The end of trail.... rest in peace Hank... you will be forever remembered.

Made it to snake lake, it was dry!!! Spent the night got up the next morning and rode to Marsland turnoff. A good friend Steve Klases (in picture along with Kathy) picked me up and brought me to his ranch. I stayed there two days. Borrowed his truck to look for campsites, found a nice campsite in Crawford kept going and found my next site off Toadstool rode, Ardmore was the next campsite (it was the only water with 20 miles). Went back to Steves after I had planned out all my sites. Needed some rest.

After a couple days rest Steve hauled me back out to highway and I rode 17 miles to Pine Ridge and made it to Crawford got there about 10:30 and set camp up.

I was relaxing a bit and making a few phone calls and got some bad news. Found out that a good friend of mine took his life. This really took the air out of my sail. With this news, I made the decision to end my ride.

A friend came and picked me up and I dropped all the horses back off. The last couple days I have just regrouped and mourned the loss of this great cowboy. I am thankful to have many wonderful memories.

I am going to leave the website open until September but will not be posting anything.

I thank everyone for their support. Thanks to all that tracked me, donated and helped me along the way. The money will be going to St Judes Research Center in Memphis Tennessee.

Happy trails to you all..... Ross

Still hot...still alot of bugs!

Spent the night last night at Minatare Lake been riding most of day and will make it to Snake Lake tonight. Heading to cousins place will give the horses a two day break then heading to Crawford. Ross reports a "sore bottom"!

Route Change!

For those of you that know Ross, one thing he is not scared of is change! Ha! After talking with a few people Ross decide to change his path, the path Ross intended to travel is very limited in water and he worried that the stock just would not have enough. In addition the weather has been really finicky and Ross worried a little bit about tornado's and such. So with that-- Ross is heading North toward the Black Hills. I talked with him Saturday AM and he was doing great, had just spent the night at his cousins. I think he would appreciate calls and encouragement on his ride! You can reach Ross on his cell at 307-899-3213, it isn't on all the time but leave him a message if you are unable to reach him.

Scottsbluff Pictures

Article from kneb.com

Riding for "Coins For Cancer"
Published Friday, July 17, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Ross Welfl riding for "Coins For Cancer"
After recently losing two uncles, a grandfather and two good friends to cancer, a Yellowstone cowboy is riding the region for cancer research. On June 13th, Ross Welfl of Cody, Wyoming began his journey to cover hundreds of miles for "Coins for Cancer". Welfl has traveled over 400 miles to reach the Farm And Ranch Museum. After a few days off in Gering, his journey will continue north. He has picked out his route yet, but he will be heading for the Black Hills.
Welfl is traveling approximately 20 miles per day with three horses and one mule. Periodically Welfl is updating his website with the status of his ride.Wilfl says he has no expectations for community support. He says it's up to the people of Nebraska and on into to South Dakota to start anteing up for research for cancer. He has enough to worry about with his horse stock, himself, rattlesnakes, traffic and glass.
Welfl is riding for cancer until August 28th, when he will return to Cody as a hunting guide.This isn't Welf's first charity ride. Back in the early 1980's he rode over 300 miles in 13 days and raised over $3,000 for Jerry's Kids. You can follow his journey online at www.coinsforcancer.blogspot.comDonations can be made to Coins for Cancer and sent to: Bank of the West 1330 Sheridan Ave Cody, WY 82414

Pictures!!!

Thank you Heidi for sending pictures!!!

Pass at Lysite

Leaving Thermopolis

Camp (I know it looks like the Hilton!)

NEBRASKA!!!

Ross just called and is about 3 miles out of Henry Nebraska. Said it is a bit overcast and the cooler morning feels good! He is in a great mood!! I read him all the posts and he is thankful for all the encouragment!!!

In Torrinton having a beer!!!

Pulled into Torrinton about 11:15 AM today, getting the horses fed up. Right now I am having a cold beer at a local bar. Have a radio interview in the AM and hoping to talk to the newspaper too. Going to take tomorrow off let the stock rest and head out Thursday morning. It still hot out here! Next stop.......LYMAN WYO! HERE I COME!!!!

