Resist much, obey little

Family Backpacking

2011-06-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

We took our very first family backpacking trip this last monday. I have been crazy about backpacking solo over the last 5 or 6 year's. It's not easy for me to describe the feeling I get being alone in the wilderness but it stirs something deep inside me that I wouldn't know is their if I hadn't taken these trip's. Gives me a connection with this world , with life, with myself that I rarely if ever get. This last trip was all that times ten. Being isolated in the wood's with my my beautiful wife and 3 entergetic , crazy cute little kid's was freaking great! The hike in was a little tuff but went farely smooth. Sloan wore our Kelty child toting pack with her sleeping bag and a couple other small items but little Josie isn't exactly that little anymore. Plus Josie wasn't a very willing passanger, that combined with the sandy as hell trail up Short Creek forced us to change the game plan. We drug , pulled and pushed her along to camp. Johnny Bo and Chubb's were good and wore out but did a great job and made it to camp no problem. It was early afternoon when we arrived so we dropped our pack's and jumped right into the running water and dark cool grass. The kid's stripped down and took to their surrounding's like they had been livin natural all along. They climbed little waterfall's, caught tadpoles and toad's and swam in the shallow water. Jett told me 3 times in the first couple hour's that this was the best day ever. I couldn't argue.... it was pretty damn good. Sloan and I set up camp while the kid's continued playing and afterwords we cooked up a tasty little dinner over the fire. It was a beautiful clear night with no wind and almost a full moon. The iceing on the cake was that we had the canyon all to ourselves. Everybody had smiles on the there face's as we climbed into the 2 small tent's. Their was no getting around it. I was in HEAVEN. Getting a 2 , 5 and 7 year old up a couple miles of sandy trail wasn't exactly easy but way more than worth it.

( it wont let me flip that pic of Josie dangit )

Cali Vacation

2010-04-10T21:18:00.001-07:00

Rattle Snake Creek - Ashdown Gorge

2009-09-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

I did this trip last month with my demented friend Hubba. This is the 2nd or 3rd time he has joined me and I think I got him hooked. We were looking for something in the mountains to try and get the hell out of the heat for a couple day's. I had read about Rattle Snake Creek before but have never talked to anybody that has been and had not seen any pictures. It starts at the North Entrance of Cedar Breaks two miles from Brian Head and comes out in the bottom of Cedar Canyon three miles from town. About 11 miles. Seemed like a plan to us so we headed out early on a Saturday morning and found the trail head. I had a half assed topo of the area with me but rather than that didn't know much about what lay ahead. It turned out we weren't the first explorers to the area, their was a well beaten path but despite that we did not pass another person until the last mile of the hike.A very big bonus because nothing ruins a cool place like contact with strangers. The cool weather to start the hike was perfect sitting at about 45 degrees. The first few miles we spent hiking through green meadows packed with wild flowers and views of the red rock of Cedar Breaks. Very pretty walk. After that the trail drops you into Rattlesnake Creek. A beautiful little stream with lots of waterfalls surrounded by a thick pine forest. We hiked along this stream for about three miles before turning south where we climbed a ridge that drops into Ashdown Gorge. This is where I was pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting to drop into a kickass mountain slot canyon. Technically not a slot but surprisingly narrow in places. Incredible place made even more beautiful and interesting just by the simple fact that I had no idea it was coming. We explored a couple side canyons with very pretty waterfalls and camped at Flanagain Arch. The next morning we hiked out to the highway where you are suppost to have a car waiting. Just for some extra adventure though I voted for taking just my truck. So we started hiking up the narrow Cedar Canyon road trying to thumb a ride. Not much room to walk with out getting ran over. Getting a ride turned out to be more difficult than I expected. Freaking untrusting people these day's have seen to many movies. We hiked another 5 miles up canyon before a cool kid from back east who was working for the forest service and coincidentally had just completed the same hike the day before picked us up and drove us all the way back to my truck even though he was heading the other way. Some strangers are alright after all. Our total hiking miles ended at 16.5. Nice little walk and a hell of a good time.

