Feb 27, 2012

High Uintahs camping as a scout, Lost lake, Palisades lake, Pine Island.

In my youth I had some great experiences camping with the scouts. We went to several lakes in the Granddaddy lakes area of the High Unitahs. Ine year we camped at Governor Lake, another two years at Palisades Lake. We hiked to a lot of lakes during each of those years also such as Lost Lake and Pine Island Lake. I remember being scared that I would get lost and so never ventured very far from the trails. I had some very special experiences. The year we hiked to lost lake it became very apparent why it had the name it did since there was no real trail leading to it and it was only because one of the men with us knew how to get to it. I remember thinking from the pattern of where we were catching fish that they had to be swimming around the lake in a large group since those scouts who were walking around the lake seemed to be catching them when I was at a spot where they had just been and wasn’t catching anything except twigs and rocks. I never was a fisherman and that didn’t build my confidence any either.

I remember another time walking for a long time on a trail and not really knowing where I was and seeing a tree that had fallen in a small marsh and I took a picture of it with my little Kodak instamatic camera. Years later as a scoutmaster I found that tree again and took another picture of it and that time I knew where I was.

I loved camping at Palisade lake the most and knew we were almost there as we would pass Brinton Meadows where the forest ranger camp was set up. Later my brother Stan would spend a lot of time there and even Clair and I would go there for four days with him later in my teen age years. I learned to love the beauty of the basin and will always consider it to be one of my favorite spots on this earth.

Feb 26, 2012

It has been a few days since I have posted since I have been spending a lot time trying to learn how to type properly and working some rather long shifts at odd jobs.

Handcart Trek: 14th Ward Rocky Ridge

This trek was made in the time we were first in the 14^th ward. A year later we did the trek again with the stake.

This was a very memorable trek for all of us as it was so difficult for Loren. The first day was OK but the second day was a very memorable one because of what Loren had happen to him.

We started out the first day from Mapleton at Miner's home. We all met there to check in our gear and make sure everyone was properly prepared. We went in four vans that were all alike. All 12passenger white extended vans. We drove up to Heber and then on past Coleville to a rest are there. We got out near a lake and stretched before continuing on. We also stopped near the Wyoming border and the again at a couple of cities in Wyoming. We stayed the first night at 6th crossing campground. We set up our  tents and then cooked our supper meals. We had a campfire program and rent to bed. 

The next morning we went to the actual area of the crossing and talked about some of the experiences that the pioneers had at that crossing, From there we could see where the trail went up the hill toward the area called Rocky Ridge. From thee we went back to the campground and back onto the main highway and traveled on it for a few miles until we went onto a dirt road and traveled 15 miles across the hugh plains to where the trill from the river met the ridge. We unloaded the carts from the trailers and loaded all of our gear. We went down to the historical marker and one of the senior missionaries told us about a few if the experiences that the pioneers had experienced as they crossed this area.

After we had loaded the carts and made a rest (bathroom) stop for the group we started up over Rocky Ridge. We had quite a few carts and it was really fun to see them all lined up and going up the road. I went ahead and then would drop back as needed do that I could get pictures of all of the various groups. It was a long hike up the hill and the youth were quite excited so it went quite fast but as they trekked further the  pace slowed down quite a lot. We had determined not to eat a lot that day and it was because of that decision that we had the experience that was so dramatic for Loren. We had traveled for about 11 of the 14 miles when Loren's blood sugars dropped and he refused to eat anything since the rest if the group wasn't having anything. He struggled for the last three milled and when we got to the campground fir the night and had our tents set up he wandered off. Marie saw him go and was worried abbot him. Sister Wendy Dahle and Bishop Creer came with us and it became obvious that he was not thinking clearly. Finally I went to take him to the ground and Bishop was right there on him with me. He later told me that he knew we would have to force him to stop but he was just waiting for me to make the first move and then he joined in to help. We made Loren eat a few skittle candies and then after a few minutes he was again OK. We were thankful that Wendy was there and had experience with diabetes and told us what had to be done. After Loren was able to eat that night he was OK but it had really scared us and we were a lot more careful for the rest of the trip to be sure he had enough to eat. We stayed there for the night and had another campfire program and did some singing before retiring for the night. 

