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LOGAN — Hundreds of cows are causing traffic back-ups in Logan Canyon this week as ranchers move their herds to fall grazing land — they're going right up U. S. Highway 89.
"(It) takes an awful lot of work, because there's a lot of trees, a lot of mountains, you can't always see them," says rancher Richard Nicholas.
Nicholas has been doing it twice a year for most of his life. "You gotta like it, or you can't do it," he said.
After grazing for a few months at a pasture off Temple Fork Road, the cattle have to move to help preserve the land and maintain the area's vegetation. The whole process takes several very long days.
"(We) started at 4:30 this morning and might be lucky to be home by midnight," said rancher Luke Andersen.
The journey takes them through dirt roads and up Highway 89 in Logan Canyon, right alongside the usual traffic.
In town from New York City, Christian Kubek couldn't help but pull over and take some pictures. "(It's) beautiful, amazing to see something like this," he said. "Especially not in a car, it's even more interesting."
These ranchers say that's pretty typical. They don't see a lot of road rage over their cows.
"If I had a quarter for every time I've had a picture taken of me from a tourist, I'd be a rich man," Andersen said. "They say this job will never make you rich, but you get to be able to do what you want to do."
Still, these cowboys say it's all worthwhile.
"See good country, ride good horses, get to be around some really nice people," Andersen said.
"I like being in the mountains. I like being close to the land. I like everything about it," Nicholas added. >
In all, the six ranchers have about 3,000 head of cattle. They're moving about 1,500 of them this week and expect to finishing up next week as they go back to pick up any stragglers.
Email: manderson@ksl.com
