More on Leonard Creek Ranch

Leonard Creek Ranch

We’ve been at Leonard Creek Ranch for about a week. The ranch has been in Dan’s family for about 90 years. He was born here and went to school in a one-room schoolhouse here on the ranch until the age of 13—he then went to a regular high school in the nearest town, Winnemucca, NV, 90 miles away. The ranch is located north of the Black Rock Desert at the foot of the Pine Forest Mountains.

Map of the ranch’s location

The beauty of the country here is breathtaking. I love being here during the winter when the landscape changes dramatically with the falling and melting of snow; turning from the land of ice to the land of mud and sagebrush and back again. The clouds have been amazing while we’ve been here—big, and puffy, at times they appear to swallow the mountains whole. They have been dropping snow on us almost every day, not much snow, just a small dusting, which melts away before they can drop some more.

Clouds overtaking the mountains

I’m so grateful to be able to spend some quality time here at Leonard Creek. Tensions have been high since Daniel’s father passed away a few years ago. He was the heart and soul of the ranch and with his passing so passed a large piece of the ranch. I hope by being here we can connect with his spirit and help heal past wounds. We are not sure how long we will be here, but hopefully long enough to for me to get a better understanding of the place and the land.

The valley to the north of Leonard Creek with the ranch in the background