Tracking Cougars

January 25 2009

A fresh thick snowfall, perfect for looking for cougar tracks up Pickett Creek.

I put on my hiking boots and gaiters, and Quincy put on her stylish Snow Ball Boots, (she actually picked them soon after we got started, and, much to her annoyance, she couldn't get rid of them ) and the dogs and I hiked up the canyon.

The road was pristine - there was not one single paw print or hoof print along the entire 1 3/4 mile road to the Narrows in the 5 inches of snow.

We did see 2 herds of deer, one on either side of the canyon that, when we got to within a half mile of them, took off up and over the bluffs on either side. We also saw an eagle and a northern harrier, and we heard a coyote howl fairly close by.

When we got to the Narrows, the sun was a faint glowing ball in the southwestern sky. We hiked on into the narrow red-walled canyon, startling the pigeons hanging out on the cliffs, plowing through the undisturbed snow, crawling under heavy snow-laden branches draping the creek, getting snow down our backs, and splashing through the creek itself. There's a surprising amount of water flowing in the creek up there now, though it still disappears in places on its course down-canyon, flowing again near our house, disappearing and reappearing occasionally as it heads down to Oreana.

We finally came across a few deer tracks in the narrow canyon itself - but no cat prints, not even any coyote prints. I was hoping to see the long-eared owl that lives in the canyon, but he was gone too. Probably heard us coming a mile away, panting loudly as we waded through the snow and splashed in the creek.

I am pretty sure, what with the deer hanging out, and the absence of any paw prints and the lack of raised dog hackles, and the lack of horse alertness, that there were no cougars in the vicinity. In fact, despite the rumors of 2 cougar kills I've heard of in the last two years in this canyon, I will remain skeptical until I see concrete evidence with my own eyes. I'm always looking : )

I didn't really expect to see any cats or any evidence - it was really just a great excuse to hike for 5 miles in the snow.

Fabulous Four

Sunday January 25 2009

The Owyhees did it - they made a very brief appearance yesterday morning, just to let us know that they really are still there, waiting behind the veil of clouds and fog that has moved in and staked a claim here for weeks.

And then they disappeared again, the clouds moved back in, followed by the fog, followed by a whiteout.

And this morning - another fabulous four inches of snow.

Which Knot?

Friday January 23 2009

Apparently, we had a Knot contest here last night. Team Turnout vs Team Lame Pen.

Team Turnout: Dudley and Finneas put a Witch Knot in Jose's mane. It was a medium sized one, but a good one. Intricately divided and twisted, half-hitched and diamond hitched and flipped inside and out, entwined together and woven apart and back together, the Knot defied logic.

Team Lame Pen: Stormy, Kazam, and Princess worked on a Wish Knot in Quickie's mane. It was much like Jose's, just a miniature version, but intricate nonetheless.

Wish Knot/Witch Knot - I call it both. So tangled it's a Witch Knot, and I sure Wish this Knot was not in there.

I took care of a forest service horse, Zak, who, every year, for the 9 years that I knew him, came back from his winter turnout with the same Witch Knot in his mane. Same huge mess, same place in his mane. Every year. Sometimes he developed one during the summer too, same place in his mane, same big tangle.

So I haltered Jose and took him out for an appointment at the Owyhee Hair and Snack Spa, set him up with a wheelbarrow full of the good hay (a special treat), and worked on his mane Knot. Mane Detangler or Showsheen or Cowboy Magic are great for working knots out without losing too much hair. So is cooking oil if you're desperate (and if you're going to shampoo afterwards), and so is any hair product with silicone in it. It took a while, but I got the Knot out, and Jose once again had a smooth, straight, shiny, mane.

Jose and Team Turnout won the Wish/Witch Knot Contest.

So, seriously, what's up with the Wish Knots in the manes this morning? Jose and Quickie NEVER have knots in their manes. Was it a Horse Hair Witch? Did the horses get together and work on this, and if so, with what - their noses? Their teeth? Their hooves? Was it a Weather Witch - the sheer sheets of ice that came down last night, followed by 2 inches of snow? Don't you think it's very odd that it would just be a coincidence that two horses who never get knots in their manes both had them this morning?

Sometimes I prefer not to believe there's a scientific explanation.

Who Took My Mountains

Thursday January 22 2009

It's been so long since I've seen the Owyhees - only 6 miles up the canyon - that I'm not sure they are still there.

Something like two weeks ago, they were big and in your face and covered with snow, but visibility has been, for two solid weeks, a mile at the most, and 50 yards at the least. The hoarfrost is mostly gone in the canyon here, but the temperature has varied little from 25* since the last glimpse of the sun.

