I grew up in Wyoming, and have spent a lot of time in and around the Rocky Mountains, especially in the national parks. These pristine areas look largely like they did when the first settlers moved in over 100 years ago. Of course, the modern conveniences are all near by, but if you want to escape to big skies, wide open plains, and amazing wildlife, these areas still exist in abundance. I grew up in a city, but in about an hour, my father and I could be out at our friend's ranch. We were welcome guests, especially when it came time to brand, tag, and castrate that year's calves. It was hard work, and ranchers from around the area used to pitch in to help each other. My job, as a preteen, was mainly to help herd the calves through the chutes and into the cage where they could be tipped and lifted for branding. When we first started helping, the calves were roped and held down by hand, but as the herd grew in size, the cage became far more efficient.