UT -- Cedar City and Beaver, 28 Mar-21 Apr 2014

10 days in Cedar City and then 14 days in Beaver, Utah…

Why we came…

We wanted to play in the snow!  We looked forward to snowshoeing Cedar Breaks National Monument and the Tushar Mountains.  We wanted to ski and snowboard Brian Head Resort and Eagle Point Resort.  And we planned to kick off our trout fishing season at Minersville Reservoir and Panguitch Lake.

The campgrounds…

The KOA in Cedar City was decent with long and fairly wide, level gravel sites.  The roads in the campground need some repairs, but most of the facility was in good shape and well maintained.  Cell phone reception was a strong and reliable data signal.  Wi-fi was good during slow periods, but slowed significantly during busy periods.  Satellite would be tricky from many of the campsites due to big mature trees.  We especially liked the large commercial laundromat…we washed just about everything!  The campground wasn’t too peaceful because it was in town with a busy road out front and loud music was common from the neighborhood out back.  Unfortunately, our 10 days in Cedar City did not go as planned due to the death of our dog.  We still managed to have a couple of adventures, but his loss loomed heavy and the missed adventures will have to wait until we return. 

We like the KOA in Beaver.  The sites are also long, fairly wide, level gravel.  The facilities are in good shape and well maintained.  Cell phone reception was a strong and reliable data signal.  Wi-fi was good during slow periods, and slowed occasionally with high usage.  Satellite would be tricky from many of the campsites due to big mature trees.  The campground is on the north side of town, a mile or two off Interstate 15 and has a high turn-over.  Unfortunately, it’s on a busy road that gets quite a bit of big, noisy truck traffic.  We heard a few trucks until 11:00pm on some nights…it was pretty annoying.  However, we enjoyed our stay and had an uncharacteristically high number of lazy days.

A brief, but heavy snow shower in Cedar City, Utah

Adventures…

   

This would be our first and only ski/snowboard adventure this winter…and it was a good one!  Though Brian Head Resort received below average snowfall this winter, it had close to two feet of snow in the last six days.  With a bunch of fresh snow, bright blue skies, light winds, and pleasant April warmth, we hit it just right!  We rented gear at the resort’s base and bought a half-day lift ticket.  We called it quits after just six very fun runs…our bodies weren’t used to it and some of our underused muscles let us know it was time to stop! 

We also wanted to ski/snowboard Eagle Point Resort in the Tushar Mountains just east of Beaver, Utah.  Unfortunately, those jokers closed one week earlier than we expected so it was a no-go for us. 

   

Arleen shredding the slopes at Brian Head Resort near Cedar City, Utah  /  The view near the top

This was a nine mile snowshoe route to spread Praia’s ashes.  We parked at the junction of Highway 143 and Forest Road 048 and headed up the closed forest road to our mushroom “honey hole”.  There was a healthy blanket of snow and we broke tracks the first mile and last mile, but crunched easily along on snow machine tracks the middle two and a half miles.  The route gently climbed about 800 feet, however the 10,000 foot elevation kicked our butts!  The snow was pretty and it was very peaceful.  It was tough spreading our four-legged friend’s ashes, but the trek out was therapeutic. 

   

Breaking tracks near the “honey hole”

            

We had just spread our dog’s ashes and spontaneously decided to go east towards Bryce Canyon National Park instead of west back to our home in Cedar City.  We had no over-night stuff with us, so we stopped in Panguitch to get a few toiletries.  Then we had a great BBQ dinner and found a decent hotel about 10 miles south of town.  The next morning we got up early and headed to Bryce Canyon National Park where we hoped to snowshoe along the rim.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough snow to snowshoe, but we really enjoyed two short hikes through the spectacular terrain. 

   

Spectacular Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

WOW!

