CEDAR PASS

To get the next bunch of calves in to brand we have to come off the East Range.  This requires coming out of one valley, going over a mountain pass and into and across the next valley and to the Davies Ranch.  

Ryan has been home for a couple weeks and has been a big help in getting the work done.

The first day we gathered the cows that were up in the hills and headed them over the mountain.  

Most of the calves were pretty big.
Dave and I went back down the trail to load up a lame cow and her calf.  Lame means the cow has an injured leg or something causing her to not walk well.

First we positioned the trailers strategically.

We found the cow.  This took a little searching.

We slowly and calmly moved her and the calf to the trailers.

We patiently waited for the cow to check out the trailer, trying hard to not scare her or the calf.

It was looking hopeful.

But NO.. So Dave pulled his rope out thinking he would have to rope the calf. 

He swung his rope but didn't scare them too much.  The calf got a little worried and stayed closer to it's mom and Dave circled them back to the trailers.

We stood there quite a while until the cow decided it was safe to step in.

Woohoo, success. 
Now that is how you load a cow.  Dave is a great cowboy, I am just there for moral support most of the time.  But I am learning a lot.
By the time we got the cow and calf loaded the cowboys had the cows over the top of the mountain and were waiting on us.  
The next day they went out and kicked everything off the bench and into the pasture.
Then yesterday we headed back out East to continue gathering the rest of the cows that were in the lower country.  We had farther to go and we seemed to have saved the slow cows for last.

It was also Clay's Birthday.  He always celebrates by taking cows over Cedar Pass.  He doesn't seem to mind.

There was a lot of wide open space to cover.

It seemed like we would never even get to the mountain pass.

We finally reached the gate.  Getting through it wasn't easy.  Look at Jewell's ears.  She is a cow eating horse.. 

We got them all through and then sat there quite a while waiting for moms and babies to find each other. They were all kinds of confused at this point. 

Here's the birthday boy.

My horse was bigger than Ryan's.  I thought that was funny.. 

We headed up the trail.

We finally reached the water station. And to let you know how behind we were, this is usually where we eat lunch. It was 5:00PM.  Needless to say, we let them pair up here as best we could and today the cowboys will head them over the mountain, down the bench and into the pasture.
 I stayed home because I have to prepare food for the branding on Saturday. Oh and I have an booboo. 

That's my leg.  Hazard of the job.  A calf's head hit me branding last week and it is where the saddle rubs it all day. So boss man Dave gave me the dave off.