The next morning we loaded onto the buses and traveled to Martin's Cove and after an orientation agin loaded the carts and pulled the carts to the cove. We had Brother and Sister Scott, who were members of our ward and had recently served a mission there, talk to us about the area and some of their experiences while serving there. We then went on down to the river crossing and pulled the carts to the first campground where we were scheduled to stay for the night. It was after the water crossing that Loren spotted the first of four rattle snakes that he would see while there and at some of the other stops. After we had unloaded the gear some of the youth took the carts back to the main visitors area and they saw another snake, in fact jumped over it since they didn't see it until they were already almost on it as I remember. Loren was agin there for that. We had another campfire program that night when some of the trine apart straw hats were burned. The wind from crossing the plains after rocky ridge had literally torn them to shreds and they were not much for wear after that. It was a great evening and I remember that a storm had also come in for a short period that night while putting up the tents but soon left and made for a great evening.

The next mooning we went to a couple of the other historical spots near Martins's Cove. I cant' think of the names of them right now but remember them to be where Loren saw another snake making it the fourth one of the last two days. We went to a large rock where the pioneers had carved their names into the rock and that last snake was up sunning on that rock. It was fun to climb on that rock again as we had done a few years before when  we had gone there as a part of a wry camping tip. (That was the year Tia had attracted so many ticks to herself.) 

We traveled home that day and ended what would go down in all of our memories as a very special event filled with moments that would effect our testimonies for the rest of our lives. Those of us that went on that trip were Marie and I and Brittany, Loren and one other special person that would later become part of our family Rachelle Morey.

Handcart Trek: Mapleton Stake  Rocky Ridge

 The year after the ward trek we were also blessed to go again with the stake. Marie, Brittany and I went that year. Loren had experienced his trek and knew he didn't need to do it again. I went specifically as the photographer and Marie was with the food group. The trek was different in that we went to Martin's Cove first and then to 6th water and Rocky Ridge. There were some other experiences that we had this time that were different from the year before in that we had a special fireside on the way to the cove where President Allen talked to us from the Stake Presidency. We also had to pull the carts three miles further when we went to Rocky Ridge as the State of Wyoming had put some heavy restrictions onto the treks to prevent as much travel over that area. We still had a very special experience and again I think I walked 25 miles instead of just 17 like everyone else since I would backtrack  lot so I could take pictures of the carts and people with each of them. There were a lot more with the stake trek and thus they became stretched out for over  a half mile or so from the front to the back which meant that I was covering a lot of area just to go back and forth to get images of everyone at the various spots of interest along the trail. It was a great experience and a life changing one for me as a photographer. I was using my A1 Canon camera while also shooting a 60D Canon digital camera that belonged to one of the other stake members. I shot 14 rolls of film through my camera while shooting over 800 images with his digital camera. I came home and ordered my first digital camera the 10D Canon which was the first of three that I have bought since that time. It was so much easier to use and I didn't have to fill my pockets and backpack with rolls of film while shooting an incredible number of shots. We had a great experience that year as well and were able to build our testimonies even more from the additional stories and experiences of that trek. The pioneers truly suffered a lot more than I think I could have and I am thankful for the lessons learned from each of these treks.

Feb 10, 2012

Marie and I drove across Skyline road. Camped overnight

I recently wrote about a trip that Marie and I had taken with Jeff and Ben up onto skyline drive when the roads became so slick I felt like I was on ice as I drove off the mountain. Well Marie and I had taken a similar trip once before when Ben was just a baby and Marie was pregnant with Jeff.

We first went to Duchesne and left Ben with Grandma Berhmann. We then traveled to Moab and spent a little time with Tim and Leesa. He was there with his job for the Utah Highway Patrol. We stayed a day with them and then traveled back to the start of the road that crosses the skyline at the rest stop in Tucker. We drove up onto the skyline and enjoyed the fresh mountain air that was up there. We took it slow so we could enjoy the scenery. We finally drove down off one of the side roads not knowing where it would take us and found a little meadow that was somewhat secluded. We camped there for the night and really enjoyed it. Some deer visited our camp the next morning and it was fun watching them since they were either unaware of our presence or didn’t care.

