A new adventure

By Blair Hunewill
December 29th marked the beginning of a new era here at the Hunewill Ranch.  On that day we turned the first of our cows out on the Whiskey Flat grazing permit.  This permit covers 239,000 acres (373 square miles) in Mineral County, Nevada and includes Whiskey Flat, Little Whiskey Flat, Garfield Flat, Rattlesnake and Douglas Valley.  This is a beautiful and desolate area northeast of Mono Lake.  We have been busy moving vehicles, trailers and equipment out to the camp in preparation for the big turn outs.  Our cows have been out on grazing permits before, but never something of this size.

The first cows exit the truck on the morning of December 29.  I had returned from Oregon's buckaroo country the night before and drove out early to be with my parents when the first cows arrived.

The first cows are held in a rodear while the second truck unloads.  It may look barren to the untrained eye, but there is a lot of good forage.  The cows will eat Rice Grass, White Sage (aka "Winter Fat"), Four Wing Salt Bush and other plants.

My mother and Riley let the cows drift south towards the water tanks.  Temperatures were in the high teens with a slight icy breeze.

  While a very handsome horse, Potter was very "spirited" and energetic after not being ridden much in the last few weeks.  Eating a lot of wheat hay back at the corral made sure that he was full of energy and a handful.

The first day we were careful to drift all the cows to the water point and leave them only after the entire herd had settled.  The ordinance disposal site to our south set off ten big explosions up on a mountain top about six miles from us.  The booms and smoke were impressive but horses and cows didn't seem to notice.  We were pretty pleased with everything and relieved at how well things were going.  Sure we had a few surprises like the water pump going out on a truck and frozen pipes in the camp trailer but things were going okay.  We decided to head into Hawthorne for dinner.  We spotted the cows heading north at a brisk walk.  They thought they were back on the cattle drive!  We turned them back to water and went in to eat.  The next morning they were gone!  We found them bedded seven miles north of where we left them.

Out here water has to be hauled until we can improve some of the spring sites.  This water truck is doing a fine job of getting the job done.  I broke the handle off a frozen drain valve before getting smart and pouring hot water on the other frozen valve to loosen it up.  We decided instead of  trailing the cows back to the first water point we would haul tanks and water to a nearby place and show them where to drink.

Did I mention how darned cold it was?  The temperatures stayed around 18 degrees all day with a frigid north wind of around 20mph.  By afternoon our relief crew had showed up.  Leslie, Dalton, Ashley and Sierra brought horses to take over for us and allow us to return home to showers and warmth.  Leslie and I trailered about a mile and a half from the cows and an equal distance from the water troughs.  Trotting into the wind was not fun but the wind helped the cows move south.

We crossed a steep ravine about a mile from the troughs.  The cows ran down the hill and up the other side.  There are few things colder than pushing cows at a slow walk and just sitting in the saddle.  Trotting helps keep a rider warm but we didn't have a lot of chances for that.  I took a glove off to answer the radio and it just made me cold.  I had long underwear, two pairs of socks, five layers up top, jeans, armitas, silk wildrag and a warm hat and I didn't feel warm until I got home and into a hot shower hours later.

December at the Ranch

It is December at the Hunewill Ranch and we have had a few storms and are hoping for more to help end the drought. But it is definitely exciting to see some of the white stuff sticking in the mountains.  This last week we got the last of the animals moved to Smith Valley for the winter. The bulls left on Tuesday and the horses were hauled out in a total of 18 stock trailer loads.

This is Blair and his dog Ham leading horses out to load them in the trailers. 

Horses waiting to be loaded. 

Leslie holding the gate.

Trailers at the ready.

Heading up the ranch road to pick up more horses.

 On Wednesday as I drove up and down the road I thought about the horses in the back of my trailer and the people who had enjoyed riding them during the summer. As I loaded, Josh, the Morgan, I thought about the German gentleman, that had raved about working cattle aboard his sturdy back, as Chief jumped aboard I thought about the blond six-year-old with the movie star mom who wrote him a letter on the way home thanking him for being such a great horse, and Lorna Dun made me think of Austin, the enthusiastic teenager, chasing after Tyler on the advanced ride. These great horses of ours make me proud, week after week as they help our wonderful guests make ranch memories. 

