A Bar A Ranch

The historic A Bar A Ranch is a premier Wyoming guest ranch located on the North Platte River.

By

Huge Snowpack, Great Wildflowers

The snowpack above the A Bar A is greater than it has been in 30 years and we are expecting an amazing run-off followed by one of the most impressive displays of wildflowers in years. One of our friends recently sent a picture taken on Snowy Range, which snowed him standing on snow and above a black pipe. The black pipe was the chimney vent from a 15 foot building!

Road crews are working to get the road open in the next three weeks. When you come to the ranch this year, you may want to consider a detour over Snowy Range Road. Even in July there will still be snow up there.

At the A Bar A, we no longer have snow on the ground and grass is starting to green up. We keep getting small snow flurries, but they are melting quickly.

By

A Bar A Guest Ranch on Facebook

Over the past few years, guests and staff have often asked for a way to connect with each other through the year. To help with this, we have created a Facebook fan page. It was created today and you can find it by searching A Bar A Guest Ranch. Check it out and let us know if you like it!

By

Drifts Getting Bigger

This picture was taken on February 24th, 2011 after many hours of plowing and digging. By afternoon, the road had blown closed again and we have resorted to using our snowcat until our snowblower (600 horsepower on a front end loader) arrives on the 26th. This pile of snow was at least 10 feet high! Thank goodness spring will be here soon! Even with the snow at the end of our road, the Ranch is beautiful. It was 50 degrees and sunny in the valley. No wind, so it was just perfect for a February day!

By

Ranch Road Drifted Shut

The past two weeks have brought temperatures as low as -41 degrees F with winds up to 40 MPH. A recent snow storm has closed our road and many of you may recognize this hill, which is the entrance to the Ranch–just as you turn off the highway. Our massive tractor and bulldozer plow are unable to get through and we are now looking in to snowblower options and will be using our snowcat. Winter in Wyoming is beautiful, but brutal! Thank goodness the summer is such a wonderful time to be here!

By

Essay from Ross and Kathy O’Day’s Granddaughter

This was written by the granddaughter of Ross and Kathy O’Day. Ross, is our head of maintenance. Their granddaughter has visited the ranch the past two summers to share the experience of an A Bar A summer with them.

Wyoming
My favorite place to be ANYWHERE in the world would have to be Wyoming. I’ve gone there the past two years and I’ve loved every single second of it.
At my favorite place I see my Grandpa getting his hands dirty doing his difficult job living the ranch life. I also spy birds zooming through the trees. I watch as people around me are having as much fun as I am. I see blissful horses running through the pasture, grazing on grass, flowers and occasionally weeds.l notice the wind blowing through the trees.
At my favorite place I hear so many children and grown ups sharing a laugh or two. I hear horses hooves galloping in the distant meadows. I listen to the birds chirping and the creek as it flows forever on. Listening to my horses heartbeat as we ride together brings me to a place of peace and serenity. I hear loved ones all around me. And I could tell, this is where they want to be too.
At this place I smell (the horse manure) and crisp mountain air flowing throught the warm breeze. I also smell the freshly cut grass. It mixes with the sweet smell of my mom’s perfume and all together it smells like home (minus the manure part) I smell our next meal filling the mountain air. The smell of Wyoming smells like home.
At my favorite place I feel a warm hug while roasting by the fireplace. I touch the slightly misted grass on a damp day. Feeling my horse’s deep breaths reminds me of who I am. I feel the warm Wyoming sun rays beating down on my face in my favorite spot in the yard. I touch the jagged pebbles as I walk along the dusty trails in my comfy cowboy boots.
There I taste the delicious food they fix for us. Everytime I visit there, the food is always scrumptious. I shudder…as the horses lope past me free as can be. I inhale the mountain air as it blows my hair back underneath my cowboy hat. Its peace and harmony.
Oh what a beautiful place to be…. Wyoming