CATTLE DRIVES & WORKING RANCHES

DOUBLE RAFTER CATTLE DRIVES Ranchester, Wyoming United States www.doublerafter.com
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Overview

June Cattle Drive
Depending on the spring conditions, guests generally trail the first Double Rafter herd to the top of the Big Horn mountains during the third or fourth week of June. This six-day/night trip begins in the green rolling foothills of East Pass Creek, and covers 48 miles as you slowly climb your way over 4,000 feet to the timberline level of the majestic Big Horns.

During this trip, trail approximately 300 mother cows and their calves high to their summer range. In addition to a family crew of 10 to 12, there are generally have 15 to 20 guests on this drive. In keeping with the ancestors' tradition, lodging is 1800s style canvas wall tents, tepee tents and chuck wagons. All meals are prepared using cast iron skillets, Dutch ovens and a shovel. In addition to being phenomenal chefs, the chuck wagon crew is a bit on the lively side, and have been known to play a prank or two. You've been warned.

At day three, head the herd south up the rough and rugged Little Horn Canyon. Here is another twist that separates Double Rafter from all the other "plastic banana cattle drives". Because the trail from this point is too rough and narrow for either wagons, pickups, or four-wheelers, all the gear now follows the herd by pack mule. Many people find the massive canyon walls and boulder strewn river bottom too impressive for words. Others, those harboring acrophobic tendencies, can't describe it either because they spend a good part of their trip with their eyes closed. It is magnificent!

Depending on range conditions and grazing plans established by the USDA Forest Service, the herd may be dropped at the midpoint of the canyon, or trailed higher up to the 9,000 foot level. Keep in mind that this permit is 63,000 acres so it is difficult to predict exactly where the endpoint will be.

Once on the National Forest you will be moved by the beauty of the lush, green, flower-filled open parks which are characteristic of the Big Horns. Far off to the west is the ever present roar of the plunging falls of Leaky Mountain. In the Rock Cabin Park camp you will find there is a perfect spot to sit with a cup of boiled coffee and soak in all the surrounding beauty. Ponder this: you are 12 miles from the nearest road, any soul in this canyon is part of your group, there are no phones or electricity, the first sign of civilization is a four to six-hour horseback ride in any direction and in two days you have to fly home to people, pollution, and the stresses back at work. It's amazing people leave.

The last morning, either back track 12 miles out the mouth of the canyon, or ride to the Lake Creek camp on top. In either place, you say goodbye to your horse and travel by van you back to Sheridan, Wyoming for a good hot shower and closing ceremonies. After six days in the saddle, you will have a new appreciation for the cowboys of the old west.

This last night, guests generally end up at the historic Mint Bar on Main Street in downtown Sheridan. The cowboy memorabilia which adorns the walls, coupled with the rustic knotty pine booths and tables, adds the frosting to your authentic western adventure. No doubt, you have experienced a dying piece of America.

July Cattle Drive
Again, depending on the range conditions and breeding program, Double Rafter generally trails the second Double Rafter herd to the top of the Big Horn mountains the third or fourth week of July. Like the June trip, guests begin in the foothills and spend six days/nights climbing to the 9,000 foot level of the National Forest.

During this trip, Double Rafter usually begins with 150 to 200 mother cows but then pick up the June herd of 300 head for the last two days of the drive. This will put you behind 1,000 animals and, because of the nature of the trail, the herd will string out for two to three miles.

Again, like all Double Rafter trips, it's all chuck wagon and pack mule cuisine and lodging. Groups generally finish above tree line at the Lake Creek camp and are driven by van back to Sheridan for a send-off banquet.

September Cattle Drive
During the third or fourth week of September, gather the high country of the Big Horns and start the entire cow herd on the trail back to the ranch headquarters in the foothills. This six-day/night drive is just the reverse of the June and July trips and covers the same 48 scenic miles. Again, cuisine and lodging is Dutch oven meals and wall tents with your gear following the herd by chuck wagon or pack mule.

The biggest difference between fall and spring trips is that in September, riders spend the first two days gathering the high alpine meadows in preparation to head down the trail. Remember, this range is 63,000 acres, which makes this an enormous task. The brilliant yellow aspen trees against the dark green pines can make this trip the most fantastic of the year, and most guests who have done both trips, definitely prefer the fall. Yes, occasionally they get snow but, in all honesty, in the Big Horns Double Rafter has been snowed on any month of the year.

Clean Up Ride
In spite of the overwhelming positive response received from most guests, Double Rafter Cattle Drives has always wanted to offer a trip, which would more closely represent their lifestyle exactly as it was during the turn of the century.

"It's too bad people couldn't spend a night or two in the Little Horn Cow Camp so they could see how it was," Dana would often remark when he would relate stories about his teenage years as the rider in the Little Horn Camp.

Cowboys like "Dick Babbion" and "44 Bill" have all left their mark on those who experienced their tenure at the cabin. To Double Rafter, it's quite real. The cowboys of Double Rafter's father's generation, and his father before him, are nearly all gone now. Most are just a name in a story Dad would relate about his childhood in cow camp.

In the dim light from the hissing gas lantern, Double Rafter can see Dave Fuller in his old denim apron and brown leather bedroom slippers shoving another stick of firewood into the massive Monarch cook stove as he turns out another batch of horse-hair pad pancakes. Boy, could those things soak up the syrup. Sometimes he used milk, sometimes water, sometimes bacon grease, sometimes butter, and sometimes eggs but it never seemed to matter, they always tasted like horse-hair pad pancakes. Dave is gone now, but within the century old log walls of the Little Horn Cabin, he will live forever.

Double Rafter is offering five spots for returning guests to accompany them on a CLEAN-UP RIDE as they re-ride the entire permit about two weeks after the September cattle drive. Guests will likely spend two nights at the Lake Creek Cabin, two nights at the Little Horn Cabin, and a night or two at the Double Rafter in the valley.

There will be many miles in the saddle but, if the September cowboys have done their job, there shouldn't be many cows. Guests will find this trip quite unique because you will experience things few people will ever see. Again, this trip is limited to five guests so this trip is going to fill early. Don't wait!

Horsemanship Clinic
Two years ago, Double Rafter Cattle Drives made it mandatory that everyone attending one of the cattle drives would have to attend the horsemanship clinic. This allows them to make sure everyone is mounted on a horse that will allow them to enjoy their week as a cowboy to the fullest. There are no manicured trails anywhere that guests go and this clinic will allow you to navigate this varying terrain with skill and confidence.

This goes along way towards ensuring your safety. This horsemanship clinic is run by Chris Ellsworth. Chris has studied under many of today’s big name clinicians plus he has 25 years of practical horsemanship experience in every type of terrain and cattle handling situation that you can imagine. His quiet demeanor will influence you in a positive way to try and help you handle any situation that will arise during the week.

Jan Huffman who is a certified John Lyons horse trainer attended the cattle drive last year and commented, “Chris Ellsworth is very good and I learned some things myself.” That’s as high a compliment as we could have ever asked for. Gino Carfora, a past guest said, “I don’t know what you are paying Chris, but you should double it.”

Seasonal Rates & Information

	Weekly Rates	Daily Rates
Year Round	$1,655.00 - $1,935.00 per person	$300.00 - $400.00 per person

* Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change. Currency Converter

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