Janie's Journal

January 26th
Wallowa County’s Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog races will begin at one O’clock this afternoon at our local “Fergi” (Ferguson Ridge) ski area, which lies South of Tucker Down Road. The snowy ski runs are visible from my kitchen window. I sure hope it’s snowing up there, and not raining, like it is here. At this lower elevation... there IS no snow. While tending my chores this morning it was a balmy 37 degrees. However, living here on Prairie Creek for 34 winters, has taught me that our weather can change in mere minutes. Just last week, on the 21st, to be exact, the temperature dropped 10 degrees in 10 minutes. I’d gone out to throw hay to my heifers in the midst of a morning so mild, the sparrows were singing. However, “Out North” an unusually dark cloud appeared to be moving this way. By the time I emerged from the chicken house, Prairie Creek was enveloped in a swirling blizzard. With Teeth chattering and a snow-plastered face, I fled to the warmth of my kitchen. To watch, again, the rapid transformation of dull colorless prairie to winter white.
I understand a record six 12-dog teams are registered for the annual Sled Dog event, with a total of 17 mushers entered in the various races. For the first time in three years I did not volunteer to help. Perhaps, if I were younger. For now, I’ll cherish those memories of being a member of the ‘09 Ollocot team. Naturally, I’ll be thinking of those adventurous mushers and their courageous dogs, as they leave the starting line... an hour from now. Our ever-changing weather continues to be an adventure in itself. As predicted, strong winds out of the West have risen... and high on Mt. Howard and East Peak snow “banners” unfurl into a cold blue sky. Can imagine that blowing snow, along those lonely back- country trails. A real challenge for this year’s entrants, not to mention snow showers, in tonight’s forecast.
Tuesday morning I met with our Write Group at Cloud 9 Bakery in Enterprise for our weekly session. Then it was back to my kitchen to bake desserts for the annual Stockgrowers “Dollars for Scholars” dinner/auction at Cloverleaf Hall.
That evening Doug and I joined a record crowd of predominately young ranchers and their families to enjoy another one of Randy Garnett’s famous prime rib dinners. Which was followed by the anticipated Dessert Auction. Craig Nichols, offering his auctioneering skills, livened up the action. After a spirited bidding war over my raspberry cobbler, the table next to us won. The final bid... $260. As a matter of fact, all the other scrumptious pies, cakes, cheesecakes and cobblers, created by our county’s generous cooks, fetched outrageous prices. Doug purchased a cake, then offered it for resale. Great-granddaughter Lucy had her eye on a glossy three-tiered cherry chocolate cake, baked by Marjorie Hudson. So, Jeff Dawson, who was sitting at our table, offered the final bid. Thanks Jeff. Buck, (Lucy’s daddy) cut the cake, and we savored every forkful.
Proceeds from silent and live auction donations, plus desserts, which amounted to $5,800 will go toward college scholarships for our local youth enrolled in ag-related fields. The Stockgrowers also award money to deserving F.F.A. members to purchase heifers for their projects, and the Wallowa Co. Hay Growers donate hay to feed those heifers. Anna Rinehart, Joseph and Wyatt Smith, Imnaha were awarded checks to purchase heifers. Every effort to encourage the continuation of the livestock industry and agriculture in Wallowa County is to be applauded.
There were several old-timers sprinkled among the newer generation of ranchers...among them Marilyn Johnson of Wallowa, who, along with her late husband Reid, contributed so much to the cattle industry. Which would include their daughter Sara Lynn, who organized the very successful event. Cynthia Warnock, upper Imnaha rancher, contributes as well, to all Stockgrower projects. It was good to see Dave and Shirley Parker (Highview Ranch) there, as well as a table full of lower valley ranchers (thanks for buying my chocolate pie!) Other Ag- related scholarships offered include the Jim Probert/ Helen Boucher Memorial scholarships, as well as a scholarship in memory of Doris Goucher.
After Sara Lynn welcomed the large turnout, she suggested we shouldn’t talk about wolves, rather we were encouraged to take a break, visit with our neighbors, and have a good time. Judging from the number of youngsters running around Cloverleaf Hall there appears to be no shortage of future generation ranchers.
