Since it’s Christmas time, I think it’s appropriate to remember Cuzco’s first Christmas in Colorado and the first time we put him to work. I think he actually really enjoyed hauling our tree off the mountain. He pulled it about a mile to our house. For the first time in his life, he did not get reprimanded for forging ahead and straining against resistance.
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Frosty ears
If this cold, snowy weather keeps up, we could actually have a good winter this year! We’re incredibly sick and tired of drought. If we get lucky, I might even have to break out Cuzco’s earmuffs. I noticed frost around the edges yesterday, but Cuzco didn’t seem too concerned about that. He just wanted a cookie. And to be allowed inside by the fire.
The good ol’ days…
It’s a good morning to reminisce about “the good ol’ days.”
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Cuzco still had TWO horns. 
October snow
It’s about time I posted some new glamour shots! We took these on the morning of October 16. We had 14″ of snow that morning! This is the sight that greeted me in the morning. I really have nothing in life worth complaining about, do I?
Petunia fit perfectly in Nibble’s blanket from last year, and like Nibbles, she kept it neat and clean. I guess “like mother like daughter” does not apply in this case–Lilly was always a disaster with blankets.
Nubbin, on the other hand, takes after Lilly and always gets at least one foot through the neck of her blanket no matter how much I cinch it down. Go figure!
Nibbles yawns in the morning sun.
Cuzco licks the snow off his nose.
I tried to get Petunia to go sledding with me. It didn’t work out so well, but we had fun anyway.
It’s hard to get going with this many goats on your lap!
Back from Area 51
We just bought two round calf hutches from a PolyDome dealer in our area and I couldn’t be more pleased! These are the perfect size for goats (even extra-big goats!).
What happened was we had a wind storm last week and the heavy wooden goat shed that Phil and his dad built for Cuzco a few years ago took flight and landed about 30 feet away on the other side of the fence. It broke apart and I’ve yet to survey the damage up close because it’s in the middle of the oak brush and I’m going to have to go in there with a chain saw and tractor to retrieve it. So I was suddenly down to one shed for five goats and we all know that only one large and in charge fellow is going to occupy it.
I went to Craigslist and saw an add for a PolyDome dealer and found out he was delivering some to another person right up the road! When we got home with the shelters, a blizzard had set in and Phil and I had to get them off the truck and up the hill to the goat pen. We thought it would be a hassle in the dark with the slick ground and blowing snow, but we turned the shed on its side and simply rolled it up the hill and into the goat pen!
The domes are seven feet in diameter and five feet tall–more than big enough for Cuzco (and several others if he didn’t insist on keeping it all to himself). It has no corners, so when Lilly or someone happens to wander in, Cuzco can’t pin them. They simply run around the the wall until they get to the door. And speaking of the door, it has a lip about a foot high that keeps wind and snow from blowing in and bedding from spilling out. It’s a wonderful design! And best of all, when you’re transporting them on your truck, it looks like you just came from Area 51!!!!
Turns out that storm we unloaded the hutch in was serious. It snowed 14 inches before morning and we woke up to this on October 16. Good thing we bought that new shelter when we did! See it under all the snow?
Diving at Upper Calf Creek Falls
We stopped at the Upper Calf Creek Falls on our way out of Escalante. I think this might become a tradition. Last year we didn’t know what awaited us at the bottom of the trail, so we did our swimming au naturel.
This time we wore our swimsuits under our clothes. We weren’t sure if we would actually make the plunge since it was freezing cold outside, but we decided that luck favors the prepared and it would be feeble to not even give ourselves the option. Due to National Park closures, there were several other people at the falls and us skinny dipping might leave them with a bad impression of Utah. So we brought the swimsuits.
Our first stop was one we didn’t make last year. We saw this waterfall from the top but didn’t notice the trail to the bottom. This time we did and it was quite worth it.
Did I mention it was freezing outside? Last year was hot and I still remember how icy the water was even on that beautiful day. This year it was overcast and there was an arctic wind blowing. I wasn’t sure I was brave enough to take the plunge, or that the thrill was worth the chill. But once again, in the interest of not being feeble, I decided I’d regret not doing it. Besides, there was a group of people watching and I’d practiced my swan dive at Lake Powell during the summer.
Phil took the old cannonball approach.
It was freezing, but it was totally worth it. We got cheers from the audience on the hill above. No regrets. The goats are clearly smarter than we are and stayed sensibly rooted to the rocks from which we leaped.This is how you know you have a pack goat extraordinaire. Cuzco faithfully carried my cold, wet towel back up the trail and even allowed me to dangle my dripping swimsuit top from his horn.
I eventually had to take the towel back because, careful as he was, Cuzco could not prevent it from sliding off on that steep trail. And I removed the brassiere because I felt it embarrassed for the poor guy. Besides, it was impairing his vision. He kept stopping and turning his head so he could peer out from behind it, but he never once shook or tried to scrape it off on a tree. I told you he’s a good packer!
I eventually had to take the towel back because, careful as he was, Cuzco could not prevent it from sliding off on that steep trail. And I removed the brassiere because I felt it embarrassed for the poor guy. Besides, it was impairing his vision. He kept stopping and turning his head so he could peer out from behind it, but he never once shook or tried to scrape it off on a tree. I told you he’s a good packer!
What a faithful trail companion…
More Willis Creek… we can’t get enough of this place!
Phil and the goats – into the slots.
Nubbin is her usual adorable self.
Cuzco, the fearless leader shows the younger goats the proper way to head home from a hike at the end of the day. I’m not sure there’s much to it, but Cuzco takes the job very seriously, as he does with everything in life.
Petunia makes a great silhouette with those ears. 
The sunset on the way home from Willis Creek was amazing. This hasty shot snapped from the truck window does not do it justice. 
Triptych – “Old Goat on Willis Creek”
We can’t tease Cuzco about gray hairs coming in because they’ve always been there, but the wise, chiseled lines brought by years of experience and adventure are unmistakable.
And he’s still way bigger than me!
Lights and shadows
Phil and Cuzco take in the view.
Nanno thinks she’s a goat.
Cuzco wisely chooses to remain on level ground. At his age, he’s seen it all anyway.
“I told you! I said you’d regret climbing up there, Nan!”
Can anyone find Petunia?
They called me “NannoGoat” in my younger days, long before I ever owned a goat or had even met one at a petting zoo. My moniker lent itself to such nicknames, but maybe there was something more to it?
Willis Creek
Willis Creek slot canyons has to be our favorite hike on our Escalante trip. It’s extremely easy and only a couple miles long, but that leaves plenty of time for enjoying and photographing the scenery
Cuzco at the entrance to the slot canyons.
Can you get up there, Nubbin?
Of course I can–DUH!!
Petunia says, “I can climb higher than Nubbin!”
Don’t jump, babies!
Ship ahoy!
To be continued…