Longhunter`s Journal

The
January 2011
Longhunter’s
Journal
The newsletter of the Utah ALRA
Lieutenants Message
Well, this has been one of the
busiest years overall for us that I can
remember. Between the Winter
camps, fishing trips, the horse scouts
and gatherings, we just about outdid
ourselves! I hope we can carry this
momentum over into next year with
our first doins in January 8th and 9th
near Faust, Utah (details to follow).
I would like to recognize the
following members for their extra
efforts throughout the year that have
helped to make all of our events a
success. The Idaho Lieutenant Ken
Stanley, our Scribe Kirk Davis, Our
Fort Buenaventura Liaison Grant
Davis, Drill master Gregg Hansen,
our newly elected Sergeant Vern
Graham, Tracy McCarthy and her
horses and last our friend of the
ALRA, Wynn Ormand and horses.
Thanks a bunch guy's and Gal!!! I
hope everyone has a safe and happy
holiday season.
YHS,
Jas. Chandler
Elections for 2011 Officers
During a short business meeting on
Saturday morning at the Western
Gathering elections were held for the
Utah Garrison. James Chandler
graciously agreed to continue as
Lieutenant, the same for Kirk Davis
as Scribe. Vern Graham agreed to
and was voted in as the new Sergeant
at Arms.
It’s Time to pay 2011 Dues
Checks for $25.00 should be made
out to “Utah ALRA” and mailed to:
Kirk Davis
935 East 250 South
Bountiful, UT 84010
Western Gathering 2010
The 5th annual Western Gathering was
held at Fort Buenaventura, Ogden,
Utah the Week of October 11th.
Camp participants began arriving on
Tuesday and by Wednesday evening
the field directly west of the fort was
completely filled. More participants
continued to arrive and their camps
were fitted in here and there. The
weather was near perfect with clear
skies and warm days.
On Friday morning Kent Klein
graciously educated us with another
skinning demonstration. This time it
was a skunk and he demonstrated the
appropriate way to remove the hide
without ending up with a smelly mess.
A little later in the morning the kids
(and parents) gathered to carve
pumpkins. Ethan Isaacson's devil
pumpkin complete with horns was a
big hit. Witches and wizards seemed a
particularly popular theme as well.
Thursday afternoon we were pleased
with the arrival of our Factor Roy Katz
from New York and Dave Wade from
Nebraska. Mike Mendenhall arrived
and set up a full blacksmith shop and
worked on forge work throughout the
weekend. Many gathered to observe
his work and ask him questions.
Each evening the adults were
entertained by watching heroic battles
waged in the field by the kids of the
group with wooden tomahawks,
swords, and rifles. There were also
night games such as No Bears Out
Tonight that were enjoyed by the
youngsters as well. As dark settled
in, fires and jack-o-lanterns alike
were lit and much camaraderie
shared.
Saturday morning brought another
beautiful
day
with
shooting
competitions, seminars, and a pot
luck dinner. Kevin McCarthy, Larry
Hall, and others got a large caldron of
walnut hull dye brewing and those
who wished to dye articles visited the
pot throughout the remainder of the
weekend.
A raffle was held
throughout the weekend for a an
original 18th century razor donated
by Doc Mark Rutledge and a fine
European game bag painted with the
ALRA crest donated by Lloyd Moler.
The Idaho Lieutenant, Ken Stanley
hosted a string shoot with masked
prizes suspended from strings. Shots
were fired from 25 yards and each
shooter was allowed two shots in the
first round. The shoot proved to be
challenging and over 40 shots were
fired before the first prize fell. The
highlight of the shoot came when
Ryan Putnam placed a round ball
directly through the bowl of a fine
Peter Goebel copper porringer.
The Colorado Lieutenant Wendell
Smith and his wife Beth put on a fine
cooking demonstration showing how
to make a meal with soldier rations
among other things. Crystal Clark
also provided a knitting workshop
Saturday afternoon for those ladies
interested.
Soon after the shoot wrapped up,
cooking
fires
were
lit
and
preparations began in earnest for the
evening pot luck meal. Around 5pm
for the enjoyment of all. This group
truly has a wealth of very talented
camp cooks!
Following the potluck the raffle
drawing was held with the razor going
to Ken Stanley and the bag going to a
new probationary member Brian Knox.
Sunday morning Doc Mark Rutledge
put on a great seminar about period
razors and what should be gathered for
a period correct gentleman's toiletry
kit. As the morning progressed we
reluctantly began to pack up and drop
camps. Many fond farewells were said
and plans were already being
formulated for next year's event. It
was a wonderful event and I dare say
enjoyed by all.
folks began to gather, tables were set,
libations poured, and the potluck set
to begin. However, the starting gun
was delayed as we gathered for our
annual group photo taken by Kirk
Davis.
After the photo op, the potluck
finally began. There were many
wondrous and fine foods presented
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The Lord and His Lady
Okay here is my story of lies unlike
my companero I will tell ya I am lyin!
As the breed(Wynn Ormond) and I
(Ken "Eggs and Shit" Stanley) loaded
the pack animal, we were accompanied
by an Irish Lord (Kevin MacCarthy)
and his Lady (Tracy MacCarthy). Two
men who guided them to this point, a
pair of well worn trail companions.
