 We will be in Logan for a few weeks until our planned hike in the Grand Canyon. We will be helping Mom/Gramma/Betty with projects. Deer are walking through the park and around the house many nights.
A lot of our time was preparing for the Grand Canyon hike. More on that just before we head out for the hike.
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  We drove up to hike the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial Trail. On June 30, 2013, a team of firefighters gave their lives trying to protect the people who lived in a small town. The plan was to contain a wildfire but shifting winds cut them off from the town and overwhelmed their location. Two hours after the last radio contact it was confirmed they had all perished in the fire. This is a 7 mile round trip hike that gains 1245 feet from the start and then 491 foot hike down to the Fatality Site. So 1245 foot climb up then 491 foot down and back up then down the 1245 feet to the start of the hike. Yes, this is a difficult hike. The first mile is fairly easy but from there the next couple of miles is rock steps and surface are fairly rough. No one who has difficulty walking on rough surfaces or can't step up and down 2 foot transitions of which there are several. The trail is dedicated to the 19 firefighters who died at the location of the memorial on the far end of the trail. On Sunday, June 30th, 2013 Hotshots (specialty forestry firefighters) were fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire when the wind shifted and cut them off from any safe path. As they moved to the closest location to safety, they were overwhelmed by the fire. All their efforts to protect themselves failed. They were killed by the fire they were fighting. Along the trail are memorial plaques for each member of the team which includes some information on each individual. At each, there are items left in tribute. Small Flags, Challenge coins, patches, … We read each. Young, Experienced, Married, Fathers, Single... each a hero in their own right. The hike has dozens of switchbacks and several small water crossings though only one really required walking on rocks to stay dry. As we stood overlooking the fatality site, there were many tributes and displays explaining the details. The fatality site is very well laid out to be a memorial and it is clear to anyone this is a place that is sacred for quiet reflection on the sacrifice. It was very emotional. The memorial is not what I expected but the rustic nature fits to the description of the men who died here. They did a hard, dirty, and dangerous job... giving their lives protecting others. After a short while we decided, we had to return to the truck so we would be home before dark. We definitely do not want to try to hike back after sunset. That would not be smart. There were a few creatures but not much wild life or flowers. We moved to a campground northwest of Phoenix. The plan is to visit with our son and maybe hike in the nearby mountains. The campground has many long term/residents who have developed a large cactus garden. The variety and size of the plants was surprising.
 The sites are personalized. Some just some cactus or some nick-nacks. But one has a very interesting statue. It reminds me of one of the alien races from the TV show Stargate.  We needed to go into town to get fuel for our drive to Kingman. We decided to get an interesting dinner and visit a meadery. The meals were huge and we have leftovers for tomorrow. Next door to the Thai restaurant was a brewer who made mead and hard ciders. We had a tasting of almost everything they had available.   We had a very nice time both places and really loved our day out.
While away helping our daughter after her surgery Shawna had some visitors at their home. The complex backs up to a small forested area. They regularly have turkeys, racoons and deer visit. Shawna is flying out of Las Vegas to go help our daughter, Phyllis, in California. We were starting to get worried because the highway between Pahrump and Las Vegas was closed because of snow and ice on the road. The road over the pass was cleared the morning of her flight. The pass at Mountain Springs is at about 5,000 feet and will have quite a bit of snow. There was quite a bit of snow at the pass. As she flies out, I drive back to the RV. For almost 2 weeks, I will be on my own. I will be well fed because Shawna put aside leftover meals in the freezer that should get me through most suppers. I will spend the entire time working on the RV. There are a LOT of seals all over an RV and keeping water out of your RV is extremally important. Being exhausted will help in sleeping by myself. Not looking forward to being without her.  |
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