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Lee the Horselogger: His Story
Wow-Where to start?
"I was born in a hospital...", wait--that's not important. How about "I am a horse logger..."
Logging, horses, a simple way of life...That sounds more like it because it is what I am.
My earliest memories include cutting firewood with my family in upstate New York, riding
critters, driving ponies, being in the woods, running chainsaws (dad bought me my first
saw when I was 13), cutting firewood by myself, planting trees, gardening, wandering in
the woods, cross country skiing, learning to run heavy equipment, high school, then
college.
Along the college route, I learned a couple of things...The main thing being that life can
either be lived or it will live you until you learn your lessons. College introduced me to a
large conglomeration of clowns, tenured faculty. I left degreeless, but educated, and
began the process of undoing the damage of the first 22 years of my life's formal
education, and began my true learning in real education...poverty...which I call a blessing...
backbreaking labor, working horses, running sawmills, caring for the ranch in Montana,
living without electricity, running water, or a vehicle half the time. Living life as an
adventure day to day.
Receiving my gift of cancer, continuing the path of learning, letting the ranch go, falling in
love with my first, and only, childhood sweetheart, beginning the journey to see her in New
England, and loving life...My story... (By Lee the Horselogger)
Wow-Where to start?
"I was born in a hospital...", wait--that's not important. How about "I am a horse logger..."
Logging, horses, a simple way of life...That sounds more like it because it is what I am.
My earliest memories include cutting firewood with my family in upstate New York, riding
critters, driving ponies, being in the woods, running chainsaws (dad bought me my first
saw when I was 13), cutting firewood by myself, planting trees, gardening, wandering in
the woods, cross country skiing, learning to run heavy equipment, high school, then
college.
Along the college route, I learned a couple of things...The main thing being that life can
either be lived or it will live you until you learn your lessons. College introduced me to a
large conglomeration of clowns, tenured faculty. I left degreeless, but educated, and
began the process of undoing the damage of the first 22 years of my life's formal
education, and began my true learning in real education...poverty...which I call a blessing...
backbreaking labor, working horses, running sawmills, caring for the ranch in Montana,
living without electricity, running water, or a vehicle half the time. Living life as an
adventure day to day.
Receiving my gift of cancer, continuing the path of learning, letting the ranch go, falling in
love with my first, and only, childhood sweetheart, beginning the journey to see her in New
England, and loving life...My story... (By Lee the Horselogger)
| Note to the PUBLIC: When you see Lee in your area, PLEASE call your local newspaper and/or radio station and alert them. Many people are interested in Lee's story, and interest grows as Lee travels further. And please tell them about this website so they can be informed. Your help is appreciated! |
| VISITORS SINCE 12 April 2007 |
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| Volunteer Webmaster is Patty Goff Onarga, IL Co-Publisher of the Lone Tree Leader |
| VIDEO of an interview with Lee |
| Gettin' a New Do! At Fantastic Sam's in Latrobe, PA on Feb. 23, 2008. |
Max, Lee’s 14-
year old Suffolk
Punch stallion, is
one of only a few
left in the world.
year old Suffolk
Punch stallion, is
one of only a few
left in the world.
Max (left) and Tom were
Lee’s logging horses in
Montana, and are now
two of the three horses
that pull Lee’s wagon.
Lee’s logging horses in
Montana, and are now
two of the three horses
that pull Lee’s wagon.
Living life in the slow lane
"Lee the Horselogger" is a man to be admired--and envied by some. He is living his life
the way many of us wish we could.
His home is a one-of-a-kind, homemade wagon. Lee calls it his "barn on wheels,"
packed with necessities for himself, the two horses and two dogs. The horses are rare
Suffolk Punch draft horses and the dogs are friendly, loveable Great Pyrenees. The
draft horses, "Max" and "Tom," were previously used to haul logs. The Pyrenees dogs,
"Katie" and "Kerr-Mutt," are great company along the way.
Lee wants to be known only as "Lee the Horselogger" and requests that his last name
not be used. "Life is all about being human," he said. "Names are only labels. People
shouldn't be grouped according to their title, religion, vocation, size, color or race.
People should just be human."
Lee has no agenda, is not endorsing or protesting anything. He is not raising money for
a cause or selling anything. He is just living life to the fullest.
"That's basically it," he said. "Ye haw!"
Starting out from East Glacier, Montana on August 9, 2006, with only $75 and two
weeks' worth of food, his quest was to eventually visit a his childhood sweetheart,
Nancy, in the Boston, Massachusetts vicinity, living life to the fullest along the way. He is
a man with a lot of faith in himself, people and a higher power. "This is not a trip into the
mind, but a trip into the heart," he said.
