TWO GUYS NAMED MARK VISIT SHEPP RANCH

My brother-in-law and I decided to take a fishing trip together. He lives in Chicago. I'm from North Carolina. We are both named Mark, so we dubbed our journey: "The adventures of two guys named Mark." My brother-in-law found Shepp Ranch on the internet. "There's no cell reception or Wifi," he told me. "Supposed to be good fishing." That's all I needed to hear. We immediately booked our flights to Idaho.

Entrance to Shepp Ranch from the airstrip . . . Gates to keep stock in or out  ....

Next thing I know, we were leaping up the rapids of the Salmon River in a jetboat like the river's namesake itself—one of only three ways to get to this lovely place (the other two being to hike in or take a small plane ride and land at the ranch's airstrip. 

It's hard to put into words what Shepp Ranch is like because there are so few places left in the world that are so unvarnished and welcoming. Walking up the broad green lawn at the entrance of the ranch, I searched my memory for the last time I felt the immediate sense of place that Shepp Ranch evokes. When I saw the cherry tree with its sweet hanging fruit at the end of the lawn, I knew when it was — my grandma had a cherry tree like that in her back yard when I was a kid. Over the next few days, I would come to find that time at Shepp Ranch passed leisurely and easy — like it did when I visited grandma — and like I hadn't experienced in some 40 years.

The orchard looking out towards the river . . . .

 

Lynn and Mike have managed Shepp Ranch for more than 30 years and, in my opinion, they make the place the unique experience it is. They both work harder than they should to make sure their guests have everything they need without asking and enjoy the many treasures of the ranch and the river. Lynn gives "farm to table" a new meaning with delicious cooking that includes thick smoked bacon, vegetables from the garden, eggs from the chickens right outside, fresh picked raspberries, daily baked bread and home-churned butter. Mike grills dinner like a master chef and tends to the mules and horses and more than a day's worth of other ranch chores — but he is never too busy to take you on a jetboat ride or show you the best fishing holes.

Mike and Lynn

 

Mike and Mark with a big rainbow trout . . . .

 

The two guys named Mark had 4 great days that seemed like 4 weeks at Shepp Ranch. We caught an abundance of beautiful trout, rode mules into the wilderness, explored the river, saw a multitude of stars at night, enjoyed an evening bonfire on the beach with inspiring violin music by Lorrie and relaxed and laughed around the dinner table with new found friends.

Lodge dining room and view of kitchen . . .. .

 

If you haven't been to Shepp Ranch, find your way there. You'll never forget it. If you've visited, then you know what I'm talking about. Either way, I hope to  see you on my next visit! — Mark Smith

 

OVER THE RIVER AND OUT TO TOWN . . .

Every once in a while it's good to get off the river and go to town.  I have to jet boat 13 miles down river to Vinegar Creek a/k/a End of the Road.  Here I pick up my now dusty sky blue Yaris and head for Riggins to the car wash.  Then  I turn on NPR and head for McCall, a small resort town in central Idaho - population about 3,300.  I lived here some 20 years ago for four years and taught skiing and snowboarding at the local ski resort, Brundage Mountain.  Thus I have many friends here and my sister, Andrea, from Atlanta Georgia followed me out here and never left.  She teaches cello and piano and her husband Jeff is the keyboard man in a jazz band called Merchants of Groove.

 

My brother-in-law, Jeff Parnett (1st on left) in his jazz band

Merchants of Groove

 

 

First Stop is Foglifter Café where Andrea and I have breakfast.

 

 

Andrea and me at Fog Lifter Café . . .

 

Then we head out for the McCall Farmers' Market where Andrea is hosting a booth for the McCall Music Society.  My friend Bob and I play fiddle and guitar there to try and draw folks to the booth.  It works!!!! Bob played my back up at the National Fiddle Contest Years ago in Weiser Idaho.  We have played many gigs together for the past 20 + years.

 

Bob and me playing tunes at the Farmers' Market . . . .

 

My sister Andrea at the McCall Music Society booth . . .

 

When one comes off the river only once or twice a month there is always a myriad of things to do and places to go.  Mine includes shopping for some cooler clothes for the 100 degree days in the canyon, procuring some electrolyte concoction to stay hydrated, new tires for my car, and on goes the list.  It takes me almost all day.  A few of my stops include the following:

 

Gravity Sports for electrolyte supplements . . .

 

Home Town Sports for some light summer shirts and a Tilly Hat for shade while berry picking and, I visit with Patty Boydstun-Hovdey and Dean Hovdey, old friends and proprietors of the shop.