Here is a picture of the horses in Smith Valley. They will spend the winter here at 4500 feet.

We were really glad we moved everything out of Bridgeport when we did. The day after we were done we had 100 mile an hour winds at the ranch. The winds blew the top off a tree, moved a shed and broke windows.  Winter is here.

Here is a picture that Blair took today of the top of a pine tree that was blown out of one of our ranch trees. He went to Bridgeport to check on storm damage. We are lucky the tree didn't land on anything.

 

 

 

December windstorm

Like much of California, the Bridgeport Valley endured some exciting weather over the last few days.  Unlike other parts of the state that endured record setting rainfall, the ranch enjoyed an incredible windstorm with a light sprinkling of precipitation.  Lots of tree limbs fell, a window was broken and a building was wedged between a fence and a pole. 

 This 10x10 foot building was moved to the ranch last spring.  It was sitting on several 4x4s to keep it off the ground.  The wind blew the shed until it wedged itself.

 

This tree top landed right in front of the reading room.  

Talent Night at Hunewill Ranch

Hunewill Ranch Talent Night

While cell phones and wifi usually work; here at the Hunewill Ranch almost all of our entertainment, activities, relaxation, and fun are “unplugged”.  In addition to the amazing horseback riding and great meals, we have cookouts, colt gentling, roping practice, bingo, square dancing, hay rides, campfire, and of course, Talent Night.   After all these years one would think there is nothing new, but human ingenuity continues to surprise us.  This summer, among other things, we had “Horrible Histories”, a rap about Charles II, recited in a lovely English accent by three young ladies.  They said it is a fun way that history is sometimes taught in the UK.    We also had a guest show an amazing movie trailer for a documentary film that she recently completed.   Some of our guests showed their fishing talents  by filming their experience.   Whether you like to fish or not, the enthusiasm & humor shared was infectious.   They caught and released over 150 fish.     A professional singer, a young artist, and a seamstress also performed or exhibited their talents.    In the past we have had a concert cellist, a concert pianist, and a concert violinist share their gifts.    Along with the guest participation, the staff and Hunewill Family contribute to the evening.     You may see “The Singing Chins”, hear classic cowboy poetry, original cowboy poetry, musical duets, or a cappella songs.  You may learn some history about the cowbell or perhaps barbed wire.  You may see some tap, jazz, or ballet dance.  And you may experience a hearty belly laugh inspired by an unexpected joke.  So I guess you get the idea.  Talent Night at Hunewill Ranch is fun, entertaining, and sometimes even awe inspiring.

The "Singing Chins", an old favorite with new energy & faces.

Sim Quintero, Tyler Elliott, Dalton Wright, Aspen Wright, Elisha Pierce-Brown, Ashley Murray, Sierra Hunewill, Rhiannon Wright, Izzie Raitt, (probably not in that order)

Guitar/Accordion Duet

Betsy Hunewill Elliott & Dr. Ken Gardner

 You probably shouldn't believe everything this guy tells you....

He is fondly referred to as Dr. Ken.

The "Chins" up close.

 

For those who want to share their piano playing talents, we go to the parlor.  Before we had the "Summer House" this is where everyone got together. 

 

                         Elisha Pierce Brown (one of our wranglers) and his dad Matt play a humorous 

                       song about a gal who loves a guy because of his automobile.

 

                     Aspen Hunewill Wright - when she's dancing, you can't take your eyes off of her.

    This was a rousing version of Zack Brown's "Chicken Fry" by Marissa Lundvall and Collin Seelye. 

     

 Talent Night is truly an evening that will move the audience from laughter to tears and back again -

 brush up, you might be the next undiscovered act.

Hunewill Ranch July Fun!

We have been having some great summer fun here at the ranch!

Here is a photo our our intermediate ride loping through the puddle last Friday!

Winding through the willows behind Robinson Creek.

Bradley, one of the babysitter buckaroos doing an art project!

Family bonding time in the ranch house swing.

Roping on Monday night under some great clouds.

Sky, Mountains, Riders, Puddle, Meadow- What more do you need?

Riding out on Friday afternoon.

