When Tom and I visited Great Basin National Park, we intended to spend time hiking.  Because of afternoon thunderstorms, however, we moved on to the town of Ely, Nevada.  We had reservations at the La Quinta hotel in Ely, about 60 miles from Great Basin.  We also wanted to visit the Nevada Northern Railway National …

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When we first started working with Ranger Melonie, she mentioned that she had to go to symphony practice.  As a person who has played in symphonies, I questioned Melonie about this.  Melonie lives in Fredonia and has played in the Symphony of the Canyons since she was in High School.  When she is home over …

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In an effort to see all the wonderful things in southern Utah and the Arizona Strip, Tom and I alternate weekends away with weekends exploring things close by.  Moqui Cave is one of the things close by, because it is located just north of Kanab. Moqui Cave is the quintessential tourist attraction.  Garth and Laura …

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Last week I carried a couple of things from the RV out to the truck.  I left Tom sitting on the couch, relaxing after a long day of hiking.  I was looking forward to a shower – getting rid of the layer of dust, grit and sweat from the hike.  But when I returned to …

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When Tom, John and I took our big trip out west in 2006, we stopped between the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Zion at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.  Despite temperatures in the high 90’s, Tom, John, and Steve Winstead all had to hike to the top of the tallest sand dune …

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Tom and I have been going to St George every two or three weeks for shopping.  St. George is the big city around here.  It is 60 miles away and the only place with a hospital and chain stores.   I especially like grocery shopping at Smith’s, which is a division of Kroger.  I usually have …

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On September 11, 1857, 120 unarmed members of a wagon train traveling from Arkansas to California were slaughtered by members of the Mormon Militia in Iron County, Utah.  Known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the event was first covered up, then denied by the Mormons.  Once the facts of the event became known, the leader …

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Last week I wrote about working with the large group of rangers here at Pipe Spring.  In addition to being the largest staff at a small park, I think this group is also more extroverted than most of the rangers.  Every other week someone (not me) plans a get-together to which everyone is invited.  In …

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The Parowan Gap Petroglyphs are just a short drive from Cedar City, Utah so Tom and I stopped by there after spending the night in Cedar City.  The Gap is a natural formation originally created by a creek that dried.  Once the creek dried, wind continued to carve an opening in the red hills.  Today …

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After spending the night in Cedar City, Tom and I continued our exploration of the area with a visit to Old Iron Town.  Because Old Iron Town is billed as a ghost town, I thought all we would find down the dirt road would be abandoned buildings.  But there are modern homes in Old Iron …

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