TRAILING OF THE SHEEP FESTIVAL.

I had been looking forward to and researching the Trailing of the Sheep Festival in Ketchum since my mom told me about it last month!  However, last night, after both looking at the weather forecast and realizing none of my fellow adventurers who had originally planned to go could attend, I decided not to go either.  I fell asleep a bit bummed about missing an adventure I had been anticipating so much while simultaneously feeling relieved that I would be excused from enduring the cold, wet weather!  However, apparently during the night my SENSE OF ADVENTURE had a chance to bully around my GOOD SENSE and when I woke this morning, I was raring to go!  With the festival beginning at noon, I had not a minute to spare.  I was off to Ketchum just as fast as I could get ready!  Even though it was a chilly 35 degrees when I left, the skies were beautifully blue.  It looked liked it would be a great day for an adventure after all!  And then I hit Mountain Home.  The dreaded, awful, icky Mountain Home.  It was snowing.  The wind was blowing.  The skies were dark.  The roads were icy.  But I pressed on--determined now and reassured by the fact that I had just made a trip to REI and was thoroughly stocked up on my winter necessities and accessories!

 

Although I didn't have much time to stop on the way up to take pictures, I couldn't resist pulling over for this little church--it was SUNDAY after all!

  

  

I loved how the little bird was perched right at the very top of the steeple!

It had been several years since I had been up to Sun Valley and I had definitely forgotten about the LONG drive part!  I was SO relieved to finally arrive!

So here's your history lesson for today--I'll try to keep it short!

If you want more information, you can go to:

www.trailingofthesheep.org

Although most of us commonly associate the Sun Valley area with famous tourists flying in on their private jets, it is actually seeped in sheep history.  For over a hundred years sheep have been using the Stanley basin area as their summer grazing grounds.  Each fall those sheep pass through the city streets of Ketchum on their way to their winter grazing grounds in Hagerman.  Twelve years ago somebody decided to try to convince all the fancy rich people that sheep running through and making alot of sheep poopy on their streets was, well, worthy of celebration!  Usually the sheep are herded as quietly as possible through the back streets of Ketchum but on the second weekend of each October, one of the five sheep ranches in the area is chosen to participate in what is now called the Trailing of the Sheep Festival!  They are asked to participate in a parade that celebrates both the extensive history of and the multi-cultural influence on sheep ranching by running their flock directy down MAIN STREET.  So, without further ado, I give you the . . .

2008 TRAILING OF THE SHEEP FESTIVAL

  

  

  

I found myself fascinated with the footwear of the parade participants!  

Their costumes, right down to the SHOES were so elaborate!

  

Just another friendly bagpipe player!

Notice the sheep costume on her bagpipes!

    

The Tatra Sheepdogs were my favorite parade participants!

And FINALLY the sheep!  

As is tradition, the flock has just been blessed by a priest!

The Henslee family finally leading their sheep down the parade route.

If you look at the sheep just to the RIGHT of the man leading the flock,

 you can tell, something is just about to go  terribly wrong!

BAD SHEEP TOOK OFF RUNNING . . . 

WHICH CAUSED A SHEEP STAMPEDE!

I love how the dog sees that there is trouble . . . 

and does nothing!

  

The stampede, led by Bad Sheep, decided to DETOUR down a side street 

instead of finishing the parade route!

Although I was so looking forward to sheep pictures, they were hard to come by when the sheep were BOLTING past me!  Due to the stampede, the whole flock of 1500 was past me in less than thirty seconds!

I love how the sheep rancher is standing in the middle of the flock wondering exactly what all of us were, 

"WHAT'S GOING ON????"

DEFINITELY NOT SUPPOSE TO BE GOING DOWN THAT STREET!

this is my favorite picture!

About twenty minutes later the family finally managed to get the sheep 

back on track and they finished up the parade!

but look at how hard they were working!

Just as I was giggling at the mess in the street . . .

along came a STREET SWEEPER!

ONLY IN KETCHUM!

I wandered around Ketchum after the parade and ran into the Tatras again.

DOGS ARE SO COOL!

And I was approached by a lady selling these handmade wool sheep.

Oh you know i bought one! But you'll see him later!

Trailing of the Sheep Festival

~2008~

  

  

Just outside of town I stopped to take some pictures on this bridge.  A little old lady walked up to me and said, "I saw you standing here.  Are you here to watch the sheep too?"  Turns out the sheep were just across the river!  And I was completely clueless!

  

Since I heard about the Trailing of the Sheep festival I have been joking that I was going to Run with the Sheep.   At the parade you are strictly forbidden from stepping off the curb let alone running out into the flock.  But suddenly I found myself in the middle of the meadow with the sheep heading straight toward me!  There were only two sheepherders now and they didn't seem to care what I did!  In fact, as I stood still, they pushed the sheep right around me!  The sheep, which were definitely not in any hurry after their stampede through town, sauntered around me!  I WAS SO THRILLED!  Watching, and even being in the middle of a flock, is quite a serene experience.  They move so quietly!  In fact, the only real noise to be heard as the flock moved was the slight tinkle of a bell tied to the neck of one of the sheep.  Even the dogs moved quietly, efficiently and ever so expertly.  I loved just being able to stand and absorb the whole experience!  Which is the only thing I could do considering the unfortunate demise of my camera battery!  At first I was so frustrated that I couldn't take pictures of the experience and then I just gave up and enjoyed myself.  Granted I have no proof that I  actually ran with the sheep but nonetheless I DID!  And I'm planning to attend the 13th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival next year--with an extra battery!  Or at least my cell phone in my pocket--instead of back in the truck!

I have learned a few camera lessons this week--the hard way!

NUMBER ONE--be sure to format your cards after you download your pictures!  Or you'll end up only being able to take thirteen pictures on a 2G card!  Formatting is MUY IMPORTANTE!

NUMBER TWO--splurge on an extra battery--or two!

Or else you'll end up finishing up your trip with a poor quality camera phone!

  

SNOWING OUT IN CAMAS PRAIRIE!

  

THIS IS THE SHEEP I BOUGHT AT THE FESTIVAL . . .

WONDERING WHY IT IS SUNNY BACK ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN IT SNOWED ON US ALL DAY!

AND REALIZING THAT IT IS A LONG, LONG DRIVE FROM SUN VALLEY!

  

I EVEN LET HIM DRIVE FOR AWHILE--SO I COULD LOOK AT THE SAGEBRUSH.

I THINK ABOUT NOW, ALL OF US ARE REALIZING THE DOWNFALLS OF SOLO ADVENTURES WITH LONG, BORING DRIVES!

THE END!

ha! i couldn't resist!