Stumbled upon....

the remains of a sweet old sheep wagon

off State Road 68 in Northern Utah.

Perhaps once belonging to this guy.

Sheepherder Wagons

Driving deep into the Sawtooth mountains,

we happened upon an old sheep ranch.

I've been enamored with the sheep wagon for years. So it was quite a treat to stumble across a field of them in various stages of disrepair. Wild horses (or my boyfriend) could not restrain me from inquiring...

The ranch owner is a man who comes from a long line of sheepherders. He fixes up these beauties as a hobby.

The guy is also a cowboy trader. I asked if he knew where I could find some old Navajo rugs. He opened up his barn of treasures, and revealed some of the most achingly beautiful Indian blankets and rugs I have ever seen-- as well as other treasures and relics of a great American West long gone.

He invited us inside his home, which was practically a museum. More beautiful rugs, embroidered & beaded garter bands once belonging to saloon girls- encased in glass. Nez Perce beaded fringe gloves, walls of trophy animals and birds. Completely wonderstruck, I managed a few photos, but could not begin to capture the magnitude and layers of it all. He was very generous in sharing his collections with us (and allowing me to take a few photos).