Water......Search....Ponder.....Pray...Day 3 Part 2

I have very few fears in this life....but #1 on the list is

WATER!!!!!

“And why did I want to see the water????
This was the hardest part of the canyon. I am sure if you were 19 to 40, this would be your favorite part. ….
We saw a 15 foot “border boulders”, log jams, narrow slot canyons, choke stones,

non technical obstacles, and waterfalls all on this down climb.

Here are some lovely water pictures:

Does this look like I am having fun?

We did find a dry spot for lunch in there somewhere.

Obstacle at rappel # 2 double "choke stone"

Note the one above and the one in the way.

Rappel # 2

"Water falls with “Moki” steps have been carved out of the rock to help give traction."
[Didn’t find them Joe]

Did I mention the swim.....20 feet that seemed like 40?

Jen jumps in to help save me...as I wait at the top for my turn.

Talk about pure fear….

Brenda said from her viewpoint...I looked like I was already dead....

Don't make me let go!!!

I have another week to see if I will get “giardia” from the water I swallowed when I entered the water screaming in terror.
[make note to take swimming lessons from Connie]
When it was over I cried….literally…..from the fear of the water.
Seriously when will I ever need swimming lessons again?
If the Dam breaks on the way home from work?
If I drive off into the dam as I am trying to call Connie for lessons?
If I trip and fall into the ditch in front of my house?
I figure I have 20 good years left and can probably avoid water during that time because:

“I will do anything ONCE….remember that Jenn and Connie…..ONCE!!!!!
[I am reconsidering the need for swimming lessons]


We had slick rock....

Log Jams:

And 25 different ways to traverse, walk on, swim with logs.

While I will admit that we had to search a lot for the right way to do things, and we pondered our decisions before we jumped right in, and had a little help from people who had been on this hike before [What? They came back to do it again?] and there were many silent prayers spoken and answered.......this will be a hike I will never forget.....unlike labor pains...

So don't give up on me now.....go to the end...next post..

ORDERVILLE CANYON HIKE Day 3 Part 3...THE END

Day 3 part 3

We literally “cheered” when we hit the convergence of the “Narrows” for now we were in familiar territory.

<



The "Narrow's were a "cake walk" compared with what we had just experienced.

All in all I am glad that I did it. It is like having a baby...

You forget about what it was really like until you try it again.

ONCE do you hear me ONCE!!!!

Happy Day...all is well.

WOMAN WHO DO IT.......

CONNIE, JEN, ME, SALLY, BRENDA

.......AND LIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT!!!

THE END

PS:

6 Things I learned on this trip:
1.
There is a difference between a “hiker” and a “canyoneer”.
I am the former, not the later.
2.
When Brenda says “Colleen, have you read the info on this Hike”?
And I say “NO” and she says “Read it.….read it NOW”
I will be afraid….I will be very afraid…...
3.
In the immortal words of Scott C, Brenda’s husband, I will heed to his words”
“Have you looked at your driver’s license lately?”
4.
I can do anything ONCE….
Are you listening Connie and Jen?
ONCE….JUST ONCE.!!!
5.
When hiking a trail and I casually ask a hiker passing by:
“Would you let your mother do this”…
And he looks at you with total sincerity and says:
“No”
I will turn around at that moment and go back.
[This same hiker, who had a “UTE” baseball cap, saw us over the last few hard places to safety. I ask my self, would my own stranger BYU Cougar have done that? Hmmm. For at least a day I was a “UTE” fan.]

6.

Internet Joe tells you what he thinks you want to hear. He makes it sound like a fun little day hike. It took us 10.5 hours to go 10 miles. OK, so part of it was fun.. and I did it ONCE!!

THE END

REALLY!!

Day 2 ....new friends.....new Hike

Day 2

Leave the trail head near Brian Head Ski resort and Hike

RATTLESNAKE CREEK

&

ASHDOWN GORGE

NEW FRIENDS

WWDI

Suzette, Connie, Sally, Brenda, Sherrie, Jen, Me, and Annette

We met up with friends of Brenda's from Cedar City who met us at the trail head.

This trail was beautiful in the Cedar Breaks National Monument country.

It is mainly down hill, winding thru pines [Bristle Cone, Pinion, etc.]

You cross Rattlesnake Creek and then hike down to the gorge enjoying beautiful scenery of cliffs, pines, rivers, etc.

This is a ten mile hike, 5 miles in the pines and 5 miles in the river.

It took us 6.5 hours.

We had a great time.....

Here are some photo's enjoy:

Stay tuned for day 3......The day from H-E-double toothpics!!!!!!!!!

Woman Who Do It....2009 Day 1

Just got back from our "Annual Hike".
All I can say is...beautiful scenery, wet terrain, pines, red rock, river's, mud, laughter, swimming, a few tears [my own], great accommodations, great food, [thanks Connie] wildlife, slot canyons, answered prayers, log jams, water falls to traverse, water to forge [I do not swim], challenges, encouragement, questioning sanity, rappelling, mind games, love my poles, cool in the slots, cheers at the fork of the "Narrows", a potty to sit on, dry clothes, Mexican food, sleep/sleep/sleep.