 

Mountain Regatta for a dress for evening dinners at the ranch and a pair of sandals with Vibram soles for river walking . . . .

 

High Mountain Nursery where my friend Jane works and I look at hanging pots for my ranch cabin . .

 

Pet Outfitter and Supplies for treats and toys for the Shepp Ranch dogs . . .

 

Andy and I stop late in the heat of the afternoon for an ice cream at Moxie Java.'

 

Sister Andrea licking her cone . . . .

 

I end the day having dinner with my dear friend Jane at the Bistro.  We have salads and beer and spirited conversation for a few hours.

 

 

 

I spend the night at Jane and Peter's cabin.  Peter has just left on a trip to Minnesota with one of his famous hand made canoes, so it is just me and Jane at the cabin.

 

 

 

The next day it is back to Vinegar Creek on the river to meet my jet boat for the ride back up the river.

 

Riding the jet boat back to the ranch . . . .

 

All in all it was a successful trip out.  I accomplished all of my missions and it is just good to have a change of scenery once in awhile and visit with friends and a special sister. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CRITTERS AT SHEPP RANCH . . .

Shepp Ranch is alive with critters . . . .  domestic animals of all shapes and sizes. We have 10 cats, 3 dogs, 2 hens, 1 pig, 15 mules and 3 horses. And then there are those who are not domestic, who come to share space with us on the ranch.  They would include mule deer, elk, big horn sheep, bear and cougar.  I spotted two mule deer in the mule/horse corral in front of my cabin at 6:00 a.m. the other morning.

I will start with the cats.  The include Buster Keaton, Scaredy Cat, Simba, McGruff, Melky Cabrerra, Cleopatra, Princess Shadoe and my yuppie cat, Yentl.  All of the cats live outside, except for Yentl who lives in my cabin with me.  I feed all the cats twice a day.

7 cats at feeding time . . . Melky Cabrerra is missing  and one other . . .

 

and, this is Yentl Be Gentle, the yuppie cat,  on my bed . . .

 

Our pig is  named Moonbeam.  She has her own space but has many visitors, both human, canine and feline all day.  She eats very well from our table.

Moonbeam

 

We have two hens, Patti and Blondie.  They are English Hens and lay light green/blue eggs, each one per day.  Patti and Blondie live in a pen in the garden.  They have a little hen house where they sleep each night and lay their eggs in the afternoon.  They love currents on the bush/branch and watermelon too.  They get  a half cup of 'scratch' every day and their regular food and water.

 

Patti and Blondie

 

And then there were three - dogs that is.  We have a Springer Spaniel Cane (pronounced Connie), a black Laborador Retriever, Coot and now a Griffon, named Banks.

 

Coot and Cane (Connie) at the back porch door awaiting their dog bone when the dinner bell rings . .

 

Banks and his human Nathaniel (our new ranch hand/wrangler) . . . .'

 

And then there are the mules - 15 of them.  I do not know all of their names except for Willy and Alfalfa.  I will post again when I get their names.  They are our mainstay in packing for hunting camp and riding.  They are unflappable on the trail and love to talk at all hours of the day and night.  Nathanial likes to feed them green apples which they love.

 

Here are many of the mules in a shady spot on a hot 100 degree day . . . .

 

We have three horses for riding.  The two new mares and McKenna.

 

Olivia on the left and Mercedes on the right . . . . .

 

Here is McKenna the horse, lounging in the shade on a hot day with the mules . . . .

 

Annie is the mare we sold to get the two new mares.  Her new home is up river at Indian Creek Ranch, more than a few miles and up over a few mountains.  She  escaped and found her way back home to Shepp Ranch and was in her old corral again until her new owners, Wes and Kristina came back to get her a week later. 

 

Annie, back home at Shepp Ranch for a few days  . . . . .

 

 

That about sums it up for domestic critters on the ranch.  Hope you will come visit, talk to, scratch and pet some, and ride a few on these beautiful trails if you care to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

BERRY BERRY HOT IN THE CANYON . . .

It has been very hot in the canyon - up in the 90s, sometimes 100ds on my little LL Bean thermometer every day since I have arrived.  We have had one thunder and lightening storm which promptly started a fire 2 miles due east of the ranch at Rattlesnake Point, just adjacent to Rabbit Creek.  Smoke jumpers from the Grangeville smoke jumper base were immediately parachuted in and had the fire under control and out within 24 hours.  Helipcopters came to the ranch to take out their gear and Mike jet boated the young jumpers back down river.  I didn't get to see and meet the handsome young smoke jumpers as I was napping.  Just goes to show you what age 62 will do for you!