30 days....369 miles on my "bottom"!

Well, I am off again this AM! Mule is healed up and I hope to put on a few miles the next couple days. My hope is to be in Nebraska by Wednesday! Have a good week everyone!!!

The BUGS are bugging me!!

Hey everyone...sorry about the lack of communication! My web updater went on vacation, ha she is sooo lazy!!! Well made it to Casper trailered my horses through Casper to Orin Junction. Camped out there, the mosquito's were horrible!!! Got up early the next morning early and rode 26 miles to Keeline camped out under a little lone plum tree, and got rained on! I am in Lusk waiting for a mule to heal up a bit, has a hole in shoulder (mare bit her) but she is coming out of it good. In Lusk Ross participated in the Legend of Rawhide. This is a community show of a wagon train passing through the area that is attacked by indians. Ross was an outrider for our wagon. He also rode in the parade to advertise his ride and spoke to a group of 4H kids attending a 1 day camp. Heading to Torrinton on Sunday should take about two days to get there. Thanks for the support eveyone!!! I hope to get more pictures up soon!!

Its not getting any cooler!

Well Ross did 28 miles in 95 degree weather, got into Highland, stayed there two nights. Pulled out of there Saturday morning and swapped out horses. Ross rode to Powder River and attended the sheep headers fair, had a good time, lots of happenings there over the weekend! Today Ross left and made it 18 miles out of Casper. He will be in Casper tomorrow afternoon around two oclock. He said he feels good, back is good...losing a little weight and having great a time!! A very sincere thank you for all that have donated!! Hope to have more pictures this week!

Its HOT out here!!

After leaving his brother Randys, Ross met up with an old cowboy friend and spent the day helping him with some "cutting". Ross left yesterday morning for Lysite and is on his way to Meida heading toward High Island which will be about 20 miles. He will head over to Powder River and then into Casper. He said it is really hot, about 98 degrees yesterday. Seems to be having a good time and has a great attitude.

Having the time of my life!

Ross made it safely to Randy's. He is taking tomorrow off and will be heading out Sunday morning for Kirby Creek, he will camp there and ride on to Lysite. He was interviewed by the Worland paper and as soon as I get a copy of the article I will post it. Also he is sending some more pictures for me to post. He says so far it has just been a blast, really great to be out riding for a good cause. He has met some wonderful people and appreciates the donations that are coming in. This afternoon he is heading to the Chiropractor for a little adjustment, ain't easy on the old mans body sleeping on the bed roll! More to come!!!

And he is off...to raise money for the kids!

Ross began his journey as planned on June 13. That day he made it 22 miles and set up camp for the night. June 14 he rode another 11 miles in the rain, he said it was a beautiful day for riding. He spent the night in Meeteetse and will spend today there letting the stock rest. Pictures will be posted soon! Tomorrow, June 16 Ross will head out of Gooseberry, which is about 17 milies from there he will ride on to SandDraw and camp in the dessert. From SandDraw he will head to Randy's (his twin brother) in Black Mountain Rd.

Thank you for the donations everyone, very much appreciated!!

12 more days to prepare!!

I just about have everything in order and am anxious to get out and ride. I am leaving from Cody on June 13th. I will have this site update so people can see where I am at on the journey. I am very much looking forward to the next few months and the opportunity to make a difference for some kids that are needing help from St. Judes!! I will be updating this site frequently so please check back and follow me in my journey!!

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” Forest E. Witcraft

I am busy preparing my stock for a journey that I am about to embark on. I recently had surgery on my shoulder and it needs more time to heal so what better therapy than a loooong ride for a great cause. I will start my journey Coins for Cancer on June 13th about 9:00 am. I will leave with two horses and a couple of mules from Cody, Wyoming and if all goes right in about 85 days I will end up somewhere near the Rio Grande and El Paso Texas. I am doing this to help kids. The cause I am riding for is St Judes, cancer research.