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Cattle Drive 2026
  • Jcrieff
  • Jcrieff

Cattle Drive 2026

A 12-day adventure by Jcrieff Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 13, 2026
    JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    Travel day!

    June 13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    I left about an hour after my planned time, then hit road construction around Hood River. So my lunch here at the Boardman rest area is late.

    After the craziness yesterday, driving is a perfect change. It is hot and sunny-- my AC is having a hard time keeping up.

    Time to enjoy my Greek salad!    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    Hotel Indigo

    June 13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    The rest of the ride was fast. Flat, dry, boring. I didn't stop at my 3rd rest area, as I didn't have to go, and I wanted to get to Spokane.

    I stayed here last year on my way to the Bar W Ranch. It is in downtown Spokane--up and coming area. But it's a cool, funky hotel. There is a happy hour for Platinum Elite members, so I am going enjoying that before I head upstairs to shower and rest.

    Tomorrow will be early!    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    Back on the road

    June 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    I couldn't sleep last night. Not sure why. At 4:30am, I told myself if I didn't fall asleep, I'd get up at 5am. So that is what I did!

    I was on the road at 6:30am. I stopped to get gas right over the Idaho border. $4.19 a gallon beats the costs at home! ($5 pg) There was a ton of road construction on I-90. My first stop was supposed to be a rest area that I always stop at. It was in the middle of a construction zone and I missed the exit. I actually looked around and should have stopped at the westbound side, but I didn't. I turned around at the exit and looked really hard for the entrance. But I didn't see it. I could see trucks, so it was open.

    I gave up, losing about 20 minutes. I did have to go to the bathroom and luckily there was a gas station another 15 minutes away. There, I did all the things I wanted to take care of, like repacking from this part of the trip.

    The rest of the drive was beautiful and uneventful. I stopped in Kalispell to full up, then drove the rest of the way to Bar W.

    It is the hours between the guests leaving and new ones coming to the guest ranch. Fortunately, I knew the lay of the land and found someone. They introduced me to Cam, who is one of the wranglers for the cattle drive. I unloaded my stuff, parked my car, and Cam took me into Whitefish. I am meeting him at the library at 2:20!    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    Whitefish

    June 14 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Cam dropped me off at the library and said he'd be back after 2:20pm. So I wandered around town for an hour or so. This town is a lot like Jackson, WY. Very wealthy, but still cowboys and western stuff.

    I met 4 others at the library, Eric, MJ, Matthew, and Ben (?) We are on our way to the airport to pick up more people's.    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    The Drive

    June 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    We left Whitefish at about 2;30, and headed to the Glacier Airport to pick up 3 other people. Kim, Greg, and a woman that I haven't met yet. It is a 2-3/4 hour drive.

    We have been on US 2 for most of the trip. The 4 men that I met before are all together and did this trip a few years ago. Kim was at the ranch 2 years ago. We've been mostly listening to country music, with a little conversation.

    We just stopped in East Glacier for our last pit stop. We got about 20 minutes out and Kim realized that she left her phone at the gas station. I called her phone, no answer. Then I called the gas station and they had it. So we are headed back.

    We got the phone and are getting close to the ranch. There is no signal there, so I want to post now.    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    First Night

    June 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    We arrived at the ranch around 6pm. The last mile up the dirt/mud road was very bumpy! We are sleeping in canvas tents with a cot that has a foam pad on it and a Coleman sleeping bag. I am glad I brought my own pillow since this one is flat. There is a small table inside as well. They provided a towels and a washcloth, along with a small LED lantern and a water bottle.

    We all met around the fire pit. There's 14 of us in total. A few Texans, someone from Georgia, and a lot of people from New England. Very strong accents! Dinner was ready at 7pm and it was brisket and ribs. Sampling the merchandise? It was delicious!

    After dinner, we hung out by the fire and talked. It was a long day and I hit the hay at about 10:30pm.    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    First Day in the Saddle

    June 15 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    I woke up several times during the night. I am trying to sleep without listening to anything, but I'm not ready yet. At about 6:30am I decided to get up. It was cold and I realized that I forgot warm socks. So barefoot and Birkenstocks it is!

    There was Cowboy Coffee around the fire. It was better than the coffee at the ranch last year. I was not organized in my tent, and it took me a while to figure out what needed to go with me to the bathhouse. I got there and realized that I forgot my washcloth. A long walk back and forth. Breakfast was eggs and sausage. The cook, Katelyn, is really good. After that, it was time for putting on boots and jeans!