We spent a good part of the morning up there and then packed up and continued on skyline for the rest of the day eventually dropping down Ephraim canyon and ending up with Lynn and Julie. I believe we stayed with them that night before driving back to Duchesne to pick up Ben who was sorely missing us by then. It was a fun, short, getaway.

Feb 9, 2012

Leesa's wedding and flash bulbs

My photographing weddings began when I was 18 years old. Leesa and Tim were married in June of 1972 just prior to my going on my mission to Texas. (Stan and Nadine were married in July of that same year and Lynn and Julie in November after I was in Texas of that same year. It was a big year for mom and dad.)

Anyway I was asked to take some pictures for Leesa at her reception. I had my old Konica camera, which at the time really wasn’t old because I had only had it for a year. I had a flash unit for it that was one that used flash bulbs. They could be used once and then had to be discarded. I only had a certain number of them so I didn’t take very many pictures. I always was disappointed that only a couple of them turned out from what I could remember, it must have been a bad experience because I forgot a lot about that night. Anyway Leesa tells me now that there were a lot of them that were good. I don’t remember if I took any at the temple that day but I must have in order for her to say that since I only remember two of them that turned out OK from the reception. I really didn’t have the lighting equipment that was needed for that kind of a job.

Feb 8, 2012 Added from the Poulson Pigeon blog

I am adding this to my blog from the Poulson Pigeon blog so that it can be recorded with my history. It is the story of one of my ancestors who was married to Briant Stringham, one of the Prophet Brigham Young's good friends and a prominent man in the history of Utah and the pioneers.

Harriet Maria Ashby Stringham, (my great great grandmother on my Father's side of my family.)

Harriet Maria Ashby was born on April 8, 1834. She is the daughter of Nathaniel Ashby and Susan Hammond Ashby.

Harriet was born in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her family was converted to the church by Erastus Snow and Parley P Pratt, and moved to Nauvoo, Illinois in 1843.

The family built a home in Navuoo (which is now owned by the church and is called the Ashby-Snow home). It was two blocks north and one block east of the Mansion House where the Prophet lived. In her personal journal she wrote about "often seeing the Prophet riding by on a fine black horse, sitting very erect and looking gentlemanly in a tall beaver hat and circular cape. Once he came to my home and my father loaned him twenty-five dollars, which he returned later."

One of the most poignant stories of the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith is in her personal journal. She wrote:
"Previous to our leaving Nauvoo (they fled when the mob persecution became to strong and said they climbed on a fence on the other side of the river and could see the temple lit up and hear the boom of cannons) I remember the sorrow felt and shown by the people for the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum. The Prophet had been taken to Carthage, and mother sat through the night at her bedroom window filled with terror for the safety of the people, now their leader was away. So slow are we to comprehend the dealings of the Lord. His work, which is never more to leave the earth, until His Son appears again. No schemes will ever be deep enough or strong enough to prevail against the word of God. (What a beautiful testimony) The dismal howling of dogs with the uncertainty and fear prevailing, made the night most memorable.
In the morning mother came upstairs to our bed saying word had been received of the death of the prophet and his brother. It has always remained in my memory the unusual brightness of the sunshine on this morning.
When the bodies of the prophet and his brother lay in the Mansion House, Mother took us to see them. They were lying on a bench side by side, dressed as in life, the blood dripping from their wounds."

Her father died three days after leaving Nauvoo on the plains of Iowa. The family spent the winter of 1847-48 in Winter Quarters. Her mother continued on with eleven children and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September of 1848. She died in 1851 after living in the Valley for only 3 years. She left her family in the trust of Briant Stringham who was married to Harriet's sister.