   

We still had plenty of daylight after our Bryce Canyon adventure, so on the way home we stopped at Cedar Breaks National Monument to snowshoe.  At over 10,000 feet, there was plenty of snow!  The weather was sketchy with brief patches of blue sky followed by spotty heavy snow showers and gusty winds.   We ended up snowshoeing about 4.5 miles, some of it on packed snow machine tracks and some of it in feet deep snow.  At one point, I broke through the crusty top layers and ended up working hard for a ways in crotch deep snow…it was tough!  Due to Arleen’s lesser weight and different snowshoes, thankfully, she was able to float on top.  We got to the overlook and waited a bit for a sunny break to get a good look at Cedar Breaks…it was incredible!  The trek back was tough as the temperature dropped into the teens, the wind picked up, and we got another inch of snow.  Other than two snow machiners that passed and faded quietly in the distance, we had the place to ourselves…it was very peaceful.

Between snowshoeing to spread Praia’s ashes, spending the night in a hotel south of Panguitch, hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park, and snowshoeing in Cedar Breaks National Monument, it was a very spontaneous and very surreal 36 hours!  We are very blessed!

   

Heavy snow showers at Cedar Breaks National Monument

   

Arleen ducking under a tree…we were blazing our own trail

A sunny break at an overlook at Cedar Breaks National Monument

   

This was a fun 4.6 mile snowshoe route in the Tushar Mountains near Eagle Point Resort east of Beaver.  The ski area closed the weekend prior so it was a good place to start a snowshoe adventure.  We parked at the Skyline Lodge near the top of the mountain and headed towards 11,317 foot high Lake Peak, a thousand feet higher than where we started.  The snow was firm making it easy to trek wherever we wanted.  The last hundred feet of Lake Peak were too steep for our comfort so we stopped short of the top.  That’s alright…the view was incredible!  We dropped easily into a big bowl and decided to climb up to a ridge line that would lead us back.  The snow was softer and it was warm which made the 4oo foot climb a bit tough.  On top of the ridge with an excellent 300 degree view, we took a long break and posed for some cheesy pictures.  Other than a few patches of bare ground, it was easy and enjoyable walking the ridge line back.  We really like the Tushar Mountains…they are a little-known gem!

   

Snowshoeing the Tushar Mountains above Eagle Point Resort

   

That’s me just below the summit of 11,307 foot Lake Peak  /  Arleen on the saddle north of Lake Peak

Fishing Panguitch Lake…

The ice had only melted off Panguitch Lake a couple of weeks prior to our visit so we expected decent fishing.  We caught one or two small trout and missed a few hits so it was a bit disappointing.  The guys on the bank did pretty good using Power Bait, but the fish didn’t have much interest in our flies.  At least the weather was very nice…we enjoyed our first adventure at a mountain lake this season!

Arleen at Panguitch Lake

Fishing Minersville Reservoir…

Minersville Reservoir, just west of Beaver, Utah, is known for its big trout that average 16-18 inches long with fish over 20 inches fairly common.  The fishing report had consistently declared it “slow”, but we hoped to prove it wrong.  Unfortunately, we proved the fishing report to be right.  We fished Minersville for about three hours on two different days and managed one nice 17 inch rainbow trout.  We missed three or four other half-hearted hits which is “slow” for six hours of fishing.  The birds were entertaining, especially the cormorants and loons.

   

Arleen at Minersville Reservoir with the Tushar Mountains in the background  /  A common loon

Fishing Paragonah Reservoir…

We fished Paragonah twice and had a blast both times.  The first time we caught 15-20 rainbows, 9-16 inches long, mostly on a big black rubber-legged woolly bugger.  The second time we met our new friend, Rob, at the lake.  The fishing was a little slower, but we still managed to catch 10 rainbows, 9-14 inches long, mainly on lake leeches. 