The hot weather has also caused a bumper crop of strawberries, raspberries and cherries.

Mike picks the cherries.

Mike on the ladder picking cherries . . . . ..

I de-pit and wash them.

 

Cherries being washed . . .

I get the pits out of the cherries with a little German made machine.

Lorrie at the picnic table de-pitting the cherries . . .

Note the black lab, Coot, at my feet :-)

Lynn then  uses her magic and cans the cherries and makes jam out of the strawberries and raspberries.

Lynn in the canning process . . . . .

 

On the stove . . . .

 

Ah, the finished product of all our labors . . ..

We have raspberries for breakfast every morning :-) Maybe one more pick of raspberries..  The strawberries have gone by.  The blue berries are now ripe and Lynn has been making some blueberry deserts for the guests with lemon curd.  Apricots are on the way . . . 

MANES 'N TAILS . . . .

ARRIVAL OF NEW MARES

Shepp Ranch got two new mares last week.  Wesley Gregory (one of our hunting guides for bear, elk and mule deer) and Tim Hull rode across the mountains with the new horses and a pack horse.  They camped out up top one night and arrived at about 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Wesley with his mount . . .

 

The new mares . . . I named the dark one Olivia  ..

It was a  very hot (over 100 degrees) 2 day ride over the mountains. we bring them tall glasses of lemonade when they arrive.  They spend the night and leave around 6 a.m. after a big breakfast to head back. 

 

A cowboy laces up for the trail . . ..

 

 

Tim Hull packing up the pack horse for the ride back . . .

 

Ready for the trail . . .

 

 

 

And the pack string heads out . . .

 

I follow them up the mountain a ways to get some aerial shots of the River and the ranch.

 

View Lynn's Shepp Ranch gardens from up above . . .

 

A view of Shepp Ranch barns from up above . . .

 

 

Sunrise looking upriver from up high . . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

JET BOAT UP RIVER . . .

Friday we had  twelve day tripper guests.  Day tripper guests get a special a jet boat ride up river.  Mike picks up the guests at the "end of the road" boat ramp at Vinegar Creek  on the Salmon River just outside of Riggins.  They stop first at Polly Bemis Ranch before arriving at Shepp Ranch for lunch.  Next they tour the ranch and then we all get in the jet boat for a wild ride up river.  We take one of Shepp Ranch's three jet boats, the thirty-one foot twin engine.  Most of the 12 guests ride in the back of the boat standing against the railings.  I sit in the co-captain's seat across from Mike. It is a nicer bouncy ride over the rapids as the seat has springs underneath and a cushy seat.

                                        Shepp Ranch jet boat "Marybelle" on route up river . . .

Mike (manager and outfitter and jet boat captain) driving the jet boat up river . .

 

Jet boats were first seen on the Salmon River in the mid-sixties.  The beauty of the jet boat on the rocky, rapid filled Salmon River is that there is nothing jutting below the bottom of the boat to come into contact with rocks or gravel.  The jet engine pulls water into a large opening and forces it out  through a very small opening, thus creating the power to move through the fast moving water.

The dogs like to perch on the bow to take in the action.  They seem to instinctively know when a rapid is coming up and get back down into the inside of the boat without prompting.

Springer spaniel Cane (sounds like Connie) is our compass and guide . . .

The Salmon River is the second deepest canyon outside of Hells Canyon.  It's depth is 6,000 feet with the river being at 2000 feet about sea level and the Sheep Eater Lookout, the rim of the canyon is at 8,000 feet. 

In the far distance you can see Sheepeater Mountain at 8000 feet which is the outer rim of the canyon ..

Mike stops the boat to show us a cliff where the big horn sheep have made the narrowest of trails for themselves across the bare rock.

Cliff with 3 big horn sheep trails crisscrossing the rock - zoom in to see closer . . ..

We go through many sets of rapids to our final destination at another ranch/lodge Mackay Bar which is 10 miles up river from Shepp Ranch. We stop there for water, ice cream and a rest in the shade and then head back down river to Shepp Ranch where I disembark.  Mike then takes the guests back to Vinegar Creek to complete their wilderness experience on the Salmon River.

Mackay Bar Lodge . . . Notice the rafters taking off to go down river . . .

 

 

Jet boat with guests on back railing . . . .

 

A good day was had by all!  Some guests say next time they will be back for an overnight stay.

 

I always enjoy meeting and getting to know our guests. They come from all walks of life and have wonderful stories of their lives to share with us.