A. Most. Epic. Winter.

Tuesday January 10 2017

It's been EPIC so far.

Snow on the ground since December 4 - which has been thrilling enough, in these drought years.

Then a week ago Monday: an inch of snow. Monday night: 2 inches. Tuesday: 6 inches. Tuesday night and Wednesday: 8 inches. Wednesday: more snow. It's astounding. Thursday, Friday, the weekend, today, more snow that falls, gets packed down, freezes hard, layers on more, rains, snows again… I have lost count.

Unprecedented in the 10 or so years I've been here. (Wednesday set a couple of records in Boise, including a 65-year record.)

Everything is slower. You can't run around in this stuff. Hiking takes a long time when you sink to your knees (!!!) at every step. If you've got to walk to the neighbors', just expect it's going to take some time, because you'll be pulling each leg out of a deep hole every step. 

If you've got to hike/climb to the internet tower to brush the snow off the solar panels, take a backpack of gear and extra clothes, maybe some climbing ropes and crampons and an ice axe, and an extra bottom layer for when you have to bust through that hip-deep snow cornice near the top. 

But don't forget to be astounded by the views. Everything is stunningly beautiful. From the high desert landscape buried in snow, to the Owyhee mountains buried in snow, to the horses decorated with ice it is seriously a unique, extraordinary winter wonderland.

The horses are fine out there with plenty of hay to eat, and I am sure the horses prefer the winter to heat and bugs!

Dudley does, he's throwing his head up, "yes!"

Who woulda thunk I'd'a needed snowshoes this winter just for around the ranch. And winter's not over yet!

Snow Happy

Thursday December 17 2015

You can see by the picture above that I'm not the only one happy about the snow!

It came all of a sudden yesterday afternoon. One minute it was sunny, the next minute it was snowing, and in 30 minutes the ground was white. Yippee!

I've been turning Dudley out with the herd late mornings - leading them all up past the green gate so they can roam the 200 acres, and calling them back down in the evenings and locking them down at the house on the hay at nights (mostly because of cougar jitters - me, not them).

Some evenings, I can walk out and whistle-yell-whistle-yell, my voice echoing up the canyon if the wind is right, and they'll eventually come down on their own, sometimes sprinting, sometimes strolling. The other day I had to hike all the way up the canyon for them. They very bloody well heard me but gave me the hoof - totally ignored me, and I actually had to drive/chase them all the way back down. 

Yesterday evening in the snowstorm, I wondered if I'd even see the herd. I started hiking up the canyon, not even bothering to holler or whistle because the wind blew the sound right back down my throat.

But miraculously, the herd was already on their way back down. 

I barely caught a glimpse of movement in the sideways-whipping flakes, dark figures making a beeline back home to the hay. Dudley was in front, head down, Orlov trot turned on high, leading the herd on a mission (food!).

Stormy was the trailer. 

It was so snowy and windy, they never saw me, as I merged with sagebrush and rabbitbrush, watching them as they trotted on by.

More snow is supposed to be on the way today.

Dudley and I can only hope!

Goodbye 2014

 

December 31 2014

The snow wasn’t great for riding (it balled up in Dudley’s feet), but it was SNOW in Owyhee! The low was 0*F, and it warmed up to a toasty 20* when the sun crested the hills. Dudley took me out for the last ride of 2014. He’s looking forward to a thinner, fitter 2015!


Headed out

Dashing through the snow

Another horse who appreciates the views, just like Jose!