That was the short version:

Day 1

Brian Head Ski Resort Accommodations

This year's WWDI were:

Brenda, Connie, Colleen, Jen & Sally

We stayed at Marc N's. house at Brian Head Ski resort.

Marc is a friend of Jenn's husband Jim and graciously let us stay there.

They came down the 2nd night to do the "Orderville" hike and help us survive.

The View was amazing:

View from the front

Nightly visitors

View from the North

The inside wasn't bad either:

Looking out on the porch.."Hi Sally"

Hot tub with a view

Living Area....beautiful!

Kitchen, Connie in her element....

And last but not least, dinner:

Menu:

Flank Steak on the grill

Potatoes from Connie's garden

Fresh Green Bean's,tomatoes, cucumbers from [C's garden]

Homemade zucchini bread [C's garden]

Fresh strawberries and yogurt [can you grow yogurt?]

Preparations for tomorrow's hike

Early to bed early to rise.

Stay tuned for day 2.................

Priscila......my Argentine daughter..H.B.

Today is Priscila's Birthday....I love her....

Priscila is married to Mac

She is from Argentina

I love her like my own daughter.

These aren't necessarily my favorite pictures of Priscila,

But they are my only ones.

Mac and Priscila's engagement picture.

[Yes, Mac's head is bigger than hers]

Wedding Picture at SLC Temple

New mother/new Lili

And baby makes three...

Plus John makes four......

...........+ Sam = 5 =.....

A wonderful Family

10 things I love about Priscila

1.

Priscila is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside.

2.

Priscila loves to talk to me. We can talk for hours about anything and everything.

3.

Priscila was willing to be come a US Citizen.

It took her about 7 years to do it legally.

She left her family in Argentina and moved to a foreign country where everyone spoke a foreign language, where the culture was different and she did not know anyone.

One brave girl. [She was only 18 at the time]

4.

Priscila was willing to learn English and adapt to American ways very quickly.

5.

Priscila is bright and smart and could be anything she wanted to be but chose to be a stay-at-home-mom and take care of their 3 kids 4 and under. [wow!!]

6.

Priscial loves Mac. She supports him completely in his quest for his doctorate.

7.

Priscila is very talented. She can cook [we miss her B-Day cakes and empanada's]

She can sew, iron [that is a talent you know...she even irons her sheets.]

She keeps a tight ship, very clean and tidy house.

[Hard to do with the little ones]

She is the most organized person I know!!!!

8.

Priscila is so loving and caring. The Argentine culture is very grounded in her. She always think of other people and how she can make their life better or easier before she thinks of herself. She rallies around those in need. She is an "angel".

9.

Priscila is very friendly and makes friends easily. She loves people and is not judgemental. She also loves her Family in Argentina. They are very active in the gospel and good examples of our LDS faith. I am so grateful for her wonderful family who taught her to be so productive and kind. I love her mom who is one of the kindest woman I have ever met. We speak different languages but find a way to communicate.

10.

Priscila has treated me like her mother. She has accepted me with all my flaws. She is tender hearted, yet funny, she loves Mac and her children. She is so much fun to be around and brings so much to our family. We are so lucky to have Priscila in our family.

I could go on forever.

Priscila, Happy Birthday.

I love you so much.

Have a wonderful day.

I hope you get "Sunshine" so you can go to the beach.

I will pray for that.

Happy day!!!!!!!

Love, Mom

A day for Emma.....

HAPPY DAY FOR EMMA.....8 IS GREAT!!

Emma and I spent the day together a few weeks ago,

so we could go shopping for her Birthday present.

We went to Analyn's soccer game in Hyrum and then drove into Logan.

We went here:

....and ate this:

It was yummy!!!!!

Don't you wish you had one right now???

Do you remember when prices looked like this?????

If you do you are old.....like me....

After lunch, we went to the book store and bought Emma Scriptures.

That is what my grand kids get when they turn 8 and are Baptized.

Take a look....

This is Emma in the dress she was baptized in.

Her mother was baptized in it too.

Doesn't she look pretty?

Emma's Baptism was wonderful.

She looked beautiful. I will save the best for last.

These are some of my favorite pictures of Emma:

Baby Emma

Adorable Emma....

Emma is three......

Emma with curls.....

Emma at 6

Emma with sis and bro

And last but not least:Emma in her confirmation dress:

We are so proud of Emma.

Here are 5 things I love about Emma:

1

Emma always gives me a hug when she comes in the door of our house.

She gives the best hugs.

2

Emma is a fabulous reader and she loves to read.

3.

Emma can land a front flip on the trampoline.

4.

Emma loves aprons and loves to help her mom and grandma bake.

5.

Emma is kind to everyone and has a lot of friends.

6.

[again, could not resist]

Emma loves long finger nails and takes really good care of them.

For her Baptism she had them painted like French nails with white tips.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!

HAPPY BAPTISM EMMA!

I LOVE YOU

THE END

GRANDMA