The Best Back Yard

Vallyn Bernard

When it comes to back yards, its hard to beat Emery County and the San Rafael Swell.

If you’re into extreme sports, or sports of any kind, for that matter, you couldn’t ask for a better back yard than Emery County. Certainly, we are all aware of the standard sports in the area, like hunting, fishing, hiking, trail biking, four-wheeling, dirt biking, boating, golf, and snowmobiling to cover just a few of them. However, many of us haven’t run into bouldering, rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking or skydiving.

Emery County is an extreme sports fanatic’s paradise, with a little something for everyone and for those who love the rush of rock climbing, the San Rafael beckons. First you have to find a cliff, about 500 feet high, and then, you simply climb it.

Before we get too far here, I have a few issues I need to cover. One, why would anyone want to climb several hundred feet straight up a cliff, or slick rock wall? Two, why climb out on the San Rafael, where the red rock heats up the canyon walls, like the inside of an oven? Finally, who would spend hundreds of dollars on specialized equipment so they can tear the hide off their hands, knees, and feet.

I’ll tell you who, individuals with incredible strength and stamina. It’s people, who think methodically and can react with cat-like reflexes while moving along a rock wall like a tortoise. Is this a sport for the average armchair quarterback? No. Can anyone do it? No. Is it a rush? Absolutely.

To see someone climb up a rock wall that I think would be tough to rappel down is unbelievable. Now, over the years I have done my fair share of rappelling off things, both backward and forward, so I understand the dynamics of stepping off the edge of the world. In those cases, I was always hooked to a rope, or a couple of ropes, plus in most cases, there was someone at the bottom on belay. That means they are there to stop you if something should go wrong.

The idea of hanging onto some rocks with just a little extra white chalk on my fingers is pretty adrenalin seeking to me. Now, not everyone free- climbs, and most have safety ropes. However, in many cases, someone has to go up first. In reality, with all the modern equipment, used properly, rock climbing is statistically safer than driving to Price.

It’s important to understand, rock climbing is a very serious sport and not just go find a good-looking cliff or rock wall to climb. It requires extreme physical conditioning and the proper specialized equipment in perfect working order. You should never do it alone, and make sure you not only get, but understand how to use the right gear.

For example, not just any rope works for safe rock climbing. You want a rope that gives, not one like the rigid rappelling ropes. More than carabiners, you need clamps to wedge into cracks in the rock walls. They come in several sizes, each with a specific use. You also need he proper harness, shoes, helmet, tape, Band-Aids, Ben Gay, a good therapist and the list goes on.

If you really want to try rock climbing, there are those around who will help you. Ben and Amanda Heaton, along with Steve and Megan Lamoreaux recently moved to Ferron so they could rock climb in the best back yard in Utah.

Keep in mind, don’t try rock climbing without first doing your homework, both with instructors, and at the sports shop. Another good idea is to take a few trips to the San Rafael on weekends, now that the weather has warmed up. You’ll almost always run into a few groups of climbers. Most are happy to visit with you about climbing. If nothing else, just park a safe distance away, sit back with some refreshments, and watch the show.

-Casey’s World-

OCD by the Numbers

Casey Wood

A lot of people say or believe that they have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and a lot of people are right. I have OCD and it is one crazy disorder. Some people have an unhealthy obsession with counting. That’s not me. I have some other obsessions.

A big compulsion for many with OCD is numbers, myself included. No matter why I’m using numbers, they have to follow certain patterns. If I’m watching TV or listening to music the volume has got to be one of four things. The volume must be the lowest possible number, the highest possible number, the middle number, or a multiple of five. It not only annoys me when they aren’t, but it makes me uncomfortable. No matter what I’m doing, the numbers must follow this pattern. The air conditioner in my car has also got to follow this pattern. If 75 degrees is too cold, and 80 degrees is too hot I deal with one of the extremes because setting the temperature to 78 degrees is too much for me to handle. Another huge obsession is money. I cannot handle an unorganized wallet or cash register. Money must go in ascending order, ones, then fives, then tens and so on. Money must be in the same direction. The bills cannot face different in directions in any way. This obsession of direction is so bad that whenever I go to work, the first thing I have to do is make sure that all the money in the cash register is in the same direction. Bank amounts also must follow certain number patterns. The amount of money in each of my bank accounts must be a multiple of 25. If that is completely impossible, I can deal with multiples of 5, but that is only in the most extreme of situations and when in this situation, I consider the account that’s not at a multiple of 25 “broken” or “needing to be fixed.” If for any reason one of my a bank accounts isn’t at a multiple of 25, even if it’s just a few cents over or under, I will go to the bank to fix it.

