Grand Canyon Winter Cowboy Camps of the Esplanade:
They came to the western part of the north rim side of Grand Canyon to graze their sheep, cattle and horses. Like the prehistoric peoples before them they moved in and out of the canyons with the seasons. They were not explorers but they got to know their part of the canyon better than anyone since the prehistorics. They were not tourists but they saw the Grand Canyon as none has seen it seen since. They were working cowboys who spent there winters in the first half of the last century making shelters, building trails and finding water while caring for there herds.
This presentation by Mortenson will show the camps, trails, inscriptions, supplies and junk they left behind. In exploring and hiking the remote western half of the Grand Canyon for forty-five years Dave has rediscovered the Cowboy campsites, hiked their trails and photographed much of what they left behind. Life was tough but they made the most of it by building shelters and packing in what they could to make life better. They liked canned milk but hated creamed corn. They had to work long hours but had long cold nights. To fill time, they left their marks on the Supai Sandstone walls. The story of the hard life these Grand Canyon cowboys spent wintering below the rim will be shown through the unique presentation.