Death — and life — in the Chuskas
Winter brings hardships
As dusk falls, Michael Thompson takes a break from shoveling the roof of his house. Barely visible in the center background is his horse's corral, half-buried in snow. Photo by Tina Deschenie

By Tina Deschenie
For the Independent

Last weekend, about five days after the heavy snowfalls of Jan. 21-24, my husband and I drove more than 100 miles from our home in Farmington to visit my brother, Jimmie Vicenti Jr., and deliver hay for his horse. He lives alone at the base of the mountains near Whiskey Creek, north of Crystal.

On the west side of Narbona Pass summit, we saw families tubing the snowy hills and cross-country ski tracks angling off from the road toward the mountains. The drive was beautiful and, except for a few places, the highway was dry.

Along the highway before we reached the unpaved turnoff, we saw a number of horses foraging for any sign of vegetation beneath the snow and a few stray dogs wandering the cold, barren ditches....

Liberty, Jimmies' horse, can barely peer over the snow-shoveled pathways on the ungraded side of the house. — © 2010 Gallup Independent / Photo by Tina Deschenie

To read more subscribe to the Gallup Independent by calling (505) 863-6811 or purchase the paper at the newsstand.