Lynn Kalan and James Chandler. The
breed still packs a white orphan child
(Liam Ormond) he found several years
ago. This child is a masterful horseman
and an invaluable scout for us. He is
also quite a prankster!
We were to scout the Cache Valley
area, a narrow canyon on the Southeast
end. It is a very steep sided canyon
with an abundance of cliff terraces. We
turned up a fork on the south side of
the canyon and commenced our
journey.
As all the stock was saddled and we
were mounted breed with all of us
heads up the trail, the boy guards the
rear. The breed is our eyes on this trip
as he and the boy are the only two to
have seen this country. As we
ascended the valley the stream turned
to dry rocks, no beaver in this
drainage.
We gained ground at a fairly good
rate. Stopping to adjust equipment
after fashion, when the lord was
mounting his animal my first thought
was he was treating us to some trick
riding. He was on the hind end of the
horse reins flailing in the air, I thought
he was going to stand up on the saddle
until I saw his eyes. Enough said, he
picked his self up and took upon to the
task of remounting. Not fifteen yards
up the trail his horse lunged and he was
on the ground again. The Lady shook
and the Lord shaken we discussed our
options as the sun was not long left in
the sky. The boy with Jas., returned
and told tale of a great meadow with
deep grass and water just a 1/4 of a
mile further. We adjusted horses and
continued up the trail.
Camp was made for the evening after
the horses were taken care for. The
next morning we had a fine treat of
bacon and bread provided by the
Lord's Lady. We set to saddling. As we
climb out of the top we are humbled by
a large loaf looking mountain (Temple
Peak) it has spires that would rival any
church I have seen. We continued on
our journey without event. The day
progressed lunch was done, a fine fair
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of stew made for us by Lynn and
James it was as fine a meal as I have
had on the trail. They call it "Steve’s
Stew" for a fallen companion of ours
that used to make it for us without fail.
Back to the saddles to commence our
scout for beaver again.
As the evening drew near we
picketed the horses. They were in deep
grass and were content for the evening.
Camp was a matter of bed rolls this
evening not a cloud in the sky. Lynn
approached me before dark to inform
me he had lost his belt knife. I have
never found anything I have lost in the
mountains I told him. We looked
around camp for a while then he
wandered up the trail to look.
Meanwhile we went to the creek to
bathe. Upon his return he had a smile
on his face and a knife in his hand, a
lucky day for sure. Not so fast, we had
two of our ponies come up limping
from the last creek crossing a small
one they jumped. Let’s hope they can
travel in the morning.
That evening the lady treated us to
Rum and Shrub. I, being an ale man
chose the shrub, the breed chose the
rum. We soon were witnessed to quite
an evening for sure. The breed is the
most happy and vocal inebriated
person I know. The boy took quite an
interest in this. He proceeded to poke
fun and tell jokes at the breeds
expense. He knew in the morning all
would be forgotten. Morning broke, as
we saddled the two were okay to
travel. The pack animal loaded, we
mounted up and commenced tho the
trail. Finding beaver on the final
morning we will return to trap them on
a later date. That morning was filled
with us running into hostiles. They
were astride the strangest ponies I have
ever seen. Wheels and no horse to pull
them and they made an ungodly noise.
But all was well, our trip ended
without event. Back to the settlements
until the next adventure.
This is a story compiled of our last
ride. We were in Logan Canyon.
Starting in Right hand Fork riding into
Ephraim's Grave. He was a grizzly that
tormented sheep and cattle rancher in
the area for years before finally being
trapped and killed by Frank Clark in
1923. he was 9' tall and an estimated
1100 lbs. We ended our trip coming
into temple fork and out willow creek
back to right hand fork. Kevin was an
animal after being thrown twice at the
beginning he sucked it up and finished
in grand fashion . Tracy, what can I say
always a pleasure to have in camp.
And yes this gal can ride a horse. Lynn
and Jas. are valuable friends and
worthy trail companions. And what can
I say about my friend and companion
Wynn, he is top shelf for sure. None of
this would be possible for me without
him. He has been an invaluable helper
for me and I am still learning from
him! And the boy Liam, he does the
work of two. thanks and we will see
you soon.
Eggs
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
Jan 8-9 Winter Ramble near Pony
Express route
Newest Patriot
Vern Graham’s bibliography was
accepted in December 2010. He is
our newest Patriot. Huzzah Vern!
Feb 18-20 Cherry Creek, Idaho Camp
Apr 21-24 Fort Buenaventura Easter
Rendezvous
May 6-7 Stansbury Hills Ramble
Flags
May 27-30 Crow Creek, Idaho Horse Camp
Grant still has a number of
the ALRA camp size flags
available. The flags are 2’
x 3’. The flags are $30
(plus $4.60 shipping if you
want them mailed to you).
See the image above
Jun 23-26 Uinta Camp
Sep 3rd Fort Bridger - Potluck Feast
Nov 4-6 Crooked Tree, Idaho Beaver
- Trapping Camp
Those who would like to host an
additional event are welcome to
(excluding the dates already used)
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