Month: January 2022

With the recent snows, it seems less and less likely that I will have visitors for quite some time. My neighbors behind me have returned, but are properly track machine enabled. Those otherwise, else on foot, shall not be traveling by any time soon.

When one gets accustomed to the stillness, the blanket of white, unmoving in the calmest January I have experienced in twenty plus years in Colorado, any movement catches the eye. Three yearlings wandered by first, letting me know life was continuing to thrive.

The next day, with text notifications, and the whiny buzz breaking the stillness for miles, human company stopped by as well.

Properly laden with monstrous tracks, my friends were trying out their new winter access vehicle, which climbed my ominous pass with nary a second thought. With the right gear, the right day, and the right attitude, winter can be quite magical and fun out here in the depths of the ranch.

The stillness returned after they returned to their own home. Calm, quiet, wind free and seemingly odd, but I brought in a few loads of firewood for the forthcoming storm last night at sunset. Clad only in jeans and a T-Shirt, it seemed unusually still, warm, and silent again. I am enjoying it much. Fifteen plus inches predicted to drop in the next couple of days, so an even deeper blanket of silence is about to land.

The weather forecasts have finally tipped the balance in the other direction. Four inches of fresh powder predicted for Tuesday, but about a foot landed on the mountain top. Things are returning to last winter’s norm, for the winds soon picked up and drifts over two feet deep blocked the dog’s morning rounds.

Last winter I made a lot of trails for the dog and I to explore, run, play hide and seek, etc. This year I’ve wrapped a band around the house, the old boy’s now limited daily loop, such that he can continue exploring his domain even though it is shrinking.

Another fresh round of snow in the overnight, and another morning with the snow blower. It sure is faster and more efficient, but you don’t know special until a blast of wind directs the spray back into your face on a five degree morning. The old dog refuses to even be outside when the beast is on; the throwing snow seems to unsettle him too much.

The chores are done, the grid is again brushed off and absorbing the rising sun on this day that should be sun filled until it sets. The snow is absorbing the sound and preventing many from moving. All is quiet. All is still. All is well today.

There were two fresh items lacking in my diet last year. By March, I was itching for both fresh eggs and fresh produce of some kind. When I did venture out, both my wintering neighbor and myself gorged upon salads first, with a seeming primal drive.

This year I spent some time studying the varying nutrients one can obtain both from sprouts as well as microgreens. I have decided to try both over the winter to see what might yield. The late snow allowed me to place an order for a variety of flavors and nutrient rich seeds whilst the roads were still quite navigable.

I should be set for a season or two, first having ordered twenty pounds at bulk prices, then having realized a jar of sprouts requires but a tablespoon or two of seeds, depending upon variety. I also acquired some sprouting containers and racks to normalize the process, hoping to be in regular rotation to keep live fresh nutrient rich foods in my diet.

Above is the slightly spicy fenugreek, which is fabulous mixed in my morning eggs. I can also happily report that rye grass sprouts taste remarkably similar to cucumber.

I now have a batch of dun peas and daikon radishes soaking for the next round. I have a few varieties on hand, including the rye, that prefer a bit of time in soil, to then harvest the micro leaves versus the sprouts directly, and that I will begin over the coming weekend.

The ranch is finally snow laden, at least on the south east end. Seven to eight inches of fresh powder landed amidst the mildest of winds. The slow building snow, with the slow movement, did create drifts whereas it snowed lightly for twelve to fourteen hours.

The weather blew in from the south west and the north east at the same time, sandwiching the ranch in a heavy mist with only periods of breaking before dusk. Most accumulation was to occur in the overnight.

It may have snowed heavily at times, I shall never know; the silence, the space, the peace, the solitude has all returned me to sleeping like the dead. Time vanishes, I arise rested, but nary a clue as to what transpired in between.

The ranch is snowed in. I am snowed in, at least. The sun returned in full glory by ten this morning, so the batteries are now fully soaked and the system started floating by two this afternoon.

The winds have again abated. All is quiet. I shall wait to see if they arise before laying tracks down Schierl. If you lay them too soon the wind soon removes your evidence, so today just the snow blower made its first appearance such that the old dog can roam a bit and do his dailies. For the first real snow of the season to be this late in January? Snow me in! I am enjoying the feeling today!

There has been a stillness upon this mountain top as of late. My own little oasis has become a bastion of silence. The past couple of weeks there have been stretches, long stretches, when not a lick of wind is moving. The Earth is eerily still and, whereas I normally arise before daylight, not even the animals are stirring. It is a quiet, calm, magical feeling to explore the outside in utter silence.

For twenty five years the folks in the cabin behind me have lived here year round. They are known, well known by first name alone, upon this ranch. Their depth of knowledge and experience here is unrivaled and I was lucky enough to watch them last winter. A chance to see how they move upon the snow. What routes they take. How often they maintain the track trails we come to depend upon.

My neighbors are no longer wintering on the mountain. They come back, they visit, they explore, but this mountain top is now, after a single season, transferring from one caretaker to another. I will do my best to tend the ranch, the roads, and the gates from afar, all the while remembering the footsteps of those who walked before me. Much can be learned, if one cares to open their eyes, ears, and their heart.

Today’s post is a reminder for anyone coming to visit their homes or lands within the ranch.

Regardless of time of year, bring shoes, hats, gloves, or appropriate clothing to walk from the gate to your property. These roads eat tires in summer, and can be heavily snow laden at times, so you should be prepared for emergencies. Every time you lock the gate you should ask yourself, “Am I prepared to walk in, or walk back out?” If the answer is no, get what you lack, and try again.

You should always bring food in with you, all foods for the visit. You should also carry some food and water that can travel with you if you do have to leave your vehicle. Hydration is key at this elevation, and hunger causes one to make poor decisions.

Footwear is its own item. You need to keep your feet warm, dry, and slip free. Yak tracks or boot chains, snowshoes and walking poles, etc. but if summer, appropriate hiking footwear. Our roads are briefly muddy, but mostly either sandstone and dust, or snow buried. Comfortable feet are your best friend if you suddenly are on foot.

Carry a chainsaw and a strap to help you move logs. Since the Spring Fire, with all the burned trees, we are sure to lose a few upon the road you’re heading for. You cannot simply assume a neighbor is already there and already clearing the roads.

Lighting is an item many often overlook. If you come in early or late, or end up walking early or late, having lighting to guide you is a very practical idea. I also always care a sidearm for wild animals.

I would also suggest carrying a shovel (spade or snow) in case you get stuck. A chain is handy in case someone happens along to help tow, but doesn’t have a chain. Year round, I also leave a couple lighters and candles in each vehicle in case I need to keep warm overnight for some reason. A car battery self-jumper, a tire pump or compressor and tire chains round out the other items one should readily have available.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, tell someone you’re coming or going. Have a buddy you can ping not only at the gate, but at your property. Having a person know you’re en route can be an invaluable safety feature, not only mentally, but physically. If you don’t arrive, you know someone out there knows that you missed your target. This time of year, it could be days or weeks before another happens along. You can NOT expect your phone to work on your entire route, so again, be prepared to walk, even if only for a signal.

Take care of yourself. This isn’t mean to sound survivalist, but it is in fact the case. We are pretty much on our own out here. We are a community and will take care of each other, but we also must take care of ourselves.