   

Arleen on Paragonah Reservoir  /  Arleen with a rainbow trout

   

A pretty 15-16 inch rainbow trout  /  A whole bunch of turkeys including some nice toms

That’s me in the kayak

Next…

We head to Heber City, Utah.  We really hope to fish Strawberry Reservoir…arguably the best trout lake in Utah!  If the ice doesn’t melt, there will be plenty of other things to keep us busy.  Arleen’s mom, Ellen, might visit and we plan to have lunch with one of our most respected ex-bosses.  Stay tuned…

We are REAL excited about our summer and fall plans:  1. Heber City, Utah; 2. Dinosaur National Monument; 3. Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Utah; 4. Pinedale, Wyoming to play in the spectacular Wind River Mountains; 5. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming; 6. Dubois, Wyoming to spend more time in the Wind River Mountains; 7. Red Lodge, Montana to play in the spectacular Bear Tooth Mountains; and then 8. Cody, Wyoming to experience eastern Yellowstone National Park in the fall.  We plan to hike to many remote alpine lakes loaded with pretty trout.  We may even do a few multiday backpack trips to explore areas deep in the mountains that don’t get many visitors.  It will be an incredible summer and fall!

Parting shots…

   

Doing laundry at the KOA in Cedar City, Utah  /  In the Tushar Mountains east of Beaver, Utah

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Tribute to our four-legged friend: Praia

 

Praia, my loyal companion for the last 12 years, died on 1 April 2014.  Sadly and surprisingly, he was healthy one week, and gone the next.  He almost made it to his arbitrary 13th birthday of 1 June.

Praia spent roughly the first year of his life in an animal shelter on Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal.  He was in a dog pen with 6-12 other dogs and seemed content.  In May 2002, I went to the animal shelter three times and each time he caught my eye so I adopted him.  I put a collar and a leash on him, and he immediately plopped on the ground on his belly…it was probably the first time he experienced that!  He was hesitant to get in the truck so I lifted him up and drove to my little home in Praia da Vitoria.  The little turkey entered the house like he owned it and immediately lifted his leg!  Thankfully he didn’t do that too many times before he learned it was a no-no.  He was fairly easy to train, very playful, and loved fetch and tug of war.  I took him to work often.  He slept comfortably in the truck until I’d take him out for some fetch every other hour.  He regularly accompanied me on errands around the base.  I would park in a central location and walk all over, tying him up outside each place.  He sat erect, alert, and quiet, waiting for me to return.  People gave him a little love as they walked by.  

We left the Azores in May 2003 and headed to Germany.  We spent almost four years traveling all over Europe.  The little guy went to shopping centers and restaurants and fit right in with the well-behaved German dogs.  He rode in taxis, trains, and even a ferry in Amsterdam.  He also had a bunch of doggie friends.  His besties were Buck and Buddy. 

We arrived in Washington state in March 2007.  Due to military deployments, Praia didn’t travel as much, but he had a wonderful half acre yard to roam.  We played a lot of fetch and he had plenty of squirrels to keep him busy.  Jake, the neighbor’s younger dog, latched onto Praia, and they wore each other out. 

Finally, we hit the road in spring 2011.  Praia adjusted perfectly.  We promised him we would no longer leave him for days at a time and that we’d spent much more time with him.  Though he no longer had a big yard, he got tons of walks and enjoyed new smells everywhere he went.  Each time we left a campground, we had to make sure he was in the truck.  He’d excitedly jump in, sprawl across his bed, and fall asleep…we hardly knew he was there!  Initially, we took him hiking a bunch, but he slowed down and let us know the longer walks made him sore.  Even towards the end, he eagerly walked 4 or 5 times a day, each walk a half to two miles. 

He had a good life and we made each other happy.

1.  May 2002, Praia da Vitoria, Azores Portugal…In his back yard shortly after I adopted him.  2.  Sep 2002, Praia da Vitoria, Azores Portugal…He liked to curl up with us.  3.  May 2002, Praia da Vitoria, Azores Portugal…One of my favorite pics.  4.  Jun 2002, Praia da Vitoria, Azores Portugal…He really liked toys.  He liked tug of war and fetch.  He learned “drop” very quickly and hardly ever chewed his toys to bits.  5.  Aug 2002, Praia da Vitoria, Azores Portugal…He is just being a ham.  He rarely rolled onto his back.  It was usually because he wanted to play.