    The morning started with a safety talk (lecture?) Then we all got our horses. I am on Apache, a skewbald pinto (brown and white). He has a swayback, too. We got to saddle them all up and then mounted up. Like last year, the getting on part was the hardest. Next was the ring test. We all walked in a circle at a walk. Then we all did a trot one at a time, then a lope. The ring was small, so it was difficult to keep the horses going.

    It seems like we are all competent riders, which will make the week easier. After the test, we had time for "Reindeer Games." We played Simon Says and some other games that used our control skills.

    After lunch, the ranch owner, Chuck, had us ride out to move some cattle to a closer pasture. Then, we did a trail ride for a few hours. The scenery is amazing, and photos don't do it justice. We are riding more "Ponderosa" style, rather than nose to tail. Very casual.

    Back at the ranch, my first job was getting my boots off. These are boots I've had since the 80s, and they are a bit tight. I think my feet were swollen, too. It was quite the struggle!

    Dinner was tacos, using the brisket from the night before. Yum. Then we played Hammershlogen, which involves a big wood stump and a hammer and nails. Everyone gets a nail and you try to hammer other's nails all the way in. I won the first round, so I called it quits while I was ahead! We sat around the fire before heading to bed.    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    First cattle moving

    June 16 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    It was a very windy night! The tent was rattling, and it was loud! I got out of the tent at about 7am and headed straight for coffee. The cowboy coffee was good again. Breakfast was breakfast burritos, which were delicious!

    We saddled up at 8:30am and ride out at 9am. Chuck had us move a small herd that was spread out to a tight group, then we moved them to another pasture. At that point they culled out the babies and mommas. Those went into a different pasture.

    Then it was time for lunch!    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    Castle Rock Ride

    June 16 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    After lunch, we got back in our saddles for a ride to Castle Rock. It was still really windy, and we all wore ball caps, as opposed to cowboy hats. You couldn't even hear each other talk.
    The scenery continues to be beautiful. There was a ridge with three trees on it. Apparently, it has been a landmark for years. It is called "The Three Indians," as the Blackfeet say it represents Indians on the lookout.

    Castle Rock is a sandstone outcrop, on the top of a ridge. We all dismounted, and the wranglers took the horses while we explored. Climbing the rocks was fun, but I didn't want to go too high! The other reason we go to a ridge every day is that it's the only place that there is a signal. So everyone was on their phone. I did a Duolingo and then relaxed.

    The way home was on the other side of the ridge was even more windy. We estimated that it was at least 70 mph! You couldn't hear anything, and my necklace even tied into knots. Once we got on the other side of the ridge, it was a bit better.

    We unsaddled, and I had an easier time taking off my boots! Then, it was drinks around the fire and a really good meal of pasta with cream sauce. This meal even had a side of zucchini and peppers! There have been few green veggies.

    We hung out around the fire and then I called it a night.    Read more

  • JcrieffCattle Drive 2026Traveler

    Serious Cowboy Business

    June 17 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    After lunch, it was time to get the new calves taken care of. This involves shots, ear tagging, branding, and "banding" the males. (Rubber bands around the Rocky Mountain Oysters...)

    I ended up roping the calves. Not throwing a lasso, but instead tossing it over their head and letting them step their front feet through. Then, pulling fast to catch the back legs. I actually did really well, catching the most on the first try. The guys were too impatient and pulled too fast.

    The rest was rough to watch at first. Poor calves were bawling. I had to hold the legs tight while someone else flipped the calf on its side. Then the team did the shots, tagging, banding, and Chuck branded them. Bar FC was the brand. That was the worst. But I eat beef, and this is part of that process.

    It was hard work, and by the end, I was hot and tired! I took a quick shower to rinse off. I also got a bit of a rope burn on my left arm, along with some purpura bruises. The shower thing is interesting. There is one bathroom with a shower. The water pressure is low. I didn't even want to try washing my hair! But with 12 guests and 5 staff, it is hard to get in.

    Dinner was Freetoh pie--or walking tacos. Take a bag of corn chips and put chili, cheese, and toppings in the bag. Then, eat it out of the bag. It was good. After dinner was a whiskey tasting. I'm not a huge fan, but some were good!    Read more

    Trip end
    June 24, 2026