Cooperative Living May 2022 - 13
EXPLORE MORE
More than 300
elk roam the
makeshift plains
of the flat-topped
mountain.
months ago, are preparing to
burst into bud just as the elk begin
dropping their antlers.
I am rolling this thought around in
my mind when, high and faint, piercing
the air above the peepers' cries, I hear
a screech or whistle, like a screaming
firework - a bugle, rare in the spring.
My fellow tour guests and I are treated
to it twice during our tour.
When the group has taken its fill
Fall tours take place during the rut,
and feature contests of dominance
between bull elk eager to form harems
for the mating season. Guests on these
tours can expect to be treated to the
ephemeral vocalization known as
bugling, a bull elk's assertion of
dominance, reminiscent of the sound
of a whale's song.
ELK WAT
After roughly 25 minutes driving
along the Russell Fork River, our bus
labors up a curvy, gray, gravel drive
towards the flattened peak of the mineturned-mountain.
No sooner have
we crested the first hill than we spot
ou fi rst grouping of elk, more than
60 of them: cows, calves and bulls.
Some stand, some lay, their legs
folded beneath them. A few languidly
turn to face our bus, gnawing nonchalantly
on their cuds. The mane
of one of the bulls blows majestically in
the stff breeze. Avery cuts the engine
and the throaty grumble of the bus gives
way to a chorus of spring peepers. He
tells us to " talk low and move slow " as we
disembark, which we are permitted to do
only if the elk are at least 60 yards away.
I stand with my back to the bus, facing
the herd and a backdrop of mountains.
Th re aren't many trees on the peak of
this mountain sliced flat, and their
branches, still stark and naked, resemble
the antlers of a bull elk. It strikes me that
the trees, which dropped their leaves
co-opliving.com
Elk Tours: Reservations required: breakspark.com/elk-tours
Dinner provided: $35 for adults - $20 for children 12 and under;
Tours in March, April, May and August, September and October
May 2022 ● Cooperative Living ●
11
of photos, we board the bus once more,
and head further up the mountain, to
a large, flat, grassy area to eat barbecue
from a food truck in nearby Haysi.
We eat our barbecue from containers
at an elevation of roughly 2,300 feet,
enjoying panoramic views of the
mountains. Five bull elk graze in a
little valley to one side.
I watch the shadow of a mountain
creep across the hills, each one a chin
stubbly with still barren trees. In the
distance, blue mountain peaks form the
choppy, angular waves of rough seas.
A startled rabbit skitters across the grass.
Avery walks around, offering guests
local fare - catfish nuggets. He runs
out before he gets to me.
When there is more shadow than sun
on the flat top and the peaks and valleys
that surround it, we pile back onto the
bus in search of more elk. Our efforts are
quickly rewarded. The bus gets as close
as 30 yards to another large herd. Avery
lets guests look from the open door, but
explains we are too close to disembark.
HEADING HOME
As we head down the mountain,
twilight gives way to darkness, and I can
no longer see the Russell Fork fl wing
beside the ribbon of asphalt that hugs
the curves of its banks. I sit behind
Avery, trying to see past my reflection
in the dark window.
Failing, I glance up at the rearview
mirror, and see dozens of faces: a young
boy, an amorous couple, an old man.
Today, we all shared in a little bit of
history, a little bit of wonder, a little bit
of the natural world and humankind's
ability both to destroy and rebuild it,
to exploit and redeem it.
Humankind drove the Eastern elk
to extinction. But humankind also saw
the opportunity for reclamation and
repopulation, repurposing this barren
wasteland into plains and repopulating
it with elk.
These elk, I realize, are more than
Appalachia's Greatest Conservation
Story. Th y are evidence of stewardship
and care, of an infinite capacity for hope
and perseverance. It makes a trip up a
mountain on the last day of winter less
of a bumbling bus ride and more of
a journey.
http://www.breakspark.com/elk-tours
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living May 2022
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 1
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 2
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 3
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 4
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 5
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 6
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 7
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 8
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 9
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 10
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 11
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 12
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 13
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 14
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 15
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 16
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 17
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 18
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 19
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 20
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 21
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 22
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 23
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 24
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 25
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 26
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 27
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 28
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 29
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 30
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 31
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 32
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 33
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 34
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 35
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 36
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 37
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 38
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 39
Cooperative Living May 2022 - 40
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperative-living-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CL-May2024/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/CooperativeLiving-June2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cooperativelivingmay2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-april2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january-february2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-november-december2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-october2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-september2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-august2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-july2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-june2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-may2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-march-april2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-february2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/vmdaec/CooperativeLiving/cl-january2014
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com