On January 18th Son Todd and his crew of cowboys and one cowgirl (wife Angie) started his herd of cows trailing from Big Sheep canyon to the Snyder place east of Enterprise. A three- day drive. These cows have grazed on natural bunch grass, ranging over thousands of acres that includes Marr Flat, the Divide and all that steep canyon country in between. They’ve been moved around on that range since last April, having been trailed to the canyons after their calves were born. The cows were in great shape, considering they haven’t had a bite of hay since that time.
I decided not to walk in back of Todd’s cows this year...and missed it very much. However, that morning on Prairie Creek, the snow was blowing so hard I couldn’t see our mountains, it was 16 degrees, and I knew the road up Sheep Creek hill would be icy. In other words, it was cold! All day I thought about son Ken, who’d been here at dawn to saddle his horse, Todd’s hired man Pat, wife Angie, and knew how tough they’d have to be. I’d been there myself over the years.
After the weather warmed somewhat, I decided to drive down and see how far they’d gotten, and there was Ken down at the barn, unsaddling his horse. They’d made it to the pasture at Hayden by 1:00 O’clock. A record.
Early next morning when the riders started the cows up Hayden canyon, a warm Chinook blew out of the south. All the snow melted, and rain clouds swept over the hills, spilling a fine Spring-like rain over the hardened patches of ice. I’d started a fire in the wood cook stove, and the house was so warm I opened the kitchen window. All morning I cooked: Two casseroles of tamale pie, a fry pan of sourdough biscuits, a tossed salad, and a large blackberry cobbler. Todd, who’d been spreading flakes of hay in Stilson’s pasture, where the cows would overnight, stopped in to say the herd should be arriving around 2:00. Then he left to drive up Echo Canyon to see if he could spot them. Angie had called earlier, saying they were “on top.” It began to rain, but there was a complete absence of wind...which was a blessing.
I kept looking for the lead cows to come into sight... around a bend of the road that leads to our neighbors the Patton’s. And, pretty soon, here they came...plodding along, nearly 400 head scattered out like ants crawling downhill. Finally there they were... the wet and weary cowboys and cowgirl, bringing up the rear.
Grandson Buck, who’d spent the morning hauling me another load of alfalfa hay from Mike Coppin’s barn, came into the kitchen. And smelled those sourdough biscuits, so of course I invited him to stay for dinner. Doug returned from the Range Rider and asked Buck to help him put chains on his tractor while we waited for the crew to tend to their horses. Pretty soon they all trooped in, washed up and wasted no time seating themselves around the kitchen table. I had steaming cups of hot chocolate and coffee for them, and then brought out the food. One of the joys of life is feeding hungry folks good food.
Buck, who had been hoisting 110 lb. bales was just as hungry as the bedraggled cowhands. Between the warmth of the stove and the food, everyone relaxed a bit before returning to Hayden to drive back the pickup and stocktrailer.
I did the dishes and, with little time to spare, loaded the four doz cookies, I’d baked the day before, and made it to the Methodist Church by 5:30. Idella and I were in charge of refreshments for the Big Read Lecture, presented by BeeBee Tan Beck. Who talked about Chinese customs and cooking. Am afraid I was too weary to absorb any tips on Chinese Cuisine, especially after preparing stick-to-the-ribs cowboy cooking.
The next morning at daylight Pat showed up to turn the herd out onto the gravel county road, and before noon the cows reached the end of their long trek. Here they’ll be fed hay daily, and begin to calve in late February and on into March.
A friend to many... Vaden Flock, of Snake River Road, Asotin WA. passed away last week. We’ll miss seeing him at the annual Ploughing Bee held at our neighbor’s ranch every Spring. I can still hear the bells Vaden attached to the harness hames worn by his beautiful team of mules.
And now it’s Jan 27th, and during the night those threatening snow clouds evaporated. And the stars and a crescent moon shone in a storm-polished sky. Can imagine the mushers, riding those snowy wilderness trails, were awed by the mountain night, with its brilliance of cold stars. They say sled dogs perform better when the temperatures are 10 below or 10 above. This morning, at dawn, before the sun rose on a clean clear day, our temperature was around 14, which would mean higher elevations were pretty close to perfect.
Must get this column e-mailed. Am running late. Our Write Group met here this morning to watch a Chinese film as part of the Big Read. I fed them home made clam chowder for lunch. Before the sun sinks over the mountain, Halley and I need a walk.
Janie Tippett
Joseph, Oregon