From the prologue: "I speak of men who rode the Outside Circle. Men whose struggles, strengths, attitudes, humor, fiber, character, and philosophies were tempered and shaded by the mighty Mountain -Mogollon."

  Jinx Pyle has done it again! This cowboy, writer, singer, speaker, and historian has captured an elusive moment in time - the age of the cowboy in the west as he experienced it growing up in the Arizona mountains beneath the shadow of the Mogollon Rim. This book is full of interesting tales based on the larger than life heroes who carved out a living in the mountains by raising cattle, living off the land, and hunting lions and bears to protect their herds. 

  The book is full of interesting photos and humorous stories about an era and a lifestyle that came and went only too quickly. I love all the photos! They really capture the spirit of these tough yet light-hearted individuals. Jinx Pyle has done an amazing job in researching the area and transmitting his own experience growing up on different ranches, being apprenticed from the early age of three by his father and grandfather in the now almost lost arts of cattle handling, horsemanship, and hunting.

   One of the best things about the book is its plethora of cowboy lingo - a vocabulary and dialect which I grew up with. This is of particular value because I doubt much of this terminology has been recorded and used extensively or accurately elsewhere. 

   One part that I loved (see my bio for disclaimer on overuse of "love") was where he talks about games or activities he did as a kid that "town folks would consider far too dangerous" like jumping on horses and racing bareback, roping each other and pulling partner off of horse etc.. When he was about fifteen he asked his Dad about this. This was the response. "Sure, I thought you might get hurt or even killed, and sometimes I almost had to hold your mother down, but I knew that if you lived you would be a man, and if you didn't grow up to be a man, I wouldn't want you around anyhow.' I knew Dad was joking, but many a truth is passed along in jest."

   What a startling philosophy in this age of helicopter parenting. (myself included.) I get the feeling that this band of mountain survivors buffered their hardships with humor and in fact an entire chapter is dedicated to humor - it played such a vital role in relaxation, entertainment, and education.  

   This is also, like the author's other books and songs of which I'm familiar, a tribute to the true cowboy and an elegy of sorts to a heritage that is now just a dimming memory. He says it best in his song "Where'd the cowboys Go?" the lyrics of which are included at the end of Mountain Cowboys.

  

 Books and other resources can be found at www.gitarope.com

   Other books by Jinx Pyle that I have enjoyed: Falcon Fox, Blue Fox - War to the Knife (fictional in the western genre), The Pleasant Valley War. I also love his c.d. Rawhide Ranahan (authentic songs written and performed by the author).

I have also read Muanami, Sister of the Moon - by Jayne Peace Pyle which is another well researched and artfully crafted fiction book about Native Americans. I believe it has a sequel I hope to read. 

For the southwestern historical aficionado - there are many more resources from the Pyles...

On a sidenote - if you are an avid reader of westerns you probably know that Zane Grey hunted and had a residence in the area near Payson, Arizona that is described in this book. His cabin has been recreated and exists as part of a museum in Payson Arizona. Apparently Grey loved this area and if you do a bit of research used it as a context for several of his stories.