There's some sort of mystical bond between young girls and horses. It's rare to see this in boys, but it often happens early in a girl's life. They're drawn to horses, even before they set their hand or hearts to one. On the outside, especially from the viewpoint of a male it looks like girls can go …
Bringing Them All Back Home
It was a cryptic message, but I knew what it meant immediately. When I read the text, the two-week open window that had been a pesky nuisance in my mind finally slammed shut. I reread the satellite phone message from daughter Linnaea: "Got them loaded and about to drive out." That's it. Out of …
Sutter’s Mill and Salmon River Sediments
The Salmon River is running chocolate milk, and I think it saved us. I had been clattering on the rough cobble of the rocky shore, threading my way through downfall and impenetrable willow brush with my mare, Sunny, tracking a couple of steers in the early morning light as more rainclouds scudded …
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We Are Not Alone
They stealthed upon us suddenly in the silent black of night when we least expected it, as they often do. Ironically, we were just 5 minutes earlier taking about them. And it had been a while. We were all exhausted from a long day astride saddle horses in rough country. For icing on a fatigue …
Long Days and Lightning and Lantern Light
It's been a rough week on the range, but all is well that ends well. The country—and this season's climate simply got more difficult. The crew was thrust into thick forest, in a quest for the green grass of higher elevations. Meteorologists are saying that this is the driest, hottest spring and …
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First ER Trip of the Season
Finally, I have a forced sit-down. I'm sitting in the Salmon, hospital ER, at 16-year-old daughter Maddy's bedside. She's reading a novel on her phone, waiting for the doc. I figured I might as well write a novel...to all of you. I think we might be here for a while. Her backcountry …