Challenge: Cattle Herding Post 19 - The Upper Hideout

Later, after rounding up the last few waifs and strays, we head further up and into the mountains, all of our bags have been transferred to The Upper Hideout and we're about to discover our new home for the next three days.

At 8,500 ft up - the air is thin here and the views are... stunning.





And, after working hard all day out in the Big Horn Mountains - we sit out on the porch, watch the Sun go down and tell tales and sing songs until the early hours...




"This is a dream come true..." says Llion, after singing a few songs himself.
Plans are made for Friday, a duet maybe?

We'll see... ;)

Challenge: Cattle Herding Post 18 - Easily Forgotten

During all this ranching and horse riding it's very easy to forget exactly where you are. I mean, yes we all know we're in the good ol' US of A.
And yes, we all know we're in Wyoming.

But.

The fields, meadows and hills that we're driving them through?
They're in a MOUNTAIN RANGE.


Seriously, you totally forget how high up you are and it's only when you reach the crest or ridge and you look up and realise that you can see for nearly 100 miles in every direction.

It truly takes your breath away.

Challenge: Cattle Herding Post 17 - Try, Try Again

Rounding up cattle, take two.

After our first attempt (and subsequent failure) at herding the Heffa, Stewart and Stanley join us to give us a much-needed guiding hand/paw.



And would you believe it? Slowly but surely we get the hang of it. Driving Cattle through meadows, over hills and into valleys, all the while on the look out for any strays that we need to pick up on the way - in the end we herd a little over 220.



Two Hundred and Twenty.

This. Is. Not. Easy.

Herding this amount of lumbering beasts across such rough terrain needs extremely high levels of physical energy, sharp concentration and impeccable teamwork.

It's like controlling running water I guess, moving around it to stop it spilling over into the wrong direction and gently, slowly coercing it to the lake you want it to go to.



End of the day score? +201.

We did good today, as Stewart mentioned previously. It's no big deal if we don't get them all, the fact that we moved so many was a surprise.

Teamwork. All about the teamwork.

Challenge: Cattle Herding Post 16 - The Concept

Stewart Reed explains exactly what it is we're doing up here... :)

Challenge: Cattle Herding Post 15 - Cattle Herding 'Yearlings'

So yesterday Daf left us saying that today we would be herding 'livelier' cattle..
Well, he wasn't kidding - shall we see how they got on?



Waking up at Snowshoe Lodge

Today we had a lay in, 8:30 was the call. As we were already up in the mountains an early start was not required. Today Stewart tells us that there are 487 'Yearlings' out that he needs to drive to the right field.



From what we've learned so far, it would seem that herding/driving Cattle is quite like crop rotation. You move the cattle to one field where the grass is fresh and ready and, once that is gone, you move them on again. Each time allowing the previous field to grow back again.

It must be said, after yesterday's drive, we're feeling pretty confident. However, there is a huge difference between the two tasks. Yesterday, the beasts were Bull. Old, slow and docile. Happy to be poked and prodded in the right direction without much moaning or attempts to runaway.

Today's beasts are one year old heffas - 'Yearlings'. We're told that it won't be as easy and... as we pull up along side the first set we find, it's clear that they're very alert and very easily startled.

Our first encounter went a little something like this:



Yeah. We lost 19. End of session one score: -19.

Damn. This is harder than it looks.

Winner Announced

Congratulations to Kenneth, our third challenge winner! He and his friends, James, Stuart and Wullie are getting ready to leave this Saturday to start their exciting adventure!

Read just a bit more about them below – we’re sure you’ll get to know them better as you follow them here on the site through photos, videos, tweets and Facebook status updates.

Kenneth MacKay
Age: 22
Job: Student (just graduated)
Hobbies/Sports: I do a bit of running (ran a couple of marathons) and go to the gym regularly. Enjoy doing a bit of travelling when I have the time and the money.
Interesting Facts: Used to play American Football for about 10 years before giving it up at the start of the year.
What are you looking forward to on the challenge? I mostly look forward to the pure adrenaline rush when we hit those rapids!
Biggest Fear: Anything that lurks under the water!

James Wright:
Age: 21
Job: Student (just graduated)
Hobbies/Sports: I LOVE playing football, get a regular get for the local side. I do a lot of gym work and running and am interested in most sports related activities.
Interesting Facts: Recently cycled the distance of the Tour de France in the gym.
What are you looking forward to on the challenge? I mostly look forward to THE WHOLE THING!!!

Stuart Reid:
Age: 21
Job: Student (just graduated)
Hobbies/Sports: Enjoy playing rugby with the team in town. I hit the gym in my free time, which I was able to do a lot lately. Also love movies and TV series.
Interesting Facts: Plays golf.
What are you looking forward to on the challenge? I mostly look forward to the Safari which will surely be very cool!
Biggest Fear? Crocodiles!!!

William 'Wullie' Cullen:
Age: 22
Job: Student (just graduated)
Hobbies/Sports: Like football, whether its playing it (outside or computer) and watching it.
Interesting Facts: Can't live without my TV shows and going to the cinema!
What are you looking forward to on the challenge? I mostly look forward to The Safari!
Biggest Fear? Drowning!

Challenge: Cattle Herding Post 14 - Driving Cattle!

Challenge 2 - Driving Cattle



We arrive at the foot of Shell Valley, and unload our cargo. First the horses and then the Bull.

"Keep behind them..." is the only advice Stewart gives us.



'Livelier cattle' - yeah, we'll see about that shall we?
Thankfully, after all that driving, it wasn't too long until we arrived at Snowshoe



Aaaaand relax.