Harriet married Briant Stringham on April 20, 1852 when she was barely 18 years old. They had eight children. Briant died in August 1871 when she was pregnant with their eighth child.
Harriet's daughter, Elmeda Stringham Johnson is the mother of  Rozilla Johnson Poulson "Nana" my grandmother and mother of my father, Kermit Poulson.

Feb 8, 2012

LD Singers

When Lynn and Leesa were at Snow College they sang in the institute choir called the LD Singers. The following year when I attended I  also tried out for the choir and made it in to sing with them. It was a lot of fun and we traveled all over the upper part of the state singing at different wards especially ones where an LD Singer was one of the ward members. We went to Temple Square and watched one of the Sunday morning session of the choir broadcast. We had some really fun trips. I was also in the group after my mission and they came to my wedding and sang during the reception. I have a lot of good friends from those two years.

We had a theme song “Oh That I Were An Angel” that I still love to this day even though it is seldom sang anymore. I have heard of a few people that have heard it and some that have even sang it but there are really very few.

We had several activities as well as a group and for one of our socials we went on a Sunday morning to the Manti Temple and had a Testimony meeting up on the East side of the temple. It was a very special experience.

Another time we went sledding down Ephraim canyon at midnight. That was the night that as I was going out of the mountain part and onto the flats that a bunch of deer crossed the road at  the same time and a couple of them even jumped over me. I was glad that they could see me because I could barely see them in the darkness of the early morning without the aid of any moonlight. It was a pretty fun experience. 

Feb 6, 2012

Junior Sunday School

When I was young and up until Ben and Jeff were young we used to have two sections of church each week. We would start at around 10 am and have Priesthood Meeting and then sunday school and junior sunday school. It went, if I remember correctly, until about noon and then we would go home until 7 pm when we would return for Sacrament Meeting that went until about 8:30 pm. MIA was usually Tuesday nights for the teenagers at 7 pm and went until around 9 pm. Then on Wednesday nights we had primary right after school around 4 pm  and Relief Society at 7 pm for the women. Our quarterly Stake Priesthood meeting were held around 7 am on Sundays when we had them. 

We had a lot more responsibility as young priesthood bearers because we passed the sacrament in adult sunday school and junior sunday school and then again that night in sacrament meeting. So as Teachers we prepared the sacrament twice and as priest blessed it twice, once in one of the sunday school sections and then in sacrament meeting. Junior Sunday School was a lot like Primary now in that we sang songs and had lessons and did the things that the children do now. It seemed though that back then we sang in Stake conference as Primary children at least once every other year if not more often. I really didn't like doing that when I got to be 11 years old because I was just to old for that kind of thing and singing those silly songs. Boy what I didn't understand back then. Passing and blessing the sacrament was fun in the Junior Sunday School however because we were so big, even though we just left there the month before or so when we were deacons. As priest we really towered over the primary children and we were only in there long enough to bless the sacrament and then we were excused to go to our regular classes.

I remember that when I went into the mission field that I served in one area where we traveled 60 miles one way to church, it was from Stephenville to Cleburne. Because of the distance the church allowed them to have Primary meeting and Sunday School at the same time and Priesthood Meeting and Relief Society also during the second hour of Primary and then everyone went in for Sacrament Meeting and so they only served the sacrament once during the last meeting.  We would then at then end of that three hours travel back to Stephenville and have a fireside of some sort that night. I really enjoyed that schedule even though it meant leaving for church sunday mornings at 7:30 AM. They would then still hold MIA during the week in Stephenville at one of the members homes.

It was the only time I had ever been on a consolidated schedule like that but it worked really quite well.

So when the church moved to the consolidated schedule a few years after we were married it was really fun to have it that way again. There was one thing however that I noticed after the church made the move that a lot of members did not observe the sabbath day quite the same. It became to easy to come home and relax and watch sports and do other activities that are not totally keeping in observance of the sabbath day. We used to stay pretty much in our church clothes on Sundays since we had to get dressed again and go back just a few hours later. I do remember however on the farm that we changed a lot of times since we still had to go milk cows and do the chores and that we didn't do in our suits. 