1.  Oct 2003, Zell, Germany on the Mosel River…He liked to be on rock walls.  Waist high rock walls were all over Terceira Island and he’d jump up and walk along them.  He did that his whole life.  2.  Jun 2004, Neuschloss, Germany…That is one happy dog playing fetch with a rope toy in our back yard.  3.  May 2005, Rothenberg, Germany…Playing fetch with a baseball.  He was faster than most dogs and jumped quite high.  4.  Jan 2004, Neuschloss, Germany…Playing tug of war with Buck.  5.  Dec 2003, Neuschloss, Germany…Praia’s typical cocked head, floppy ear look after being asked if he was hungry or wanted to go for a ride or a walk.  6.  Jul 2005, Neuschloss, Germany…One of our favorite pictures of Buck and Praia.

1.  Feb 2006, Neuschloss, Germany…Praia and Buddy.  2.  Jun 2006, Neuschloss, Germany…He would often stare at us over the arm of a chair.  His eyes would say “feed me!” or “take me for a walk!” or “let’s play!”.  3.  Sep 2006, Czesky Kumlov, Czech Republic…Praia and Buddy waiting outside the historic gothic cathedral.  4.  Jul 2006, Lampertheim, Germany…Buddy, Praia, and Ballou fetching balls in the Rheine River.  Praia was a decent swimmer especially for balls or sticks.  5.  Jan 2007, Gargellen, Austria…"Yes, yes, I really want to go for a walk!”  6.  Jul 2006, Lampertheim, Germany…Buddy, Ballou, and Praia headed home after swimming in the Rheine River.  All three are saying “aahhh, do we have to go home?!?”.

1.  Dec 2007, Spanaway, Washington…Jake and Praia in our back yard.  They had already played for awhile and were tired.  2.  Dec 2007, Spanaway, Washington…On our back deck.  He loved laying here in the sun.  3.  Dec 2007, Spanaway, Washington…Praia chasing Jake in our front yard.  4.  Oct 2007, Spanaway, Washington…Curling up together on the couch.  5.  Jun 2007, Spanaway, Washington…On “squirrel patrol” in the back yard.  6.  Oct 2007, Spanaway, Washington…He was very content laying with us on the couch.

1.  Oct 2009, Spanaway, Washington…Just relaxing in his bed.  2.  Apr 2011, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon…One of our favorite pictures.  He is sitting on a rock wall.  3.  Oct 2009, Spanaway, Washington…Being silly in our front yard.  Arleen sent me this picture to cheer me up while I was deployed.  4.  Sep 2008, Spanaway, Washington…Hanging out on the couch.  5.  Mar 2010, Spanaway, Washington…Posing in our back yard.

1.  Jun 2011, Paradise Valley, Montana…A hike in the Montana mountains. 2.  Jul 2011, Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana…Sunset at the lake on a hot day.  3.  Sep 2011…Cape Disappointment, Washington…Playing fetch and tug of war with a stick on the beach.  Praia loved sticks.  Starting in Germany, we played with them a lot.  I would “make” him a good smooth stick with no bark.  When we were done playing, I’d hide the stick in a tree.  I called it the “stick tree”.  Sometimes I hid 2 or 3 good sticks in the “stick tree”.  As we neared the “stick tree”, Praia would go nuts, jumping around and barking.  We played fetch and tug of war until he got tired.  We did this more days than not in Germany, and anywhere else we could get away with it, like some remote west coast beaches.  4.  Oct 2011, South Beach, Oregon…Howling on the beach at sunset.  He was actually a pretty quiet dog.  I had to get him pretty riled up to howl, but he would bark when I told him to “speak”.  5.  Oct 2011, Florence Oregon…While staying in Florence, we played fetch with sticks in the sand dunes every day.  We had a “stick tree” near the edge of the dunes.  Though he was nine and a half years old, he acted half his age every time his feet the sand.  6.  Nov 2011, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Oregon…This was during a loop hike through sand dunes and woods to the lighthouse.

