Pat & Sharon O'Toole

Our sheepherders live, mostly year-round, in traditional sheepwagons. These efficient and sturdy homes were invented in 1884 in Rawlins, Wyoming by blacksmith James Candlish. They are remarkedly self-contained with a bed, a pull-out table under the bed, benches along either side, storage in every available space, and a cook stove, usually wood-burning, just near the front door. The door is a Dutch door, to allow for ventilation and for a look outside, while keeping the sheepdogs out. A window is above the bed. It must be large enough for a herder to escape through, in case of fire. On the outside are various bins for grain and tools. The design has changed very little over the decades. A modern running gear with rubbers wheels has replaced the old wooden wheels, and the tongue is usually designed to be pulled by a pickup truck, not a team of horses. A few outfits still move their wagons with a team.

Recently, when Pat was moving camp, the running gear, almost new, came apart. Bear in mind that the running gear features a double axle, so the back tires do not follow the front tires, in the best of times. Here are photos of our efforts to load the wagon onto a flatbed trailer, without the benefit of a skyhook. George and his cousin Don Burback were there to supervise.

George and Daniel: lining up the wagon
Dudley Creek, Routt National Forest

The first stage

Don, studying the problem

Winching it on

With the tire off

Praise the Lord! Success at last!
Daniel and Pat

A motorcylist happened by. He said he was traveling from Missouri to Canada. "I'll bet you see a lot of stuff," I said. "I've never seen anything like this," was his answer.

George and motorcylist
photos by Sharon O'Toole