Member of the
Dude Ranchers'
Association
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
SERVICE PROVIDER
OPERATING
UNDER PERMIT
ISSUED BY THE BRIDGER-TETON
NATIONAL FOREST |
Lozier's
Lonesome Dove
Spring Cattle Drives
Three full weeks - 8 days and 7 nights - Sunday to Sunday
A
Spring Cattle Drive will give you a truly genuine,
un-pampered opportunity to become part of the
REAL WEST while working amongst
cattle, cowboys, ranchers, and their wonderful families. These people
toil day-in and day-out to wrest a peaceful, pleasant outdoor living from
the grip of an unsympathetic, often harsh landscape and high altitude
grassland pastures of the wide open western mountain ranges.
Due to the relatively harsh climate of this mountainous
area, ranching (in the true sense of the word) is the only
open land occupation that is compatible with the average of
35-65 frost free days of growing season, and as a
consequence, there is no farming in this area.
During our Spring Cattle Drives, we
and our guests of the
Lozier's Box "R" Ranch assist numerous neighboring ranchers. Nearly
25 of these families make up the Upper Green River Cattle Association, known
as “The Drift.” This
association of ranchers is the largest and oldest continuous grazing
partnership on federal lands within the United States. This consortium of
11,000+ head of cows, calves, yearlings, and bulls are driven or “drift” 30
to 75 miles to and from their high country summer grazing allotments on the
national forest. We'll take time to teach you the necessary skills for :
driving cattle across open country or through steep & heavily wooded
mountains, the art of sorting , how to "think like a cow " and to predict
their actions & reactions, how and when to doctor sick cattle, and of course
how to get your boots and britches dirty.
We'll explain the historical background and the long tenured necessity of
"the Green River Drift" and our anticipated cattle drives. The
immense areas utilized by
"the Drift" will
require us to plan the logistics of separating into several small groups,
allowing us to assist several neighbors at the same time. The
management of our own cattle, horses, and other neighboring livestock ( not
associated with "the
Drift"), coupled with some scenic and pleasure riding, will grant us
the opportunity to see a huge portion of Western Wyoming's cattle country
and topography. We and our Wyoming cattle ranching neighbors offer this
unusual, true western "be part of our family" environment here beneath the
Wind River Mountains.
The itinerary for a typical
Cattle Drive
would be starting
Sunday with your arrival to the
ranch, and/or pick-up at the Jackson Hole airport or a local motel. Upon
arrival at the ranch we will show you to your bunk, let you familiarize
yourself with the ranch’s lay-out and after dinner we’ll skim over the
week’s program, and our anticipated cattle drive routes and discuss needed
gear (boots, hat, leather gloves, and rain gear required) with “optionals”
such as spurs, chaps, dusters, vests, and throw ropes, all of which can be
purchased locally.
Monday - After a hearty breakfast, we will gather at the barn to
introduce you to your four-legged partner and work our way through a
thorough, informative, and exciting basic horsemanship program. This will
help to familiarize you with some of our cowboy tricks, which will better
prepare you for a week of riding and ranch working activities. We do require
that all riders be comfortable with their tack and mount, that they are
capable of mounting and dismounting, handling a trot and canter safely, and
are at ease in open space riding before leaving the ranch. We will spend the
morning instructing you how to get your horse to do what YOU want in a
controlled manner, which will result in an enjoyable week of riding. If time
permits we will take a trail ride along the numerous wildlife trails
throughout the ranch.
After lunch back at the ranch house, we will return to the arena for an
exciting
afternoon of live cattle work. For our cattle drive weeks we will teach you
how to think like a cow and handle cattle in a controlled manner. During all
weeks at the ranch we will have some cowboy fun with team penning and
roping. Guests are encouraged participate in these events to the extent they
desire.
Upon your return to the ranch, indulge in superb evening meals
consisting of steaks,chops, prime rib, fresh breads, salad bar and fancy
deserts, then enjoy a peaceful evening under star studded skies, with the
campfire flickering as we sing some songs or share stories and jokes from
around the country. This vacation provides for a lot of individual riding
with little or no nose-to-tail trail riding. Anglers may enjoy fishing on
Willow Creek’s four mile course through the ranch or in several private
ponds. There are endless opportunities for all levels of hiking enthusiasts,
photographers, and those who enjoy the revitalizing pure mountain air.
Tuesday - Saturday - After
rising before daylight; and you have caught, brushed and saddled "yer hoss,"
today will offer our first opportunity to get out on the open range to
practice sorting, gathering, and trailing cattle. A typical day may involve
getting up at 4:00 a.m., grabbing a quick breakfast and cup of coffee and be
on the trail by dawn. We will travel to the herd and begin “stringing out”
from 50 to 1000 cattle through hills, valleys, creek bottoms, thick timber,
and other often difficult terrain. You will be in awe when you gaze upon a
sunrise horizon or a mist filled valley working with the cattle until late
morning. Enjoy your saddlebag lunch while keeping a watchful eye on "your
steed" as he grazes in a lush meadow, or take a cozy siesta under a
whispering pine.
Available June 9th- 16th
/ June 16th - 23rd / June 23rd -
June 30th
$1895 double / $1995 single
Adults
Only
NOTE: all cattle
drive activities are "tentative", participants need to bear in mind that the
weeks activities are not an improvisation and are governed by the numerous
factors involving the cattle’s essential needs, trailing distances, weather,
federal agencies, and continuity of up to 25 neighboring ranches.
|