He lives out of the wagon and depends a great deal on the kindness of people he
encounters along the way. He draws attention from the media everywhere he goes.
Newspapers, radio stations and television crews are always on hand when he stops for
the night. So are crowds of good Samaritans and curiosity-seekers.
"I have faith that everything will work out if I allow the creator to work it in a manner he
chooses," said Lee. He said having such faith changes a person's thought processes
and outlook on life.
Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2005. After using holistic medicine and refusing
any traditional treatments, he decided to plan his big trip. He considers is cancer "a
gift" and maintains an optimistic attitude about beating it. "I have the cancer under
control by the way I handle my life, so cancer is not handling me," said Lee. He credits
his careful diet and use of herbs for reversing the growth of the tumor as part of his
holistic treatment.
Lee has always lived a simple life. He was raised in upstate New York and his
childhood was spent mostly outdoors cutting firewood, planting trees, logging and
tending horses. After he graduated from high school, he went on to college, but left the
institution "degreeless but educated." He settled down in Montana, learning through life
itself. He likes the rugged life with no electricity and no running water.
Though he received a formal education, he says "life lessons don't come from books,
but through relationships and interaction with people."
His home is a mini-barn of sorts and Lee's long-bearded appearance is a little rough.
But he is certainly not a hick from the sticks. In visiting with him, it is obvious that he is
an educated, sensible, gentle and caring man. Any person lucky enough to spend any
time at all with him will be inspired--even if in only a small way. You can't spend time
conversing with him and not learn something about yourself.
Lee and his "troupe" travel about 100 miles a week, perhaps 20-25 miles a day. He is
not on a schedule, except to find a place to stop for the night. Many times, towns and
cities have heard of his coming, and are ready for him. People along the way are
anxious to help in any way they can. Lee said, "I have yet to ask for anything other than
'Do you know somebody down the road who might have a parking lot I can camp at?'"
Everything else he has need for has just shown up. He frequently gets more groceries
and supplies than he can carry. He uses the steady supply of donated cash mainly to
keep his "mobile home" in good condition and his horses healthy.
During our visit, I asked Lee a typical "journalistic" question: What is your most
memorable event so far? He couldn't come up with a "most memorable," but said there
were so many kindnesses reaped upon him, he wouldn't want to single any of them out
anyway. He did offer a cherished memory of a little old lady giving him $2 when she
couldn't afford it. Another woman gave him a $20 bill as a way of vicariously helping her
husband, who had passed away before realizing his dream of riding a horse along
North Dakota.
"That's what this whole trip has been about. Other people having a dream that fell
through; life caught up with them, so they help me," Lee said. "I in turn encourage them
to follow their dreams."
"The main thing is that life can either be lived or it will live you until you learn your
lessons," said Lee.
Lee gets to see America the old-fashioned way. People in a hurry just pass him by. Lee
is content with the clippety-clop of Max and Tom's hoofs on the road and enjoys the
slow, relaxing trip. Lee is not a "hustle and bustle" type of guy.
Lee eloquently sums up his quest as "living life is an adventure from day to day.
Receiving my gift of cancer, letting the ranch go, continuing the path of learning,
enjoying the journey to visit my childhood sweetheart and loving life."
During our visit, we developed a friendship. Lee and I agreed that I would create and
maintain a new website so people across the nation can see how he is doing and post
their own stories about meeting him. Please check this website often!
(By Patty Goff, Publisher, Lone Tree Leader)
Printed in the Lone Tree Leader, April 13, 2007
"Lee the Horselogger" is a man to be admired--and envied by some. He is living his life
the way many of us wish we could.
His home is a one-of-a-kind, homemade wagon. Lee calls it his "barn on wheels,"
packed with necessities for himself, the two horses and two dogs. The horses are rare
Suffolk Punch draft horses and the dogs are friendly, loveable Great Pyrenees. The
draft horses, "Max" and "Tom," were previously used to haul logs. The Pyrenees dogs,
"Katie" and "Kerr-Mutt," are great company along the way.
Lee wants to be known only as "Lee the Horselogger" and requests that his last name
not be used. "Life is all about being human," he said. "Names are only labels. People
shouldn't be grouped according to their title, religion, vocation, size, color or race.
People should just be human."
Lee has no agenda, is not endorsing or protesting anything. He is not raising money for
a cause or selling anything. He is just living life to the fullest.