My biggest obsession keeps me from a lot of things. It makes me a bad artist and makes me work harder at most things. The obsession is symmetry. Everything has got to be symmetrical. If I draw a picture and there is a tree on the left side, then there had better be a tree on the right side. If I’m putting new movies on the shelf at work and there are 10 movies to the left side then I can guarantee there will be 10 movies on the right side. Everything has got to follow symmetry. When taking a picture, people are always centered, and there are equal numbers of people on each side. If I am faced with an odd number then I make sure that the person who makes the number odd is right in the middle so that they are equally displaced on each side.

OCD is often an annoyance, but it’s a way of life, and I’ve learned to live with it. Compulsively, of course.

-Annalee’s Corner-

Green River’s Unofficial Goodwill Ambassador

Annalee Thayn

Green River doesn’t have an official “Goodwill Ambassador,” but if it did, it would be Elizabeth Matilda Reynolds Smith. You probably know her by a different name: “Granny,” or Betty Smith.

Betty will proudly tell you that she is the oldest female resident of Green River. She was born on July 20, 1914 in Mount Pleasant, the 11th of 12 children. She had a fraternal twin sister named Sarah Christina. Betty is the only sibling still living in her family.

Elizabeth became “Betty” when she was a young girl. An older sister was her teacher at school. At that time you raised your hand to be excused to use the bathroom and you couldn’t leave until the previous person had come back. You also had to write your name on the chalkboard so the teacher would know who was out. Elizabeth was a long name and she had a hard time writing it, so her sister suggested, “Let’s shorten it to Betty.”

Betty was born with the help of a midwife, Ellis Reynolds Shipp. Shipp was related to Betty and is a story herself. She was one of the first female doctors in Utah and the first wife in a polygamist marriage. In addition to caring for her family, and delivering babies, she got up each morning at 4 a.m. to study her medical books. She also has fame in another area, in the LDS Hymnbook. Ellis Reynolds Shipp wrote the text to the hymn, Father, Cheer Our Souls Tonight.

Betty has an enviable memory and can recite poems for most occasions. When asked how she could remember all that poetry, she said that it is how she occupies her mind when she can’t sleep.

Betty married Wayne Smith in 1933. They met when Wayne went to Mount Pleasant to sell watermelons. They had three children: Faye Thompson, Tamra Brooke, and Robert Smith. Faye and Robert live in Green River. She has eight grandchildren and numerous great and great great grandchildren.

Betty has a generous spirit. When she is not reciting poetry, she makes gifts to give away. Benefactors of her gifts have received her “dime and pin dent” (diamond pendant), her washer and dryer, which is a gift to a honeymoon couple, but on a slightly smaller scale. The washer and dryer include a washer, (the kind that is used under a nut) and a dryer (a miniature clothespin). Other gifts include $1 folded into a dress, and a “penny pincher” a penny held by a small clothespin. Betty is also talented at crochet.

When a guest speaker comes to Green River they never leave without a memento from Betty and some who have received Betty’s gifts have met each other elsewhere along the way. Two people were walking on the grounds at Temple Square and they both noticed they were wearing a “dime and pen dent.” They looked at each other and said, “Where did you get that?” It was discovered that they had both met Betty Smith.

-My Ride-

Off to the Parade

James L. Davis

Pat Jones doesn’t drive his 1930 Model A Ford Coupe often enough to call it his weekend car. It’s more appropriate to perhaps call it his parade car.

The owner of Jones Ace Hardware in Castle Dale, Pat starts up his Model A (original motor still puttering under the hood) and waves his way through parades in Emery County during the summer. With its classic rumble seat, the car is usually a parade favorite. It’s not that he wouldn’t like to drive the old car more often, it’s more a matter of time.

“There’s always too many other things going on. Sometimes I’ll pull it out and go for a ride around town,” Pat said.

Pat bought the Model A in 1982 or 1983, he can’t recall the exact year and when he purchased the classic it had already been restored by Ed Leeflang. The only thing not still original on the car is the paint, upholstery, and the fenders have been replaced with fiberglass replicas.

As with most car lovers, Pat has picked up a few trivia items about his car. He learned that the 1930 Model A, built during the Depression, was only made when ordered and the serial number on his car has a UT in it, meaning that the original owner of the car was from Utah.

According toWikipedia, the Model A first made sold for around $385 for a roadster and up to $570 for the top-of-the-line Fordor. The engine was an L-head 4-cylinder that put out 40 horsepower. Typical fuel consumption was between 25 and 30 MPG.

