We woke to more ice on our tent than we have had yet. Even Jake says it is a little colder than normal for this time off year. Thankfully the skies are clear and it looks like it is going to warm up.
Breakfast this morning included scrambled eggs, English muffins, ham and leftover pork and rice. Another great start for the day.
Like yesterday, it was a little after 11 when we were finally saddled up and ready to head out. This time we rode up the mountain to a large open shelf where ranchers roam their cattle. The shelf is at least 5 miles across and there are only a few safe ways down so you better know where you are going.
Jake led us up across to one edge of the shelf, where we tied our horses to trees. We sat on. The edge of the shelf looking across to other cliffs in search of mountain goats. Steve and dad claimed to have found one but some of us thought it was just a white rock. It was still fun to look across the valley and take in the view. We ate half our lunch here and relaxed again in the shade.
We rode for another hour or so to another spot on the shelf where we tried to glass for more goats. We spotted a little critter of some kind but no goats over here. There were no trees to tie the mules to so Jake and Joe tied mules to each other, side to side in opposite directions. If one tried to take off, the other would pull back and the result would be just a circle. Joe stayed with the mules while we walked a little ways down the hill and sat. It was windy with no tree breaks but the sun made it tolerable. W could see Tibbs Butte from here and were able to spot the trail we took yesterday over it.
The way down was a little more of an adventure. Essentially we had to create our own trail. Jake and joe got off their mules and walked them down. They said they do this often on steep trails to help save on the mules shoulders. The other benefit was it slowed the process and allowed jake to pick out the safest trail. Grady rode right behind him and jake told him he was Jim Bridger and we were the Lewis & Clark expedition. Grady's job was to help spot the trail. It was steep, tricky and very overgrown, which made for an interesting and fun ride down. There were a few places where even the sure-footed mules questioned how they would get through, but everyone made it down with no problems.
Grady's confidence grew tremendously with his time with Jake. It's been so fun to see both boys grow and learn on this trip. They have certainly had their moments and fights but in general they have done really well. The others are impressed with Colby's knowledge of just about everything and he is not shy about sharing all the random facts he carries in that brain of his. And Grady has been trying out his own jokes, some of which are pretty good (a lot are not but at least he is trying).
Tonight's dinner consisted of steaks bigger than our dinner plates, sautéed mushrooms and potatoes and onions. Jake made our steaks to order and they were amazingly good. Way too
Rage for any of us to finish so he is going to make them part of breakfast burritos tomorrow morning.
We spent this evening around the campfire enjoying our last night together on this trip. Jake told us about Mule Days which sounds like quite the experience. Maybe someday we could attend it, because it sounds like a blast. Tomorrow we have to pack up and head home.
This trip has exceeded my expectations. I knew we would have fun and adventures but I never realized how utterly relaxing riding a mule could be. There is just something about the fresh air, the scenery, the sound of the mules hooves hitting the trail and the focus on nothing but where you are in that moment. I was completely relaxed and really loved the day rides. This is definitely a trip I will never forget. I think the boys feel the same way.
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