FALL IS REALLY HERE

The fall season is really here now.  We have had some killing frosts, and the leaves on the deciduous trees are really turning to their great colors.  Hunting season is here with elk running around our place as usual.  Travis got a 5 point bull last night just a few hundred yards west of our hayshed as the elk were heading down to the hayfields below us to feed for the night.  And the turkeys are gathering in rafters or gangs.  We have a few around the house almost every day.  This afternoon we heard this noise coming from downstairs and a couple of hens were pecking at the front door - almost like they were knocking to come in. 

Got anything in there to eat?

Catmay is not impressed with these large birds.

FALL ROUNDUP AT THE MARTINELL RANCH

We went over to the Centennial Valley last week and helped the Martinell's gather their cattle out of the high country and bring them down to the lower cow camp where they will stay until the snow drives them out this winter.  We also weaned the calves off the cows and shipped the steers to a feedlot in Billings and the heifers down to the ranch.  There were some really long days and a lot of riding involved.  Had a great time though and spending 8 days in the valley is always a treat.  Not many people live around there and the views are pretty spectacular.  Weather was nice for the most part.  The coldest we saw was 15 degrees one morning and it got up to 50 one afternoon.

Stryder gets his picture taken here every year after we have climbed into the high country.

Looking east into the Madison Valley and the West Yellowstone area.

The cows in the first pasture after we have gathered them out of the high country.

Heading out to gather on the second day - it is early in the morning.

Rowen and his mother Kristen.  They start riding at a young age on this ranch.

Coffee and a sandwich after a morning of gathering.

Trailing the cows on the second day.

Calves in one of the pens.

Weaning and seperating the calves by sex.

UPDATE 1 0CTOBER 2011

We have been pretty busy around here the past few weeks.  Connie and her sisters had their "Sister Weekend" at our place this year.  I think they had a relaxing 4 days.  Then our friend Gary from Apple Valley, UT stayed at our place while he was attending the Greatful Dead concert in Missoula.  I think they call themselves Further now vs Greatful Dead.  We have also been trying to get fall things done.  We still have forest fires going to the east of us and some mornings the whole valley smells like a campfire.  But it does make for some pretty sunrises.  And I picked up my irrigating dams today calling an end to the summer irrigation season.  With rain in the forecast, I was more than ready to quit.  I don't ever remember keeping up the irrigation into October before.  But this has been a dry fall.

The "sisters" on their annual get together.

You can see the smoke in the valley.  The geese are also getting together and heading south.  Click to enlarge and see them down in the meadow where I am irrigating.

Smoke from the fires just east of us.

But nice sunrises.

Catmay loves to climb on vehicles and sleep in the warm sunshine.

Gary W. on one of his harleys.

We have seen a number of elk while riding.  This old cow did not get to excited though.