A trail of dust appears in the distance as a young, weathered rider emerges across rolling hills of cheatgrass and sagebrush. The sounds of the exhausted man and his animal break the tranquility of this peaceful scene as they finish their leg of the rugged trail. A new rider and horse stand in the shade of an old cottonwood, anxiously awaiting their exchange. The incoming rider brings his horse to an abrupt halt. Getting down from his mount, he lifts a mochila (leather mailbag) from the saddle. The fresh rider then places it on the new horse. He steps into the stirrup, climbs atop the saddle, and with a swift jab of his spurs begins his stake of the journey.