Preparing for weather in May, plan on 75° or snow, or something
between. We had clouds and some sprinkles but overall weather wasn’t a problem.
The far Northwest Corner of Colorado is Browns Park, or
Browns Hole to some old timers, that is open range and has more temperate
winters than the surround area. The Sombrero Ranch is a big dude operation with
500+ horses that they winter in Browns Park. In May, they round up the horses
and move them to a ranch west of Craig, CO where they prepare them for the
summer season at their various locations, principally Estes Park at the
entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park and Trail Ridge Road. The route takes
the horses through Maybell, CO (population 60-80).
Maybell is a sort of epicenter for four to five generations
on my father’s side.
On the day of the horse drive, the population probably
exceeds 1,000.
Some relatives had good seats.
Maybell has a nice park, about 5 acres, with RV parking and
restrooms. Vendors can set up for free during the horse drive so long as they
clean up after themselves. Labor problems are everywhere. This year only about 100
horses were in the drive as the horses
must be shod and there is a shortage of farriers.
After the horses come the dudes.
https://www.sombrerohorses.com/horse-drive/
The old homesteads of the brothers Leonard and Frank White are
still in family hands. The land is no longer worked but a portion is now a
private cemetery and is some twelve miles west of Maybell across from Cross
Mountain. Due to COVID the horse drive was cancelled for two years. Usually,
there is a family gathering (we are way too disorganized to call it a reunion)
Saturday at the cemetery. This year two cremains were interred or scattered.
Every male is an “ace” mechanic so when cousin Danny’s
starter didn’t work, many hands were available to check every wire and to display
vast knowledge. One bright idea was to finally check fuses. Yep, the 30 amp to
the starter was blown. A 30 amp fuse from a Jeep was used, the truck started
and left running as the fuse was returned to the Jeep.
Later, the wipers on my car jammed. As we all contemplated
the task of removing cowlings, cousin Dorland gave one arm a sharp tug. The
wipers now work. All it took was a Wyoming truck driver’s finesse.
Craig, CO is a coal mining town, a ranch supply town, and an
oilfield town. The town’s way of life is under assault by the trust fund snots
who want to close coal fired power plants and end strip mining.
There is much irony in these pictures. One wonders what the
ROI is on those charging stations. A clerk inside says they get about one
customer every other day.
Banner and I stopped by the Ed Johnson house. He and his
wife came to Colorado for their health. Both were suffering from consumption,
as it was called in those days. My grandmother nursed both and helped them
adapt to the then wild west. They became lifelong friends.
Going to the event I drove to Laramie then on I-80 to
Creston Junction. From there via Baggs, WY to Craig. I wanted to pass by
Fortification Creek.
Along the route were many Pronghorn herds, and numerous dead
deer and elk. There was one small herd of feral horses.
One amusing site was a ranch with interesting “stuff”.
Please, I don’t know anything about the owners.
I returned via Walden,CO where I stopped to pay my respects
to my maternal relatives.
At the south city limits was a dead moose alongside the road.
Looking for a retirement location? Built in 1895, the
Victory Hotel in Maybell is for sale.
It comes with a detached two car garage.
While I enjoyed catching up with everyone, Banner had a
splendid time being petted, fed behind my back, and sleeping with me on the
motel king sized bed. Lucky I brought ear plugs.
A dead elk Banner did not get to investigate (or roll in).
