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Show riding horses and mules were rough and wiry animals, equal to covering rocky hills and brush valleys for all day long if necessary- Being sure footed they were able to follow narrow and irregular trails. While the herders were camped on the west desert, fresh supplies were sometimes obtained at Milford-and clean clothing and mail were usually brought by the owner of the herd. Supples were enough to last for an uncertain number of weeks, although (when the weather permitted) an effort was made to take fresh supplies to camp each month. The drive from Mt. Pleasant to the west desert required days of travel each way, in a wagon. Sheepherders always faced their camp wagons toward the east when making a camp. There may have been other reasons for doing so but the main one was because desert winds seldom blew from the east. Then too, a parked wagon always facing the same direction served as a compass to anyone lost in a wind or a snow storm within sight of a wagon. PASTIMES AT CAMP Since herding sheep was a routine job there were hours when the animals were grazing quietly or were bedded down for the night after coming to camp for their daily supply of salt. That spare time weighed heavily and passed slowly for shepherds who were usually isolated from outside contacts for weeks at a time. Restlessness and boredom were evils to be reckoned with. Young men learned to play the harmonica and 61 |