STEENS MOUNTAIN PACKERS
Arborglyph Profile-Louis Yriarte

Research, Photos and Text by: Carol Pedersen

"Doris, Harland, and Louis Yrairte"2000
"The Elissondo Cabin"
"Pete Elissondo June 1934"

There is a lightening strike down the center of "Pete Elissondo" on this tree carving.-Photo by Richard Cockle

 

Basque LOUIS YRIARTE was born in Crane, Oregon in 1924 and worked as a boy and young man along side his brother ROMAN for his father's sheep company, Ebar and Elissondo.  His mother, Josephine Ebar, ran a Basque boarding house in Crane.  Louis and Roman both carved trees at various places on the Steens.  The Elissondo homestead cabin was their summer sheep headquarters.  Louis also baked many big round loaves of sheepherder "Jackass" bread in the underground ovens on the desert, hauled salt bags and other camp chores.  He also enjoyed his dogs Napoleon, Queenie and Bowser; races on his favorite mule, Maude; and developing friendships with the other herders.  The Basques were resourceful and energetic herders who sometimes took their pay in ewes, built up their own herds and went into business for themselves.  Louis remembers, "There was a saying, 'If you don't want to lose your ranch, don't hire a Basco.'"