Ranching in the Mountain Meadows

Ranching in the Mountain Meadows. Retreat from the Desert Heat and the City Crowds. , Ranching in the Mountain Meadows , By the mid-1800s, historically rich grasslands in the valleys surrounding the San Bernardino's were supporting sheep and cattle ranchers. Between 1862 and 1865, a severe drought had dried up many of the lowland meadows. Anxious to keep their stock alive, ranchers began annual spring drives into the mountains, taking advantage of available food and water resources to fatten livestock in preparation for the winter months. , How Barton Flats Got Its Name , Sheep belonging to Dr. Ben Barton used this area for grazing. It became known as Barton Flats. During the drought years of 1862-1865, the sheep grew so fat on mountain grasses that Barton made the highland grazing a yearly practice. Through the 1870s and into the 1880s his sheep wintered in Redlands and spent the summers in these fertile mountain meadows. , Beef for a Growing Population , Cattle ranching in the late 1800s and early 1900s followed a yearly cycle. Cattle wintered in the mild climate of the surrounding deserts and were brought to feed on the lush mountain meadows every spring. , These fattened cattle brought buyers from as far as the East Coast. Cowboys from the ranches drove purchased cattle to stockyards in Southern California or to the railroads in Victorville to be shipped East. , Changing Times, Changing Needs , As the population of Southern California increased, more people came to the mountains for recreation, solitude, and respite from the desert heat. The land became more valuable for development and recreational use than for ranching. The great cattle ranching days of the San Bernardino's, along with their romantic cattle drives, gradually came to an end. , The Great Cattle Drives , The spring and fall cattle drives were amazing spectacles. Dust could be seen for miles. Road traffic was often stopped for an entire day to let the cattle pass. Many calves were born during the spring drives. Mama and baby were left behind the herd to travel at their own pace. , , Retreat from the Desert Heat and the City Crowds , The late 1800s was an era of development and widespread population expansion in Southern California. Environmental concerns mounted over extensive logging, improper mining and overgrazing. In 1893, the majority of land in these mountains was placed under Federal protection as the San Bernardino Forest Reserve. , In 1905, the Forest Service was established as an agency, and the Reserve became the San Berardino National Forest. , By the 1920s, people were coming in increasing numbers to enjoy the forest and beautiful mountain scenery. With the development of forest roads and recreational facilities, public concern grew over the need to protect and preserve some undeveloped areas of the forest. In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act to set aside land for preservation in its natural state. The San Gorgonio Wilderness is such a place; to be alone with nature and face the challenge of the mountains. , To Return Season after Season , Native Americans came to the mountains for food. Ranchers brought their cattle for grass and water. These mountains have offered rest from the pressures of city life and provided year round recreation for generation after generation. , Youth Camps have a long-established role in the San Bernardino Mountains. Since the early 1900s, young men and women from throughout Southern California have come to spend a week or more at one of 25 youth camps. Barton Flats has the largest concentration of youth camps on National Forest land in the country. The tradition continues; each year over 30,000 children come to learn about nature and about themselves.