Crossing onto the Red Desert
Jose ready to enter the highway
Rodewald pasture
Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Early December marks the entry of our sheep onto the Red Desert. This is the last stage of the long trail that begins when we leave our National Forest grazing allotments around September 30th. We trail down to pastures near the Home Ranch, then on to intermediate pastures at Cottonwood and Badwater. We have to have snow to go on to our grazing allotments on the Red Desert--our winter country--because there is very little natural water and the sheep depend on snow for hydration throughout the winter months. Badwater is on the Continental Divide, so when we get the snow that allows us to go to the Red Desert, it is the same snow that pushes us out of Badwater. Part of this trail, spring and fall, involves crossing the Union Pacific railroad overpass and the Interstate 80 underpass. It is always an intense experience, as we flag the highway and make sure that the traffic stops while we make our way. It takes about an hour from the time we leave Duane and Debbie Rodewald's pasture south of the tracks until we cross the fenceline that marks the south boundary of the Red Desert allotments.
Union Pacific overpass
we had problems
That-A-Way
Passing the fireworks stand
Creston Junction
Past Creston Junction
Kate helping
After the I80 underpass
Almost there
Jose, after the underpass
Pepe putting the sheep through the gate
Red Desert
Out of harm's way
Red Desert
photos by Sharon O'Toole