While Pat’s Model A may only cruise the roads during parades, it does have the distinction of usually riding in a place of honor during parades, according to Pat.

“We’ve had a lot of grand marshals in it over the years,” he said.

-Swell Recipes-

The Joys of Dutch Oven Dining

Kathy Ockey

There is nothing better after a long, cold, record breaking winter than the thought of spring, Easter and warmer weather. It is also a time for camping, family gatherings and celebrating with foods of the season.

Orangeville citizen, Gordon Larsen, has the perfect solution for feeding a hungry crowd – Dutch oven cooking. When he was a child his family cooked Dutch oven style but they usually made desserts. He started cooking with Dutch ovens for his family several years ago and they love it.

Gordon became interested in cooking with these pots and found the book “Cast Iron Cuisine” by Linda Cowley and Geri Munford at Food Ranch in Orangeville. He said there are not only good recipes in this book but also good tips and instructions and it is a valuable resource for anyone interest in cooking this style.
Gordon and his wife Carole prepare many of their meals in a Dutch oven. They both said it is the perfect Sunday dinner. They put the ingredients in the pot before church and when they get home dinner is ready. They also cook Christmas breakfast this way for all of their family. When their daughter, Nikki, had visitors at their home from Uruguay, Gordon prepared “High Priests Stew” (recipe follows) and they were impressed with this style of cooking.

He also said you can put the ovens over fire for heat, but it is easier to cook with charcoal briquettes. He said you have better control of the heat and you can also stack the pots and cook with several ovens at the same time. Gordon said, “There isn’t anything you can’t cook in a Dutch oven and it always turns out good.” Following are several of Gordon’s favorite recipes.

High Priest Stew
(Given to Gordon by Pat Jones)
It is fairly simple for the simple. Some might find it complex and confusing, but nevertheless if you will follow the guidelines, you might find yourself with cuisine. We hope the members of the ward will be real hungry, (then they will eat anything). Starve your kids before you come.
Ingredients
1-1/2 lbs hamburger
½ lb bacon (optional)
5 or 6 medium size potatoes
1 onion`
1 small package of baby carrots
3 sticks of celery
1 pkg of frozen peas, or peas and carrots
6 – 8 bullion cubes
1 pkg Lipton onion soup mix
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
½ cup corn starch
Instructions for the blend:
Use a 12 quart Dutch oven and brown the hamburger, drain any grease. In another pan, cook the bacon until crisp. Dice the onion and add to the hamburger and bacon. Saute’ for a short time until onions become partially cooked.

Add the potatoes (diced), carrots, celery, and about 4-6 cups of water. While this is cooking, dissolve the bullion cubes in a small soup pan with hot water. Add the bullion, onion soup mix, and salt and pepper to the Dutch oven. If it needs more filler, put in more potatoes and water. Bring the ingredients to about an inch of the top of the Dutch oven.

Let it cook until the carrots and potatoes are soft. While this is cooking, mix the corn starch in a cup of cold water until it is not lumpy and has dissolved completely.

Shortly before the stew is fully cooked, add the corn starch and frozen peas, or peas and carrots to the Dutch oven. Let simmer for a while, mixing occasionally.

Caution! Do not, do not let your family test before taking to the church dinner. There may not be any left and they won’t be hungry at the dinner, and will fall asleep during the presentation.
Disclaimer: This recipe was concocted by the simple minds of the disoriented.

All In One
Breakfast
1 pkg cubed hashed browns
2 lbs sausage
8 beaten eggs
½ cup water or milk
Grated cheese
Crumble and brown sausage in Dutch oven. Remove sausage and drain. Set aside. Using sausage drippings, brown hash browns (use more oil if needed). Level hash browns on bottom of Duitch oven, then add sausage on top of hash browns. Add ½ cup water or milk to eggs and beat thoroughly and pour over sausage evenly. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cook from top and bottom 15-20 minutes until eggs are firm. Twelve coals on top and bottom.

Dutch Oven Fruit Cobbler
(This is prepared at the Castle Valley Pageant)
Two cans of fruit with juice in Dutch oven
Sprinkle with 3 Tbl tapioca for thickening, add
1 dry cake mix sprinkled on top, add
1 can soda (7-up, Ginger-Ale, Sprite, or other) poured on top
With a large spoon, work cake mixture with the soda without disturbing the fruit on the bottom.
Place lid on and bake.
Use 10-12 briquettes on the bottom, 18-20 briquettes on the top of the Dutch oven. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour. Check the top of the cake frequently for doneness. The cake will start pulling away from the inside edge of pan when done.