Stormy took me on a cold ride this morning after a slight smattering of snowflakes on the porch steps. As we headed down the road, briefly the sun tried to make a timid appearance, just to remind us that it IS still up there somewhere. We fleetingly cast an impostor of a shadow... until the sun gave up and evaporated behind clouds again.

If you move along, you can stay warm, but with Stormy - it was one of those cold rides. We go slow because he's got bad feet. And because he's lazy. And because he likes to eat his way up the washes. That's okay with me, he enjoys it. (Anything for my horse : )

Today the clouds are higher, visibility is a bit further, but still no Owyhee Mountains. Just a bit of hoarfrost is still lingering on the sagebrush on the northwest flats; and on one, single 15 foot span of barbed wire between fence posts up there, hoarfrost still clings fiercely to one side of the barbed wire. It's only on this one short section of fencing, and nowhere else. The mysterious magic of ice.

It was chilly, a slight breeze freezing toes and fingers nearing the end of the ride - feet stuffed far into the fleece stirrup covers Carol made for me, gloved hands stuffed down in pockets, and head hunched down into zipped layers.

My eyes were watering. Stormy and I both had a runny nose. It hurts the frozen feet to get off the tall horse to open a gate, and it hurts to mount back up (well, that has less to do with the cold and more to do with wear and tear : )

In a rather perverse way, I love the gray skies and fog, and yes, the snow and the cold - though it would be nice to get a glimpse of the mountains again one of these days, just to make sure they are there. And it IS nice to get back into the house and thaw the frozen body parts.

Fog II

Friday January 16 2009

We've been cloaked in frozen fog for 2 nights and days now, a gray-white veil that comes with hoarfrost. It looks like fine white lace sprayed everywhere, or a snowfall that didn't quite make it onto the ground. An enchanting wonderland, another version of winter. What is it about ice that is so fascinating to me? The hoarfrost is choosy where it decorates: it has disregarded the fences, the ground, rocks, buildings and non-live plant material except for tumbleweeds; it has grown on and completely covered every living plant - tree, grass, weed, single-stem blades; single horse-tail hairs hanging off fences,
horse tails on horses,
halters and lead ropes.
And it grows more on one side - as if the fog snuck in from one direction. The west-facing sides of the plants have a few millimeters of ice, while the east-facing sides have a quarter inch. I haven't seen the hills that rise on either side of this canyon for two days. Sometimes the fog is so thick I can't see the horses 50 yards away.

It's only about 25*F, but at 80% humidity, it's a biting cold that stings your nose as soon as you step outside.

There's a unique quiet that fog brings, like a blanket thrown over everything. It's quiet out here in Owhyee anyway, but under the fog everything is muffled. A bird calls and it is immediately silenced. A horse chews a mouthful of hay then it's muffled. And you get a sense of waiting between the silent spaces... waiting for the next hoofstep as the horses move along to graze, the next single Raven caw, the slight trickle from the creek (if you are right next to it).


I've been lost in fog before. I could possibly get lost out here on a ride if I stray from the washes and trails that I know well, or if I don't pay attention to what trail I'm on. I wonder if the horses would still know the way home, with their internal compass? I bet they would. The forecast is unchanged for the next week. Maybe I'll go test the equine compass theory tomorrow.

You Don't Want to Come Here

Friday January 9 2009

Did somebody say they wanted to see some pictures with blue skies?

We took out Jose and Surri, working our way up Pickett Creek Canyon, entering the narrows, ducking under tunnels of vines draped over the creek, following the intermittently dry creekbed, underneath red cliff walls framed by white-feathered blue skies.

The day was quite spectacular, chilly but comfortable, so clear "you can see New York from here," said Carol, ("but I'm glad we can't!" I said), and over trails free of slippery snow and slick mud. Our mounts were willing, clattering over the cobbled creekbed, bulling their way through overgrown brush and under new downed tree branches, climbing a steep hill out of the canyon, trotting boldly back along the ridge. It was pretty close to perfect.


But wait - maybe I better watch what I'm saying. We sure don't want a rush of the wrong crowd (i.e. those that won't appreciate it) moving out and staking a claim here, or pulling in for an open-ended visit. So disregard what I said earlier. On second thought, it was a dreadful day, (imagine brooding gray wet skies), it's a boring place to ride, all we have is half broke darned Arabians to ride, and just too many danged people around this crowded Owyhee County.

You don't really want to come here.