Out Our Way: Watch where we're going

Out our way, the hills are filled with various trails left by generations of deer, elk and more recently cattle. Now Charlie, who had worked herds all over Tiger Ridge, knew most of those trails up on the Tiger — and because he had real cow sense, he often could cut corners because he knew where the cattle on this or that trail were going to end up.

Although, as the beginner and rank amateur, I usually rode drag when we pushed a herd, now and then Charlie would let me ride swing and send me ahead to ensure the lead units stayed on the right trail. But as the trails crisscrossed and sometimes e...