His job consisted mainly of saddling up one of the stock horses he kept on hand and scouting for strays a couple times a week. When he found enough to make the ride worthwhile, he would haze the wayward cattle back to the summer pastures halfway downslope with the rest of the herd. But if a few were stubborn enough to winter over in the higher altitude, he'd round them up and keep them fed in a large shed not far from the cabin until spring thaw. A fast-flowing creek running beside the shack kept him, his horses and any cattle around the place in plenty of water; and a natural hot springs a pistol shot distance from the cabin helped round out his personal comforts.