First snow
Ewe and lamb near Little Red Park, Routt National Forest, Colorado
First snow, September 17, 2006
Photo by Pat O'Toole
We have had our first snowfall. Pat and I went yesterday to move a sheepcamp to Silver City Creek for Pepe, who has been in the high country in a tent for most of the summer. When he's in the pack camp, we take his groceries, salt and dog food in and his trash out by pack mule. It is almost time to bring the sheep and the cows off the forest (October 1st, generally) so we are staging for the fall trail.
Rainbow gate at Silver City Creek
Photo by Sharon O'Toole
Pepe's camp, Silver City Creek
photo by Sharon O'Toole
When we pulled into Pepe's usual camping spot on Silver City Creek, we found two things. The Rainbow Family had camped at this site, necessitating extensive trail restoration and reseeding. The Forest Service had built a fence across our traditional camp site, in order to remind the public not to use this area until the 50 miles or so of new paths and trails had healed up. We also found about six inches of snow, which should help a lot toward the regrowth of the plants in the spring. This is an early wet snow and will be off in a few days.
We know that Pepe is up even higher, bringing the sheep across the mountain to lower country. He must have at least a foot of snow on Farwell Mountain. Both Pepe and the sheep are resourceful and acclimated, so we have faith that they will emerge healthy and fat. (We always tease Pepe because he gains about 20 pounds in the summertime).
I am planning on leaving later today for Brazil, to visit my very ill sister. She has lived there since 1972. It is her home, but is a very long ways from our home. If I can connect with a computer, I will send an update from there.
Cows and Calves in Upper Smiley
photo by Pat O'Toole
