First Post As Promised

Oooo-Aaaah from the Valley!

We just opened up for our 50th year on February 18, and we’re so excited for what this year will bring. It’s been great to see guests cross our cattle guard again after two quiet months. We’ve been hauling in horses and cleaning like crazy getting your home away from home all ready for you.

You may notice some new faces around here. Remember reading in our 2009 newsletter that some Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep were moving to Sheep’s Rock? Well, finally in January, they did! I’ve always wondered why we call Sheep’s Rock, Sheep’s Rock since I think it looks more like Abraham Lincoln than a sheep. After 2 years of getting strange answers, including the story of a legendary volcanic eruption of horse poop (I still have no idea what that has to do with sheep) I have an answer! In the 1970s, Sheep’s Rock housed a herd of Big Horn Sheep. For some unknown reason…possibly that volcano…the sheep deserted the rock. The Department of Wildlife decided to try again this year and released 12 sheep, 3 rams and 9 ewes, on January 11. I have not seen any of them, but word has it that they’ve been over by the Flying J ranch and farther South exploring their new territory. We hope this group will decide to make Sheep’s Rock its permanent home.

In other news, Bob and Karen headed south on the second tour of perspective staff interviews. We still have a few holes to fill on our summer staff board, but with all these great interviews they should fill up quickly. We’re very excited about the new batch of staff coming this next year.

The staff leaves on Sunday for our annual retreat and all of us can’t wait to enjoy some of Vista Verde Ranch’s hospitality again this year. We’re looking forward to some good “family time,” building relationships and having fun together. I’ll make sure to have some good stories for you when we get back.

Happy Trails until then!

Heidi