03/31/06 Two stranded cows Part III

Two Stranded Cows III The last two days I have told you about two failed attempts to rescue snow-bound cows and calves. I'm Jeff Keane; we didn't give up, today is plan three. Even before we knew plan two, dozing to the cows with a D-4 Caterpillar, was going to fail, plan three was following us up the mountain. Our good friend, Clark had brought along a new toy called a snowmobile. When the D-4 stopped and Clark and the snowmobile kept going, the light went on in everybody's brainuse those new snowmobiles. Well about two days later some more of our friends with snowmobiles and other new snowmobile enthusiasts hauled us right into the cows. My uncle and cousin broke a trail for the cows that took them around the bluff and down the mountain. I followed the cows out. The snow was waist deep when we left the bare ground and grass the wind had kept open for the cows. That old International Scout looked like a limousine as another cousin drove up to meet us on the lower part of the mountain, and it worked as a pretty good saddle horse while we trailed the cows on home with it. We used another two days to haul the cows home, bring the D-4 off the mountain, load it, and haul it home. To top it all off, Dad got an overweight ticket and fine at the local DOT scales hauling that D-4 home. Like I said before, the gain didn't outweigh the pain if you figure all the equipment, time, and labor. I'm know the price of those cows and calves couldn't begin to cover the costs, but it was sure nice to have them home. I'm Jeff Keane.