Taylor Ranch Log Book Collection

Summary: This Taylor Ranch log book continues Jim and Holly Akenson’s detailing of their day-to-day life as caretakers of the Taylor Ranch. The log book begins on March 1st of 1999 and the last entry is dated February 18th of 2000. A series of aircraft accidents riddle the early days of this journal (3 accidents in 4 days). There are various wildlife sightings including bears, Bighorns, cougars, wolves, deer, and coyote amongst others. Data collection about the area’s wildlife continue to take place and flying telemetry is a constant project for various participants involved with the Taylor Ranch area. The Akenson’s journal some extraordinary events as usual in their times at the ranch. A 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Lima, Montana is felt at Taylor Ranch and Jim describes the brief tremors he felt. The multiple aircraft incidents bring tension to the ranch as well while they prepare for the worst aircraft landing conditions brought on by winter thaw. Internships also finally begin at the Taylor Ranch and are accounted for on the 3rd of June along with the various activities interns will participate in. Accompanying the uncommon events on the ranch are the typical day-to-day chores and detailed lifestyle accounts of the Taylor Ranch caretakers. Caretaker, Holly Akenson, sums these activities up concisely in her entry on the 8th of December: “Todays jobs were the typical Taylor Ranch combination of high-tech and old fashioned.”