1.  Dec 2011, Klamath, California…Having a little chat on the beach at sunset.  2.  Feb 2012, Lake Mead, Nevada…Just taking a rest during his morning walk.  3.  Apr 2012, On the Road…His typical travel mode in the truck.  4.  Aug 2012, Creed, Colorado…This was the last tough hike we did.  We walked nearly 8 miles and climbed 1,700 feet to the top of Copper Mountain, elevation 12,500 feet.  5.  Aug 2012, Creed, Colorado…At the top of Copper Mountain…one of our favorite pics.  6.  Oct 2012, Alma, Colorado…This was a short 2 mile hike to almost 12,000 feet to see the ancient bristlecone pine trees.  It was a great place to play fetch with a stick!

1.  Dec 2012, Nathrop, Colorado…He loved to put his face in the snow.  He’d often run around with his nose buried…it was pretty funny!  2.  Mar 2013, Ridgeway, Colorado…This was a morning walk in Ridgeway.  In the background are the San Juan Mountains near Ouray.  Note that Praia is sitting on a rock wall. 3.  Feb 2013, Nathrop, Colorado…He would fetch almost anything.  He’d attack the snowball, chew it to bits, and run back for more.  4.  Dec 2012, Nathrop, Colorado…He liked heat!  He often laid right in front of the electric heater.  He also liked to lay in the hot sun.  We joked about him getting “medium rare”.  5.  Apr 2013, Needles, Canyonlands National Park, Utah…Just like rock walls, Praia loved scampering around Utah’s slick rock.  He would try to follow me no matter how difficult it was.  We had to be careful because he had no fear!  6.  Apr 2013, Moab, Utah…Praia would not eat his food until we told him it was OK.  At his best, he would just sit and stare at it.  Often, he’d spin in circles and bark.  Sometimes we made him wait 5 minutes…It drove him crazy! 

1.  Jul 2013, Bryce Canyon Nation Park…My nephew, Austin, liked Praia.  2.  Jul 2013, Panguitch Lake, Utah…He wanted to be near us and often laid on our feet.  He was a great foot warmer!  3.  Aug 2013, Panguitch Lake, Utah…He is keeping a close eye on chipmunks.  His chaise instinct was very strong…sometimes too strong!  The little turkey would get completely deaf when he slipped into chaise mode.  He chased wild boars and deer in Germany.  He went after chickens in Belgium and went crazy for lizards, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks.  He chased cats unless they stood their ground…then he would wisely keep his distance!  4.  Aug 2013, Panguitch Lake, Utah…The poor guy was terrified of fireworks and thunder.  Once we got back to the States, we tried to find a quiet place to camp every 4th of July.  5.  Nov 2013, Valley of Fire, Nevada…We were playing on the slick rock.  Although Praia was about 12 and a half years old, he acted half his age…he was a happy dog!  6.  26 Feb 2014, Lake Mead, Nevada…I laid with him on the floor.  He was getting sluggish on warm days, but otherwise enjoyed his walks and seemed healthy.  He would be gone just a month later.

   

We had Praia cremated and decided to spread his ashes in the mountains east of Cedar City, Utah.  While staying at nearby Panguitch Lake the previous August, we hiked all over the Cedar Breaks and Brian Head areas.  We really enjoyed the relatively easy alpine hiking with spectacular views, but the area was special to us because we found pounds and pounds of tasty king bolete and chanterelle mushrooms!  We labeled one area the “honey hole” because we found fresh king boletes each of the 5 or 6 times we hunted there.  We spread tons of mushroom spores under the pretty spruce trees in hopes that there might be even more shrooms in the future. 

We knew getting to the “honey hole” would be tough in the winter.  The road was closed and under a healthy blanket of untracked snow, so we would have to snowshoe.  We estimated our special spot to be 4-5 miles, and nearly a thousand feet higher than where we’d start.  We wanted to be thoroughly whipped and hoped 6 or 7 hours of trekking though fresh snow would be a bit therapeutic.  Tears were shed as we spread Praia’s ashes, but ours spirits gradually rose as we exhaustingly made our way back.

Spreading Praia’s ashes under a young spruce tree

R.I.P. Praia…you were a great companion!

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