The Emery County Historical Society Saturday after touring the Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry traveled to view the Jump Trail used for driving cattle down into the Humbug Canyon.
The road to the Jump ends in a growth of cedar trees that overlook the Jump and Humbug Canyon. Humbug Canyon is a valley in Emery County, at an elevation of about 5,548 feet, north and east of Cedar Mountain. From the Jump Trail a person can see as far as the Book Cliffs on a clear day.
Cattleman Glen Jensen and his wife Karen from Elmo met the historical society group at the Jump to explain how they trailed cows and horses over the cliff edge and down the steep grade into the Humbug Canyon.
At first looking through the cedars and out over the cliff, which appears to be about 300 to 500 feet above the canyon floor, one wonders why this is called the Jump. Did the cattleman really make the cows jump off the cliff into the valley?
Glen Jensen pointed out a narrow crack in the cliff face that is used to drive cattle down through. The trail down is steep, narrow and winds into the canyon.
At first the cattle do not want to go down through the Jump but after an older lead cow gets brave and starts down the others follow.
Glen said about five cattlemen still use the Jump Trail to move cattle from around Cleveland/Elmo and other areas in Emery County. These cattlemen have Bureau of Land Management permits to put cattle in the Humbug Valley. Some cattlemen with grazing permits use trucks and trailers to haul their cattle into the valley from Utah State Highway 6.
Glen Jensen, age 84, has 100 head of cattle today and has been trailing cattle over the Jump Trail since he was a young boy. He does this twice a year. The cattle are trailed into the Humbug Valley during November and trailed out again in April.
There used to be several herds of cows trailed through the Jump, but now many cattlemen with trucks and trailers are hauling their cows around Cedar Mountain. This valley is used for wintering the cattle. It can be a hot old valley when it gets warm down there. There is water in the valley for the cattle but some of the springs are drying up this year said, Glen Jensen. The Humbug alkali water tastes awful but the cows do not seem to have a problem drinking it.
Standing among the cedar trees, Hazel McMullen read, to the group, her poem titled “Cowboying In Humbug.”
Grandma tell me about Humbug.
One day my granddaughter asked.
To make her minds eye see Humbug.
I knew would be quite a task.
That’s where the cows spend their winter.
The warmest place they can find.
Sort of a retreat for the mamas leaving the daddies behind.
The weather can be just gorgeous.
Without a cloud to be seen.
At night, the heavens are filled with stars.
So peaceful, calm and serene.
Some years the wind blows your face full of sand.
And you wish you were home in bed.
He who’d willingly choose this kind of life.
Has got to be off in the head.
I hear the men mention areas called, Sugarloaf, Cottonwood, and Stove Gulch.
As they talk of the direction they’re headed.
Saddle bags filled with canteens and lunch.
We women, then clean up the campers.
And meet for a hike and a chat.
Haven’t had such leisure since last spring.
Just imagine – there’s time for a nap.
But oh – there’s panoramic beauty.
Any direction you cast your eye.
With twisted cedars and pretty rocks.
And scenery no money could buy.
To complete this fantastic picture God paints in our behalf.
Is another miracle of nature.
The frolicking new born calf.
There’s the gathering at the campfire.
For food cooked Dutch oven style.
One can’t improve on a setting like this.
And friends make it all worthwhile.
Now, my dear, can you see Humbug?
I can’t do It justice I fear.
Perhaps you’ll want to see for yourself,
And I’ll take you with me next year.
Author Hazel McMullen
Following the reading of the poem everyone settled down to eat their picnic lunch under a darkening sky, with a few raindrops, before driving home.
Historical society field trip to Humbug Jump
"The cattle trail down the Humbug."