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Zebediah Gump - Mustang LbNA #8624 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jun 12, 2004
Location:
City:Palisade
County:Mesa
State:Colorado
Boxes:1
Planted by:Esmerelda
Found by: Front Range Hiker
Last found:May 29, 2006
Status:FFFFFa
Last edited:Jun 12, 2004
This box has been reported as missing.

This here be the fourth chapter of my story.

I spent a good part of my life down in Mesa County doin’ all kinds of jobs. After I helped build the Roan Creek Stage Road, a story I’ll tell another time, I was spendin’ some time down in that Palisade place.

I had me a fine buckskin mare name of Flick. She was, bar none, the best horse I ever rode. She could work cattle, ford a stream or a river without a hitch, and her ride was a smooth as a rockin’ chair on grandma’s porch! Well, one day, me and Flick was explorin’ the canyons. And that’s where this here story begins.

We went east of Palisade on that big black road we always called the Big I. They called it 70, but I never saw the other 69 roads what come afore it. Anyway, just east of Palisade, we splintered off the Big I onto a side road by the name of Exit 46. It was an easy ride to go under the Big I and head towards the river. We followed this road for a short while until we crossed the Colorado River on a big old bridge. A short ways up we seen a big old shack what was pumpin’ out that new fangled electricity what the rich folk used to light their fancy electric lights. We passed on by that and kept on across the canal.

Pretty soon the road forked, so me and Flick took the right fork. Back into the canyon we went, hopin’ to see some of them wild mustangs we heard tell about. I heard the name of this place was The Little Bookcliffs, and, rumor had it, it’s one of only 3 places in the nation of the U. S. of A where them wild horses are protected by the government.
So, me and Flick, we just kept along on that dirt road, windin’ our way into the canyon, payin’ no mind to any side roads we saw or shoulders where some cowboys like to pull off. We kept on agoin’ until we reached a big parkin’ area. Me and Flick didn’t pay no nevermind to the time it took us to ride in, but someone in one of those new fangled automobiles told me it took him 10 – 15 minutes to reach it.
Now, this here parking area had two gates on the west end. One of ‘em is the main road and ya gots to climb over a cattle guard to get through it. Me and Flick chose to go through the other gate, the green gate on the right, which was directly on the west end of the parking area. Even though the gate was shut, it had an easy chain latch and we were through in no time.
Just on the other side of the gate, we seen a trail which kinda swung to the right and headed north up a small hill. So, of course, we went that way! Pretty soon we climbed up a 2nd hill and found ourselves standing at the top.
We could see them city folks parked in their fancy automobiles down below us.
Now.. Here we was standin’ at the top of the hill and we sees that the main trail goes to the left. But, being the adventerous type, we swung to the right and faced east. Smack dab in the middle of our view we could see a lone tall peak risin’ up into the dry summer sky. We put that peak right in our sites and started walkin’ straight towards it, always stayin' on the high ground.
Not too much later, we comes right up to a cliff. We was kind of standin’ on the left end of the cliff, wondering where we was gonna go, when I hears a snort and a stamp from around the corner of the rock! Flick’s ears flashed forward and she neighed a shrill call. A split second later her call was answered by a blast deep from the throat of a wild stallion and he come a runnin’ to find the purty filly what was callin’ him.
Flick started dancin’ and prancin’ all over that hilltop, as excited as a puppy in a room full of steak bones! Afore I knew what happened, danged if that sassy little buckskin didn’t tip me right off of her back! Next thing I knew I was sittin’ in the dirt watchin’ Flick and a the dark bay stallion gallop off up the canyon.
Well!
I called and called, but I knew it wasn’t gonna do me any good. Flick was part of the wild horses now.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my journal, lookin’ around for a good place to stash it so I’d always remember that day.
I looked at the rocks there at the left of the cliff and noticed that they looked like they had all been sliced like giant pieces of cake. Under the third slice of rock from the left, I found a little hidey hole. My journal slid right into the hole and I covered the front of it with loose rocks.
It was a long walk home. From then on I rode MULES!

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Sincerely,
Zebediah Gump

Handcarved stamp and handmade journal.

Esmerelda says:

Although in all our years in the area we’ve never seen a snake around there, please keep your eyes open for them, just in case!
Take bug spray (in the summer)and water!
The hike was 10 – 15 minutes one way from the car. We drove our convertible in so you don’t need any special off road vehicle. Unless you want one, of course! But I do NOT recommend driving all the way in if it's raining!!

We were lucky enough to see 3 wild horses when we placed this… a mare with her colt from last year and this spring’s baby. Fun! You’ll see horse sign everywhere!
No wheelchairs, no strollers, but not a really difficult climb. Dogs are fine.

Placed by Esmerelda, Night Crawler and Pixijunction of the Splendid Buccaneers!