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Riding In the Bottom of a Cloud

Posted on September 20, 2019September 20, 2019

(continued from yesterday’s post)

We’d had a full slate of gathering and pregnancy testing our heifers. Normally, we’d follow the vet down the mountain, calling it a day, especially to escape the strong winds that had blown constantly. But there was a debate.

Bad weather was supposed to come in later in the week, when we had planned to wean. Weaning is stressful… calves get sick. Add bad weather, and they could really succumb to illness.

Do we wean ahead of schedule? Could we find semi’s to haul the calves off earlier? Will it be too wet to get those huge trucks up the mountain? What should we do?

If we gathered enough cattle to wean off a truckload of calves first thing in the morning, we’d be ahead of the game. We could then gather more as the truck made its way down the mountain, and then back up.

Finally, Brandon made the decision. “Let’s gather.”

Off we rode, hunched against the wind.

Within minutes, the clouds snagged on the mountain tops, whisking along, cotton tumbleweeds meeting jagged stone and Douglas fir.

Daniel and Megan ride below me, bringing the cows up from the bottom. I thought the clouds were low before, but now they gust past me. I’m riding in the bottom of a cloud.

My camera has a hard time focusing… whether because of the wind, the movement of Panama beneath me, or because my hands were shaking.

I think I know where I’m riding… but come to find out, we hit the fence a little higher than expected. No big deal, but I could have sworn I was lower!

The horses’ tails are waving. Hoods are up. Shoulders braced against the biting wind. I’m not the only one acting cold. Come on, cows… get through the gate!

Where was Brandon? He had found a sick calf and was following it to the corral. He was spotted through the fog, and we jogged to the corner and followed him through the corral.

We split into jobs, Megan and I unsaddling our horses with cold stiffened fingers. The guys loaded supplies. Having missed supper, we grab some grapes and chips, load up in our respective pickups… and finally head for home.

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6 thoughts on “Riding In the Bottom of a Cloud”

  1. Joanne says:
    September 22, 2019 at 12:36 PM

    Well done on all that hard work in windy, cold weather.

    Reply
  2. Joan Wood says:
    September 21, 2019 at 8:19 PM

    I got cold just reading about it. Sounds like some days the job is just too much fun.

    Good job!!!

    Reply
  3. Della says:
    September 21, 2019 at 1:04 PM

    You know it’s hard work and a job well done after a day like that. I hope so, anyway!

    Reply
  4. ginger busta says:
    September 21, 2019 at 7:22 AM

    God bless you and yours for living the wonderful, not always easy life you do.

    Reply
  5. ginger busta says:
    September 21, 2019 at 7:19 AM

    God bless you all for the wonderful life you live. Not always easy, but doing what has to be done.

    Reply
  6. CindyC says:
    September 20, 2019 at 11:40 PM

    What a day!

    Reply

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Carol, Wyoming rancher

Since 2008, I’ve kept this photographic journal of life on a Wyoming ranch.  I share ranch work, my family, crafts and DIY, my English Shepherd, Bravo, and a love for this land.  Enjoy this red dirt country!

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