|
Trip to Hardware Ranch
"Hippity, Hoppity, go the wapiti
Over the fence, at Hardware Ranch".
... by Ruth Cook
On Saturday, February 1, 1969, the weather was partially overcast as we
boarded the bus at the University of Utah bookstore. In the western sky,
the moon cast its ball of fire through the haze of city smog. We all
relaxed, hoping for the best. After stopping in Ogden and Brigham City,
the group numbered fifty-one.
As we travelled north from Ogden, we could see turbulence to the northwest
blowing clouds and snow at a tremendous speed. It soon hit us full force,
with sleet and snow covering the windows of the bus. Snow remained with
us most of the day, but fell more gently and lightly as the day advanced.
Our guides generously shared their observations concerning our Wasatch
Fault lines, alluvial fans, river channels, vegetation growth, and (last,
but not least) man's added "touches of beauty".
Leaving Hyrum, we turned at the sign for Hardware Ranch. After travelling
through farm fields and over low, rolling hills, we came to the mouth of
Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Here we could see to the left of the bus a long
stretch of the twelve foot high wire fence built to discourage the deer
and elk from coming down to eat the ranchers' feed and hay. In this white
wonderland, the snow-laced trees bent to kiss the gray waters of the icy
stream as it meandered through the canyon. The well-established vegetation
along the stream banks showed the red colors of the bark of birch and
dogwood, the grays of maples, and the many hues of alder, hawthorn, and
chokecherry.
All was not still and asleep. Water ouzels (dipper birds) put on a show,
darting here and there, in and out of the water. Mallard ducks floated on
ponds not yet frozen over. Muskrats swam along the edges of ponds. A few
pheasants and magpies were seen flying along the hillsides.
The landscape was varied and beautiful in its winter white. The Douglas
firs were snow-tipped, and silhouetted the tops of the canyon walls. Low
junipers, high-lined, covered the lower slopes of the canyon. A few hardy
Americans were observed camping in their army tents and other conveyances,
some bravely sleigh riding and having other fun at the Boy Scout Camp
near Hardware Ranch.
When we arrived at the ranch, only a few elk were standing on the hillsides
and in the meadow behind the barn. As soon as the ranch hands hitched their
two powerful black Yorkshire work horses to the sleigh, and the sound of
the bells rang through the still air, the elk began to move down into the
meadow while the bales of hay were being loaded. They came slowly at first,
gently and gracefully jumping the two fences in the meadow.
After a load of hay was distributed to the waiting elk, our guides returned
to the gate and loaded the sleigh with children and adults. It reminded
some of old times; and to the younger ones, it became a fun experience to
ride a horse-drawn sleigh.
The elk numbered about 350. There were many expectant cows, many young
calves, and only six large antlered males. Our guide explained that the
bucks come to eat later in the winter. The elk are fed from December to
May. All were tagged with bright-colored plastic collars, making
identification possible from a distance. Collars put on several seasons
before become faded.
I suppose some would say,
"What fools we mortals be, to go in sleet and snow
To see the Wapiti, wrapped from head to toe".
We wouldn't have missed it for anything. We hope those who haven't been
there, will try to go.
-- by Leonora S. Cook
|
|