September 11, 2005 Greystone Camp Greystone Wyoming

September 11, 2005
Greystone Camp
Greystone, Wyoming

Grand day traveled only 50 miles but met some great people and did some fine portraits. After leaving Sibley Lake we headed west down HWY 14 through the Bighorn Mountains. Up here the mountains are speckled with high mountain pasture and many ranchers run their cattle up here during the summer months. Sure enough, it was not long before we passed some ranch hands working cattle by the side of the road. Great photograph so we found a place to turn around ( yep, a few miles down the road) and headed back.
Only two problems the sun was hot and white over head and as we rounded a curve they pass us going the other way. Shoot, a few miles down the road we found another turn a round and headed west again. After a few miles the road started down the mountain and we figured they were long gone. Then through a cut in the trees we saw their horse trailer down in a gulch and sure enough we found a forest road going off in that direction. Well, I reasoned if their big old horse trailer could go down and turn around so could our very small and getting smaller all the time airstream, so down we went.
At the bottom of the road we had the pleasure to meet Mr. Wayne Barnett- owner of the Barnett Ranch and Clint and Carrie Besaley. After a round of introductions and some small talk portraits where in order and I did two very good ones! The sun went behind the clouds just as I began so I had wonderful soft light! Wayne’s family has been ranching in the area for generations and we learned a lot about the operation in these mountains.
Turns out that not only do Clint and Carrie run cattle but they do very special leather work as well. They made both of their own saddles, special design with all the features they need but super lightweight for mountain work, as well as knife sheaths and many other very special leather items. Their address is Box 628 Greybull, Wyoming 82426 if you’d like to write them about a leather project. I mean their work is good.
October 15th is when they will bring the cattle down the mountain for the winter and we got an invite to come back and photograph that. If we are still in the area we won’t miss it for the world.
So off we went heading west again and passed a great old school house with a for sale sign. Again turned around and drove in to meet Mr. John McGough of Shell Wyoming. Had a good visit with John, he is a very gentle man with deep concerns for the historical side of life. I enjoyed his company immensely. John bought the old school house in the ‘80’s and has been restoring it. Quite a super job he has done but is now moving on to other projects so it’s up for sale. You can see it at:
http://www.wyomingstoneschool.com/
He is having some problems with the site so you may need to check back but it is a very cool old building and the remodel is excellent! If only I was ready to settle down…… After the second portrait of the day with the sun going behind the clouds again giving me that wonderful soft light we were on our way. Just a few miles down the road we entered Greybull and found our home for the night. Only sad note of the day is that the trailer brakes faded and let us half way down the mountain on HWY 14. But not too worry the truck breaks are strong and tomorrow after we reach Cody we’ll deal with it.

Dang where ever we go there we are