Kruger Family Reunion #2

Another successful adventure. It is hard to call it a reunion when half the children are somewhere else. But I think you have to carry on regardless. Russ, me, Louisa, Caleb and Carley had a good time.

I had reserved a week at Wolf Creek Condos. We drive past them every time we head up to Powder Ridge, so I thought maybe we'd stay in the valley and see what it is like there. They were nice. There was room for 10 people, so maybe another time we'll do it again.


We started the weekend at Salomon Center in Ogden for the Flowrider, wall climbing and watching I-Fly.









I decided against doing the flowrider, though I'm sure I would have loved it. Course if I had no one would have been able to take pictures!












Caleb and Russ tried the climbing and Louisa played in the arcades. The flowrider was a riot and there was lots of laughter and smiles.













We finally ate at the Shooting Star Saloon. Though it really is just a bar. I couldn't try the signature Star Burger with the knackworst in the middle, but the plain old cheeseburger was good.




Sunday morning beautiful and warm we drove to Snowbasin. This place is NICE! The lodges are high class. I think they were built for the Olympics and they did a fantastic job. We bought tickets at Earl's Lodge and we took the gondola up to Needles Lodge where they serve a very nice Sunday Brunch with an amazing view of Ogden Valley. We took the short nature hike and then the slightly more difficult short hike to the ridge line. I was not prepared and was wearing sandals. But I just went slow, and it wasn't too long and at the top we had great views east to Ogden Valley and west to the Great Salt Lake. I will have to remember this again come July and wildflower season!

Back at the bottom we ate late lunch at the Barbeque and listened to the bluegrass band Shades of Grey. I couldn't have imagined a better afternoon. Really it was wonderful.

Back at the Lodge we played Monopoly, and went swimming at the rec center. The pool is big, and the rec center has all you'd expect. We had a good time, might have to stay here again!


The next day was golfing for three of them. They didn't worry too much about it as no one was great, but the object was to have a good time and I think they did that.

It was a good time all around.

Sheep Creek and Red Cloud loops

Our morning started out fantastically. We packed up with frost everywhere and headed out early. Because we had taken the turn too early we had missed Sheep Creek loop the day before. Not to worry. Because we were there early morning heading the now opposite direction we were witness to the most glorious scenery on our trip.





The Uinta fault is huge. And in this area readily viewable. I had no idea.










Wow. I will be back.














The drive back around the Sheep Creek bay of Flaming Gorge was also wonderful. This is a beautiful place.






Then on to Red Cloud and Dry Fork Loops. Dad says Red Cloud is where they would go deer hunting. It was bow hunt weekend and Red Cloud is still apparently the place to go. We saw no deer, but plenty of camouflaged hunters.

Again, with the name Red Cloud I was hoping for spectacular and got merely mountainous. It was a nice enough area, just not anywhere I would really want to go back to.






We drove down Dry Fork and the road which had been up on the plateau came down rather dramatically.
Then I spent some time looking at "Classic Vernal" petroglyphs at McConkie ranch before we drove back home.
I want to go back to Brown's Park especially to float the Green, and to the Sheep Creek loop. It was a nice trip.

Red Canyon and Spirit Lake

After the relaxed morning exploring this most wonderful corner of Utah we headed over to the Spirit Lake road. We passed Dutch John, Calf Creek Bridge, the Flaming Gorge Dam and then detoured for a look at Red Canyon Overlook. It had started to rain again and was coming down hard. Red Canyon in the rain definitely has its own appeal.


The visitor's center there was very nice and well worth some time to enjoy. This was about the only place we really ran into lots of people







Then on to Spirit Lake. Overall this was disappointing to me. I don't know what I expected, but it was more than I got. The road in wasn't too bad. There were lots of little lakes here and there to fish from, and a stream or two. The land was mostly level. The road goes through a very high plateau surrounded by the higher Uinta range. So it wasn't really too scenic, and not even what I normally associate with the Uintas. We arrived at Spirit Lake to the remains of a snowstorm. While raining at Red Canyon the storm had deposited an inch or so of snow at 10,000 ft Spirit Lake.

The Lodge at Spirit Lake is an old fishing lodge that could be great. But is in the end just barely passable. There was an older couple maintaining the lodge as best they could. No cooks or waitstaff could be found to work there, so the very nice counter was not open. We sat by the fire they had going and warmed up and talked for awhile.