Good times....no time for anything less

2009-08-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

Deep Creek 09

2009-06-20T19:47:00.000-07:00

I made my first trip of the year into the sacred land yesterday after work. As usual I had a bunch of dirty hillbillies staring me down on the way in but had the last mile of dirt road to myself and was happy to find nobody around while I parked my truck and jumped the no trespassing sign in to the old man's property. Always a little nerve racking at the beginning trying to slip unnoticed down below the cow pond but once I hit the bottom of the first drop I relaxed and had a pleasant hike down singing along the way (Signs signs every where signs fuggin up the scenery breaking my mind do this don't do that cant you read the signs, sign says anybody caught trespassing will be shot on sight so I jumped the fence and yelled to the house hey what gives you the right!). I'm guessing I arrived at the edge of Deep Creek around 5 o'clock and as is my custom I took a knee at the waters edge and gave thanks to what ever gods were listening for the opportunity to see this place once again. After my short prayer I crossed Deep Creek and started up O'Neil and found my hidden camp site above the river. I dropped my pack, strung my pole and started fishin. My first cast I caught a fish. My second cast I completely redeemed myself and snapped my fly off in a tree. The next couple of hours was spent in pretty much the same fashion. As usual the fishing was insane and if you threw out a half way decent line you had a fish. I caught around 15 only because I fish poorly and waste a lot of time. Most of you would have snagged 40. I finally tired out and headed back to set up camp and cook the 3 fish I kept for diner. The dog and I spent the night around the fire staring at the shadows of the towering cliffs and watching the stars come in and out of view as the clouds rolled overhead. In the morning I fished just for a bit before throwing my pack on and heading out. The hike out was quick with complete cloud cover and a cool breeze. I was happy to find my truck as I had left it and with nobody around I jumped in and started home. I passed a lot of land owners on the way out and I thought of a fool proof plan for not being bothered on my next trip . It will take a filthy black felt cowboy hat a 20 year old rusty horse trailer with cow shit dripping steadily out the back and I will blend in just fine.

Pinto, gunlock & other fun

2009-06-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

Johnny Bo is 5

2009-06-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

Boden had his 5th bday last month. I could not ask for a better kid. Sloan and I think we are going to like this age already. He is still cute and fun like his toddler year's but also helpful and independent.

Josie Maiz

2009-05-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

Graduation

2009-05-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

Johnny Boden Larsen has completed his final year of preschool. His graduation was fun and he did a great job. He is a smart kid and Sloan and I are very proud of him. As usual his teacher loved him and he seemed to be friends with every kid in his small class.

River Rats

2009-05-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

This last Sunday we took the kids below Gunluck to play in the river. We spent a couple of hours splashing around. The boys were excited to get there because every year they catch hundreds of tadpoles. Last year they raised a couple that they ended up keeping alive for a full year. This time we all had a blast. Instead of just tadpoles their were frogs everywhere. The boys caught 25 of them and in the excitement of being a kid again with my kids I threw out an idea of taking them home and feeling up the pool for them and the kids to swim. They of course were 100 % down with this plan. Naturally on the way home Jett dropped the frog he was holding and it still is rotting in my truck somewhere. We stuck with the plan and the boys swam with there frogs for the rest of the afternoon. It was a funny sight and we all had a great time. After they finished swimming we took the frogs back to the river and let them go. In all the craziness I think 3 brave frogs were lost for the cause. 22 were returned safely.

Just the boys

2009-05-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Chubbs, Johnny Bo and myself went up on Pine Valley this last Friday after work. We rolled into our campsite on the hill across from Grass Valley around 7 o'clock. We drove from 93 degrees in the low lands to a perfect 63 on the mountain. The kids and the dogs were as happy to be there as me and we all ran around for a half hour before we set up camp and cooked some dinner. We had a fun night staying up late around the fire and looking at stars. In the morning after a dutch oven breakfast I hiked around the hills with the boys catching grasshoppers and collecting sticks and rocks. Boden would help Jett corner a grasshopper and tell him things like "watch out buddy, he's a spit er." While we were hiking a couple of F-16s came screaming over the mountain insanely low and right above our heads. Bodie and Chubbs thought that was pretty freaking cool. It was a really good time and all three of us agreed we should live up on top for the summer. Before we drove home we picked up all the garbage the local white trash had left behind. Both kids were happy to help even though at home it takes a heck of a lot to get them to clean their room. Even at such a young age they can see what is wrong with that picture.

Squirrel Canyon

2009-05-06T19:28:00.001-07:00

Sittin in the fire light....feels good. Random bird's sing in the tree's surrounding camp. Fire crackles. Steady rolling of the small steam below. The light fading slowly behind the sandstone towers that surround us. The dog and I sit in silence and drink this all in. The hike in was quick. Racing the sun. 70 degrees with a slight breeze. Good trekking weather for early May in Southern Utah. My God this is calming. Re-charging to fight.....people, jobs, cities, civilization. Need to give myself a break. Need to give my wife a break. Hell,, even my kid's could use a break. Cant help them now, they will get theirs,,, some day, some how. I could make these trips quicker and less complicated by camping on the side of a dirt road with my truck instead of walking it out. The necessary feeling of isolation and freedom would not be as strong. Spent the first hour of complete darkness holding my pistol in paranoia from sounds above camp. Perhaps a polygamist who believes I am trespassing. Ha ha. Silly plig, this is OUR land. Wouldn't blame them if they did claim it. God knows if Cannan Mountain were my backyard I would claim it. Hell, its not my backyard and I claim it anyways. Have to admit I am offended and a little angry of any person in here rather than close friends or family. Wind picks up. The mood changes. I look at the dog, he has noticed as well. New sounds to hear, feel and understand. Woke up at sunrise to a high pitched and steady hum outside my tent. At first thought it was a far of whine of a motorcycle. Climbed out of my tent and found the source to be a large gathering of mosquito's waiting for me to come out and play. Although a little bothersome I would rather swat those little beggars off my ass all damn day than have it be a real live motorcycle coming up my canyon. Wish their were some kind of spray for those fuggers.