"That's basically it," he said. "Ye haw!"
Starting out from East Glacier, Montana on August 9, 2006, with only $75 and two
weeks' worth of food, his quest was to eventually visit a his childhood sweetheart,
Nancy, in the Boston, Massachusetts vicinity, living life to the fullest along the way. He is
a man with a lot of faith in himself, people and a higher power. "This is not a trip into the
mind, but a trip into the heart," he said.
He lives out of the wagon and depends a great deal on the kindness of people he
encounters along the way. He draws attention from the media everywhere he goes.
Newspapers, radio stations and television crews are always on hand when he stops for
the night. So are crowds of good Samaritans and curiosity-seekers.
"I have faith that everything will work out if I allow the creator to work it in a manner he
chooses," said Lee. He said having such faith changes a person's thought processes
and outlook on life.
Lee was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2005. After using holistic medicine and refusing
any traditional treatments, he decided to plan his big trip. He considers is cancer "a
gift" and maintains an optimistic attitude about beating it. "I have the cancer under
control by the way I handle my life, so cancer is not handling me," said Lee. He credits
his careful diet and use of herbs for reversing the growth of the tumor as part of his
holistic treatment.
Lee has always lived a simple life. He was raised in upstate New York and his
childhood was spent mostly outdoors cutting firewood, planting trees, logging and
tending horses. After he graduated from high school, he went on to college, but left the
institution "degreeless but educated." He settled down in Montana, learning through life
itself. He likes the rugged life with no electricity and no running water.
Though he received a formal education, he says "life lessons don't come from books,
but through relationships and interaction with people."
His home is a mini-barn of sorts and Lee's long-bearded appearance is a little rough.
But he is certainly not a hick from the sticks. In visiting with him, it is obvious that he is
an educated, sensible, gentle and caring man. Any person lucky enough to spend any
time at all with him will be inspired--even if in only a small way. You can't spend time
conversing with him and not learn something about yourself.
Lee and his "troupe" travel about 100 miles a week, perhaps 20-25 miles a day. He is
not on a schedule, except to find a place to stop for the night. Many times, towns and
cities have heard of his coming, and are ready for him. People along the way are
anxious to help in any way they can. Lee said, "I have yet to ask for anything other than
'Do you know somebody down the road who might have a parking lot I can camp at?'"
Everything else he has need for has just shown up. He frequently gets more groceries
and supplies than he can carry. He uses the steady supply of donated cash mainly to
keep his "mobile home" in good condition and his horses healthy.
During our visit, I asked Lee a typical "journalistic" question: What is your most
memorable event so far? He couldn't come up with a "most memorable," but said there
were so many kindnesses reaped upon him, he wouldn't want to single any of them out
anyway. He did offer a cherished memory of a little old lady giving him $2 when she
couldn't afford it. Another woman gave him a $20 bill as a way of vicariously helping her
husband, who had passed away before realizing his dream of riding a horse along
North Dakota.
"That's what this whole trip has been about. Other people having a dream that fell
through; life caught up with them, so they help me," Lee said. "I in turn encourage them
to follow their dreams."
"The main thing is that life can either be lived or it will live you until you learn your
lessons," said Lee.
Lee gets to see America the old-fashioned way. People in a hurry just pass him by. Lee
is content with the clippety-clop of Max and Tom's hoofs on the road and enjoys the
slow, relaxing trip. Lee is not a "hustle and bustle" type of guy.
Lee eloquently sums up his quest as "living life is an adventure from day to day.
Receiving my gift of cancer, letting the ranch go, continuing the path of learning,
enjoying the journey to visit my childhood sweetheart and loving life."
During our visit, we developed a friendship. Lee and I agreed that I would create and
maintain a new website so people across the nation can see how he is doing and post
their own stories about meeting him. Please check this website often!
(By Patty Goff, Publisher, Lone Tree Leader)
Printed in the Lone Tree Leader, April 13, 2007
Lee bridles the
horses shortly
before leaving.
Each of the
horses works in a
snaffle bit.
horses shortly
before leaving.
Each of the
horses works in a
snaffle bit.
Katie is a Great
Pyrenees dog who
travel with him.
Pyrenees dog who
travel with him.
|
|
THIS IS A TEST!
My Wild Irish Rose (mp3 file)
Highway Blues (wma file)
My Wild Irish Rose (mp3 file)
Highway Blues (wma file)
| Read about another man traveling with wagon and horses -- Ron Dakotah. http://www.rondakotah.com |