A few outlaws, a refined gentleman, and a blizzard - photos from the archives

 Looks like a tough group to me...maybe a group of outlaws? Or maybe just some fishermen protecting their secret spot...
The guy on the gray horse has a bit of twine through the horse's mouth and that's it - and possibly the same on the horse to the right as well. The two horses probably pulled the wagon (behind the kneeling group) up to that spot.   Most all of the group is holding guns, but there are a few fishing rods in there as well.  Looks a little dry to be fishing...

  This photo has to be one of my favorites.  I can feel and hear the breeze blowing through those trees and rustling through the tall grass, the birds chirping, insects humming. It's not too hot yet, so a good time to go fishing and to be in a beautiful place.

I love this photo because the man on the far right looks like he is wearing his Sunday best.  A refined gentleman in his fancy hat out for a ride, accompanied by a group of friends and some ladies in their fine hats and big smiles.  

This is Alice Esther Hardy - daughter of Lucille Hunewill.  She is wearing a riding habit that belonged to her grandmother, Alice Hunewill - and looking rather dashing, don't you think?

And lastly, even though it is July, a little reminder that winter always comes and with it, the snow.  This picture is also one of my favorites because it shows what all of us who have livestock know: that there are always things to be done on the ranch and that the livestock need care (or other jobs need to be done) even in the worst of weather.  There are no 9 to 5 days here, we do what needs to get done, however long it takes, rain, snow, sleet, or shine.  

Hope you enjoyed the latest from the archives!

All photos in this post are copyrighted to Hunewill Land & Livestock, all rights reserved.

Many faces of both places... Bridgeport and Smith Valley Ranches.

Smith Valley opens with a sunrise.

Bridgeport counters with a sunset.

                                                                

                

Smith Valley goes for subtle.

                

Bridgeport answers.

                        

Smith Valley Pot O" Gold.

                 

Bridgeport bold.

                                

Smith Valley wears white.

                                            

                                          

Bridgeport puts on the green.

                                                          

    Either way it's a win because both places put on a great face!

      

The Cute, The Strange, and The Baffling - Old Photos from the Ranch Archives

When I'm organizing the hundreds of old photos of life around the ranch, sometimes I stumble upon some pictures that make me smile, get a bit puzzled, or furrow my brow.  Here are a few of those pictures.

 This picture could easily have been taken today--there's always someone who likes to pull off this little trick! 

 I have been trying to figure out what on earth is going on in this picture for about a year.  What is that contraption? The only thing I can think of is that the wheel is powering something, so maybe it's an early form of clippers.  You can see the man standing is cranking the wheel with his right hand.  The man on the ground is holding an object in his left hand and is holding the horse's tail out of the way with his right. If you have any ideas, please leave a comment!

 I love the expression this kid has.  He seems tired, or bored, or maybe he's just had enough of holding the horse for the camera.  The horse looks a little unsure of the whole operation.  I have found four or five pictures of this same scene with the little boy going from attentively holding the horse to this picture where he is just done!

 This picture puzzles me. There is a rough looking coyote in the foreground, but the only one paying any attention to it is the horse in the middle--the dog is ignoring it, and the other two horses as well as the people seem to be looking at the photographer.  Why were they taking a picture with this coyote?  It'll forever be a mystery.

 I have nicknamed this picture "Best Dressed" because I can't think of anyone I know who would go out into the corral wearing fancy shoes, pantyhose, and a skirt.  Now that's style!  Plus, I also love the head of the dog peeking over the corral boards.

 Now that's a heavy load!  I think this is some kind of mining equipment.  This picture was taken at the south end of Smith Valley, so I think they must be headed to Bridgeport or somewhere in that area, possibly Bodie, to deliver this piece of equipment.  

I guess one way to keep the boys out of trouble is to have them drive a team of donkeys around while they're afoot.  The kid on the left looks like he's seen his dad stand like that and is doing his best to imitate him.  There are multiple pictures of these boys driving these donkeys with a hay cart, a spring wagon, and a buggy.  

Hope you enjoyed these pics from the ranch archives!

All photos in this post are copyrighted to Hunewill Land & Livestock, all rights reserved.