The Buffalo Round Up

The Buffalo Round Up weekend is finally here.  We have moved into the Employee campground in the Park hoping there will be less of a chance of being sucked back into work on Monday.  Also we won't have to get up at 4 a.m. to make the trip into the Park.

The neighbors are pretty quiet

We even get to enjoy a campfire aka old file burning party! 

We drive down the Wild Life Loop to check out the parking for Monday and run into my favorite friends!  This time I bring carrots and apples.  They are a big hit.

Most of the Buffalo have already been herded together in this part of the Park.  Are those buffalo we see in the Distance?

Well, lets use the 30x zoom on my new Sony Camera and see!

Oops might need that digital zoom as well. 

Not bad for a hand held shot with no tripod

We also finally made it up to the Coolidge Look Out

Quite the View!

What's out there in the distance? 

Why Crazy Horse

and George!  I love my new Zoom! 

We went to the Art Show and Auction

These painted Table Top Buffalo as well as 5 life size Buffalo Statues were auctioned off.  The Life Size went from $5,100 to $2,700 and the Table Tops from $900 to $3,000.00 each.  They've sold up to $10,000 each in previous years.

We get up early on Monday and join the line that's forming to the parking areas at 5:30 a.m.  The parking opens at 6:15 a.m and it is only about 10 miles away.  We get to about 2 miles away when we come to a complete stop.

We arrive at the gate about 7 a.m.   About 1/4 mile from the Gate we passed a Van that wasn't moving.  We thought maybe their battery had died or they had run out of gas - as we passed we saw that the driver had fallen asleep!  Hey Guys!  I got up at 3:00 a.m and was only 20th in line!

A view from our viewing area to the North Viewing area.  We were 1 row back from the fence.

A zoom shot over to the Corrals where the Wranglers are getting ready

Finally about 9:45 the round up  begins.  The herd starts down over the ridge by the North Area

They're being herded by Horses and Trucks

Past the North Area

Across Lame Johnny Road and through Fence No. 1 

At 10 a.m. it is already in the 70's and they don't push the herd very hard and rest them every so often it is more of a Stroll than a stampede at times and the Buffalo seem to already know the program and wander calmly into the Corral.

Of Course there are probably 14,000 people who have come to watch so they get the last group to charge in the final stretch 

Here's a video of the final charge.  On the 2nd group that turns back you can see they knock down the fence.  They sheared off a good 10 inch thick wood fence post. 

Safe and Sound in the Corrals

Glad we got the chance to see it.  Of course our employee that works on Friday nights quit because we weren't there to help her - although we were only a phone call away.  Thankfully the only one working Monday showed up!  At least we had our two days off this week and only 2 more weeks to go!

Till Later!

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary