camp prepared for the elk hunters. Jerry was on it, no hesitation, he's like that. Putting together a group of buddies from California, mostly city boys, most never on horseback, they set out for Durango. They became wranglers, cowboys, mountain men, away from "it all" for a week. They rode horses, leading mules carrying supplies up the mountain, to 'the cabin'. They repaired corrals, cleaned the cabin, put up tents, chopped down trees, split fire wood, engineered a system to obtain water from a spring, dug a toilet. They were hooked. It has become a yearly tradition; this trip of the City Slickers, the faces change occasionally as an extra man is invited or an old timer just can't make it. But the trip stays the same.







Until this year.







A woman tagged along.







Me.......







I opposed the idea, the idea of one woman infiltrating the ranks of men celebrating their escape. Jerry insisted, went to all lengths to get me on this trip. I argued that it was a MAN trip. He emailed all the men asking if they minded me coming along, they all responded favorably. I am not dumb, of course they would say yes to the Boss-man, the one who gets them to the Colorado Back country. He's like that.







So I was in.







But another concern of mine, this vacation to go do work? Huh? Explain that to me please. I have horses here at home that aren't ridden enough for the amount of food they consume, there is work aplenty here at home, I have mountains practically in my back yard, I have all the camping gear needed to survive years in the wilderness, when I go camping my goal is to escape and relax. The cowboy assures me, I will have to do no work, just relax, enjoy the mountains, take a few pictures, and be in his presence. Oh boy.











We all met in Durango, some flew in, some drove. Six rugged cowboys for the week. and me.



First order of business was grocery shopping. I just followed behind taking pictures and gulping at the amount of vittles being tossed in the baskets. It was disturbing to have folks stop and say howdy to the cowboys, and tell them it was good to see them back again. Now, I can shop somewhere weekly for a year and I am not recognised, what's up with that? I start wondering if they shoot up the town when they come back, get rip roaring drunk and get thrown out of saloons, or something else crazy.

Horses and mules are picked up, the rancher friend has a list of work to be done at the cabin. Packs are sorted and loaded. Horses and mules are saddled and bridled. Above is the trail head leading away from civilization and into the wilderness.

The trail was steep. We took frequent breaks to let the animals catch their breath and rest. Seven horses and five mules. The mules carried our bedrolls, our clothes, our food, chain saws and tools.

THE CABIN.

Rustic, simple, quiet. My home for a week.

THE COWBOYS.

Rustic, simple, not so quiet, my companions for a week.

THE TOILET.
Rustic, simple... an entire week!

Just a short little walk up from the cabin. (read - can be seen from the cabin!)

True my friends. No indoor plumbing. See the walls, the ceiling, notice the privacy... Exactly!

My plan: to only have to use the facility in the dark.

Result: total failure.

HEAVEN HELP ME.

On the Road to Durango - Part One

We began our journey to Durango in the evening. I had worked all day, while Jerry spent the day at home preparing vehicles and camping gear for the trip. I had my bag packed, we ate dinner, filled a thermos with hot strong coffee and hit the road.

We decided to haul our newest, longest stock trailer to Colorado to help with transporting the horses and mules that we'd be using once in Durango, we also planned to haul home a load of hay from Jerry's ranch buddies, and last but not least..... the trailer made a fine bedroom while on the road the first two nights.

For a day and a half this was our basic view as we drove across the barren Nevada desert. Jerry did ALL of the driving. As a result, I have way too many desert photos. They all look alike. Mountains, dirt, desert plants, and a long lonely highway. We saw one antelope. I like to make up travel games to break the monotony. Jerry vetoed all of my suggested games. He came up with one on his own, I was a good sport and agreed to play. His game rules; 'the first one to spot a rabbit would be the winner'. I finally saw a rabbit three days later. What an exciting game.

I had decided that the world had come to an end and all civilization had disappeared when we suddenly came upon this town. I don't think that folks settled there for the comforts and beauty of the region. There were a few interesting old buildings begging to have pictures taken but we drove through rather quickly. Oh, did I mention that Jerry did ALL of the driving?

Same lonely highway, more mountains, a few more desert plants, some clouds to add interest and a rare change in elevation. This view camouflages the splattered bug guts on the windshield. I get to take way more pictures while traveling, now that I am the designated passenger.

Driving through Utah, the scenery changes. I love driving (riding) through Moab and hope to visit sometime instead of merely driving through on the way to somewhere else. The red rock formations are awesome.

Durango is not far now.

Colorado at last! In the distance, the mountain range we plan to pack into, is bursting with autumn color.

Home Alone

THE FEATHER RIVER CANYON
Greetings from California! With no work scheduled for me this week, I was able to go with Jerry on business.
His business trips are usually to very cool places. We went up the Feather River Canyon to the Rock Creek Power House and stayed in a 'rustic' cabin(?) for three days. I was able to see amazing crane work and I got some much appreciated alone time hiking in the mountains. More about that another time.

There are more important issues today.

I've had a pleasant week; today, at home, the weather is perfect at 68 degrees, a breeze swaying the trees, a brilliant blue sky; the farrier was here on time this morning and replaced all the horse shoes that fell off within a week of shoeing...... BUT I am feeling blue, melancholy and maybe even a little anxious. What gives with that!???

I feel like my mare.... when her best buddy herd-mate is taken from the pasture and led away. When she is just left behind while her buddy rides away on an adventure. I will never again be annoyed when she gallops back and forth along the fence line screaming out, "hey wait! wait for me, don't leave without me!" I helped Jerry load up his truck and as he drove away last night I fought the urge to gallop after him yelling, "NO! wait! you can't go, the plants will die!"
Now I am faced with all this self analysis; exactly when did I become so danged 'herd bound'?; has my formerly strong sense of independance faded?; why did I decline the invitation to join him on this trip months ago?; why is it fine when I am the 'leaver' but now as the 'left behinder' I am feeling so blue?

In June we took my 2nd trip to the cabin in the Colorado Wilderness. I love it there (except in the winter). I love the trip to the cabin. Jerry has some lifelong rancher friends in Durango. For years Jerry has been taking a small group of menfolk into the mountains on kind of a City Slicker adventure. They do repairs and open up a log cabin for the winter hunting season for his friend. The friend gets work done and the guys get the taste of being COWBOYS for a week. It has traditionally been a 'man-trip'. Horses, mules, bedrolls, spring water, hard physical labor, cowboy boots and hats: the whole nine yards. And Jerry really wanted me to go, I declined, saying that he couldn't bring his bride along when the trip has always been for guys. SO I scheduled work. When it turned out that only four were able to go this year, and half of them wanted me there, it was too late to get out of work. They will have a wonderful adventure and I miss being there. David and Jerry will have the best time ever and promise to drink one for me at Whiskey Point!

I am now done whining.

Pickup loaded with saddles, bridles, bedrolls, blankets, slickers, mantees, and my cowboy ready to drive off into the sunset. A late start puts him in Durango sometime Saturday afternoon.

The trail to the cabin is steep, with sharp switch-backs, pine trees and 'quaking aspens' ('Quakies') turning golden. Leather squeaking, horses puffing, rhythmic muffled hoofbeats, leaves rattling, winds 'shshing', hawks sceaming and distant raven caws.... how I am missing it!

This is the destination. A rustic log cabin nestled in a peaceful valley, 100 years from our world, in the mountain wilderness just outside of Durango, Colorado.

*sigh*