There was no thought of taking a paddle boat or canoe out into the lake, just too cold.











We started a fire at our campsite too early. Before it was fully dark our two packages were burned. Another cold night in the mountains. I did use a rock I'd put in the fire to help warm my sleeping bag. As long as the warmth lasted it worked really well.
I think the elevation got to me a bit. I was glad to leave in the morning.

John Jarvie Ranch

After the tremendous rain storm during the night the day dawned bright and beautiful. We explored the John Jarvie Ranch.

John Jarvie lived here for about 29 years, suppling himself with water and food, and his neighbors with supplies at his store. It is a marvelous location on the remote Green River. Though I guess it wasn't as remote at the time. It was on one of the routes to get from Vernal to Green River Wy as it went through the relatively tame Brown's park area to cross the river.

The dugout they lived in to begin with hasn't changed much in a hundred years.











The water wheel he built to provide irrigation water for himself and ranchers up to two miles further down river has been rebuilt.








The old store has been restored and stocked with items he might have had on hand. They say the Wild Bunch of Butch Cassidy and associates hung out in the area and frequented the store and were on good terms with Mr Jarvie.

He was killed by some vagrants passing through for the money in his safe (which apparently wasn't much).

Uinta weekend

For our August trip with the truck we went up to Vernal and drove some of the backways that I've been wanting to do for years.
It was great. It rained on us. One camp we had to brush off the snow that had fallen that morning. Even in August I can't get away from the cold.

We started at the new Field House Museum. It was really very well done, so much to learn. We should have brought the kids.







Then we drove the Diamond Mountain road to the Green River and Brown's Park. Going through Crouse Canyon was fun...









going across the suspension bridge across the Green River even better.












We camped at Indian Crossing campground. We were treated to a beautiful double rainbow and then the best thunder and lightening storm they've had all year. Our sturdy little Springbar tent kept us nice and dry.

Moving Caleb and Carley

With Carley student teaching in Blackfoot they were already thinking of moving. Then Caleb's company moved from Rigby to Idaho Falls. So they found a place in Idaho Falls. Caleb can ride his bicycle to work and Carley still goes with the carpool, they just pick her up at at freeway onramp. Another good thing is this way they can leave in November when student teaching is done. Had they stayed in Rexburg they would have had to pay for December's rent as well. We took the truck up, and brought home a load of things they didn't want for the next three months. We left the truck up there and then Russ went up and helped with the real move. Then we had to drive up again to pick up the truck. I was glad to see the apartment. It is better than their other one in many ways. It may not be in the best part of town, but it seemed okay.

I couldn't just go up there for the truck though so we drove up at night, slept in their apartment, and then did a day trip up to Mesa Falls and Big Springs. It really was a great little getaway.

Mesa Falls is beautiful and away from all distractions. I wondered why I hadn't ever heard of it before and it was because up until 1986 it was private property. I know that is a while ago, but obviously my parents wouldn't ever have taken us there.


Then Alice had mentioned Big Springs, so I wanted to go up there as well since again I'd never heard of it. It really was a very big spring where the Henry's Fork of the Snake begins.


There is a wonderful little cabin built by a guy who lived there year round. You can take boat rides down the river to Mack's Inn.

We ate at Henry's Fork and watched the canoes and rafts coming down. It really looked like a lot of fun. To just sit there relaxing by the side of the river while we ate our pizza was so wonderful. We were a million miles away from life in the city.

Carley Graduates

It is a little ahead of the gun, but Carley went through Graduation. She finished her last classes two hours before the commencement! They fit it in very quickly. She still has student teaching next semester, but since her parents were in town for her sister's baby's blessing, and her husband was graduating as well, it just seemed right to do it all together.

We had a great time, a combined dinner at the apartments and then the commencement with Elder Richard Edgeley speaking and then the Convocation. It was wonderful to experience. She was happy and so relieved.

We stayed at a little camping resort in the "Sheriff's Office". It was really cheap and really relaxed and fun. There is a Hot Springs nearby and we were planning on trying it, but ended up back in Rexburg to set up our new phone service with Sprint with everyone on it. That took awhile.

So then we took the scenic route back through Star Valley where we got some curd cheese, Montpelier where we visited the National Trail Center, and Garden City for a raspberry shake.

Just a little get away, but it felt like we were thousands of miles and many days away.