Jan 29, 2012

1st Ward Handcart Trek: Dairy Fork

While our children were in their teenage years we had the opportunity to go on three treks. Each of them had their own special challenges and experiences.

The first one we were involved with was one where our ward rented handcarts and took them up to Dairy Fork in Spanish Fork Canyon. Jeff and Linda Baird were chosen to be the youth leaders on the trek and had some real challenges.

I don’t remember how many families we had or carts but there were probably around 8 or so. The first day we were to trek to a site at the bottom of the hill and camp there. As we were traveling we were also going to only eat what food the pioneers would have most likely eaten. Our first trial was one family where the parents had taken watermelon and hid it in a stream so that when they got real tired and rested they could have a cold piece of watermelon to refresh them. It was not good when they were the only family eating watermelon at that stop. We also trekked a lot faster than we had thought possible so we actually decided to go to the top of the hill to a large meadow where we had planned to stop the second day and stayed there that night. It was an interesting place because the meadow was filled with wild onions that would start to let off scent when walked upon. We actually ended up putting onions in our stew that night for supper.

We had a great night and an evening fireside that worked out really well. Jeff and some of the others whom had had Timberline Training used their expertise to put on quite a fun show.

The next morning we got up and it looked like it was going to rain so we quickly had breakfast and then loaded the carts. One family loaded their cart from the back not watching how they placed the weight and it suddenly tipped backwards spilling all their equipment on the now wet ground since it had started to rain.

After everyone was packed up we started on over the ridge and down the other side. It was now raining pretty good and as we started down the road on the other side of the hill it was getting really muddy. Marie even slipped once and almost went under one of the wheels. We decided to stop the carts and see how much further we would have to go to get to some level ground where we could set up camp to wait out the rain. Then we had the second major trial of the trek. One of the families decided they were going to turn around and not wait for the three or four of us whom had gone down to check out the lay of the land. They decided to start pushing their cart back up the hill and go down to the other side. Well, carts are meant to be pulled, not pushed, and consequently one wheel came off. This caused some major stress as everyone was getting soaked and since they wouldn’t wait for the decision it was placing major stress on the leaders and especially the youth leaders. Jeff at that point started to suffer from the stress and became somewhat ill. We finally had to put him into a truck and take him back. We had decided, due to the actions of the one family, to go back down the hill to where we had planned at first to stay the first night. There we would set up the games and everything that we had planned and do them there.

 We got all of the carts turned around and started back up the hill as the rain stopped and it became a beautiful day. The roads were still muddy but dried out fairly fast. We went back to the place where we were going to camp and set up our tents. It would be interesting to note at this point that the mishaps to the carts were all in just one family, the family that had put watermelon in the creek and decided they were not going to wait for their leaders decisions in the rain.

That night for our campfire we had a lesson (talk) from Sister Karen Long who gave experiences from the actual handcart treks showing where there were also families on them that would not follow the council of the leaders and caused a lot of hardships to some of those treks as well. Jeff got better after we had gotten him warmed up with the heater in the truck and was able to then again lead the trek. He didn’t really want to very bad but did it and did it well.

It was at that camp where two boys from our family decided to hike out to the café at sheep creek, across from where we started to trek up Dairy Fork, since it was only about three miles away. There they had a hamburger and then came back to brag about it. It caused some major problems as well. We also found out that they were taking food from other families as well since they were so hungry.

Well things got calmed down and we played a number of games and then after the campfire program went to bed. We arose the next morning and decided to do a service project for the area before we went back home. We decided to clean up some campfire pits that had broken beer bottles and trash in the campfire pits. Once again we got to see the difference in people as it became apparent that some of the boys were doing as little as they possibly could. We finally assigned them to areas where they were the only ones and they had to have it cleaned up before we could leave. We ended up actually cleaning up the trash along the road as we trekked back to Sheep Creek where we loaded the carts for transporting back to town. We met back at the church and had a real good meal made by the mothers of the youth and it all ended on a great note with a lot of valuable insights to people personalities and how the Lord will sometimes step in and teach them small but effective lessons.