There is hardly any snow on the ranch this Christmas or over the entire region for that matter. However, on Christmas Day we found some in what I refer to as Avalanche Draw. One day during a very tough winter, I was riding in the breaks to the south looking for a small herd of horses. We had seen some on top of the ridge. I set out bring them in. The last 150 yards became nearly impossible to ride as the snow had drifted so deep. I dismounted my horse and together we broke a trail through the hard packed snow. In the quietness other than our labored breathing and the breaking of crusty snow, I hear a rumble. I thought that was strange and I even entertained the thought of, "Oh great... probably an avalanche or something." "But not on the plains of western South Dakota...."
***
I topped the small ridge just before the top of the breaks where the horses were and I looked to my left....and sure enough the snow had avalanched down the draw. My thoughts were simply.... "Wow... that is really cool". My horse and I made it to the top and with some persistence and persuasion, I was able to get the horses to follow the path that we had broken through the deep snow. The sky was blue and bright that day... the air was crisp and cold... and my memories of that experience are just as vivid as the day that Avalanche Draw got its name.
Merry Christmas from Robin and I on the Lonetree Ranch
