It Takes A Team

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Wagonteamster

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5/30/10, East Fork, Cimmaron River - It was a lazy morning, and we didn’t pull out of the camping spot near the public corral until about 9:30 am.  It was a tough pull until the road topped off, a couple of hundred feet higher than the Silverjack Reservoir. Ideally, I was looking for a nice camping spot where I could both see the mountains and do a little pond or lake fishing, as the rivers are still running hard and full of silt.

After meeting some folks and a Forrest Ranger, I decided on camping on the East Fork of the Cimmaron for the mountain view and good grazing; while saving the fishing for tomorrow, on Rowdy Lake.

Doc, taking the day off behind the wagon.  In the background, Silverjack Reservoir is a couple of hundred feet below the roadbed.

It was a beautiful day, with sunny skies, warming up to the 60’s by afternoon. Everybody we passed seemed delighted and surprised to see a horse drawn wagon, moving through the National Forrest, over 9000 feet above sea level.  As I was pulling abreast of the north end of the Reservoir, I met a Forrest Ranger, who gave me some good advice on a camping location.

Warren, who works for the Forrest Service has never seen a horse-drawn wagon up here in the Cimmaron’s. There probably has been one since the day when the harnesses were hung up in favor of the automobile.

Not long after I turned off on the East Fork road, I found a really nice meadow with good grazing and a view of the mountains. There was even a small stream running through the meadow, so I didn’t have to water the team. 

After setting up camp and eating lunch, I pulled the horses out to go for a horseback ride.  The saddles were left with the trailer down at the ranch, so we rode off bareback. I rode Bill, with his sawtooth backbone while Caroline took Doc. Bob just tagged along. We rode a couple of miles up the valley, until the road turned into a trailhead for the East Fork Trail. 

Getting ready to unhitch the team in the mountain meadow.

Other than the ride of the valley, the team has a lazy day, and got a chance to eat a lot of fresh mountain grass and take a couple of catnaps.  I think the Amigos really like the idea of a vacation in the mountains.

We visited with several other families camping in the valley and their kids got a kick out of petting and sitting on the horses.

After a spaghetti dinner, we ended the day with a nice campfire. I really enjoyed the day and look forward to another day of vacationing from my normal vacation!

Wagonteamster Camp, on the East Fork of the Cimmaron River.

Tomorrow, I’m headed back down the Big Cimmaron river a few miles to Rowdy Lake for a little fishing.

Doc and Bill enjoying their vacation.

B.O.B, munching a little grass.