There is fencing around the entire perimeter of our property with the exception of the entry gate where there is a cattle guard that wildlife and senior humans avoid crossing. Most of the fencing is wire of the smooth/twisted variety and ancient, rusty barbed kind. There is one section along the western side of the property comprised of wooden posts supporting horizontal stringers that, in turn, support vertical slats (see two images below). In addition to containing/blocking large animal movements the wooden fence prevents blowing snow fall from piling up on the driveway. All of this fencing was present when we purchased the property.

I spent several days during our last visit repairing one section of the wire fence that runs along the inside edge of the forest west of the house. As I said in that story, the job was not easy, compounded by black flies, mosquitos, uneven terrain, damaged posts, broken wire and geriatric joints that hindered my decades-ago nimbleness.

Upon completing the repair of the wire fence my mind was on recuperation. But alas, it was not to be! Two old horizontal stringers on the snow fence broke during a windy storm, leaving a blight on what was actually a landmark along the Red Feather Road. We were leaving in a few days, and I questioned whether I could squeeze the repair in. But I didn’t feel up to it! However, a voice urged me to go for it, saying that this job would be easier than the wire fence repair and that my discomfort would be only minimally incremental.

Yeah, sure! I should have known better! That voice has gotten me into a lot of trouble over the years. Anyway, I fixed the fence, removing the slats and pulling big nails to remove the broken stringers, putting new 2x12 stringers in place and re-attaching the slats. But wow! For a few days I was eating Tylenol and Advil to ease the cumulative aches. New ones too! In my finger joints! Ankles! Arches! Yep, the snow fence looks good again, but methinks I need to find a real fence repairman for any future jobs! At least this repair job won’t be waiting!