Feels like summer

2009-04-19T20:08:00.000-07:00

Spring in Pine Valley

2009-03-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

We camped up by Pinto this last weekend. Their was still some snow but not enough to turn us back. This was first trip of the year for the boy's and the first time we have camped with Aunt Tasha. Even though it was a little cold we had a blast. Played in the dirt, hiked down by the river, cooked dutch oven potatoes, slept in an old tent. Tons of stuff....... In the morning I cooked up the left overs in a 30 mile an hour wind while Tash , Bodie and Chubbs waited patiently in the truck. Besides the main road into town we didn't see another person all weekend. A kickass reward for camping in the snow and wind.

Back to Hack

2009-03-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

This was my third year in a row that Iv hiked to Kanab Creek down through Hack Canyon. I might not do it again until another year has gone by and I forget how much this bastard hurts. I met up with a friend early Saturday afternoon and we cruised down the dirt road that snakes through the beginning of Hack. We hiked in under cloud cover so it was not bad at all. After throwing our pack's off at an old anasazi ruin /cowboy camp we crossed over Kanab Creek and headed up Lawson Canyon which I had been in once before and wanted to get up on top and take a look around. We killed the rest of the late afternoon up on top and hiked back to camp around sunset. After dinner we then killed a liter of whiskey and jumped around the fire telling stories and firing a pistola into the dry desert air. The temp was perfect and I stayed in shorts and t-shirt all night and even in the early morning. Even after three trip's into this area their is a hell of a lot more yet to explore. I love the place and would live their if I could.

Super tramp

2009-03-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

Nah, not a super tramp but I did do a little trampin this last weekend. I backpacked up the Virgin River from the Gorge. It was a last second idea that would let me sleep outside like I was meant to and I figured I would be back to town around noon. After Jett's party on Saturday I hitched a ride from my Grandparent's and Mom who were heading to Mesquite. Along the way I heard about the horrible thing's that would be happening to me if I went through with this trip. " First of all I must have shit-4-brains since I was going alone, not to mention the back ho swallowing quicksand , the rattle snakes, the absurd miles I would have to walk and of course the Bear's." Their was more from my Mom and Gramp's but I think that was best of it. Yea ,yea that all sound's ridiculous but 25 minutes of that right before your dropped off alone in a place you have never actually been does hurt your confidence. Have to admit as I through on my pack and said goodbye I was not all that sure of myself or my plan. But as soon as hiked down the big dry wash to the bank of the river my mood changed quickly. Even with the freeway being only a quarter of a mile behind me the landscape provides a feeling of isolation and beauty. Really cool for me since most trip's around this country their is no water let alone a decent little stream. I only made it two or three miles up river before the sun was far enough gone that I was forced to make camp. I found a sweet spot to kill the night and was even able to find a couple pieces of painted pottery before the light's went out. The next morning I battled with myself trying to decide what to do. I needed to be back by noon and I hadn't put in even close to as many miles as I had hoped the evening before. Plus not knowing what the distance was to follow the Virgin back to St George or how ruff it was going to be I wussed out and decided to hike back up the Gorge along the freeway until I hit the Black Rock exit and could get cell service for a ride home. It was actually kind of fun. I felt like the hippies and bum's you see walking along highway's and through town's. I always have looked at that group with respect and a little envy. I got a bunch of untrusting and disgusted looks but also a couple friendly honk's from car's who I'd like to think respected and envied my walk. It even had a kind of vagrant ending. As I walked up to the Black Rock on ramp where my ride would be picking me up their was a sheriff parked. I dropped my pack and planted my ass in the dirt and weed's beside my dog. After about five minutes the officer pulled up by where I could see his face. I smiled and waved. He didn't smile , he didn't wave, but he did leave me alone and drove away.

Jett

2009-03-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

My baby boy turned three today. Holy hell it has gone fast. I could swear it was only last year that he was about the size of his little sister Josie. If I could roll back the clock and get him that age again I would in a heart beat. Not that he isn't the funniest , cutest and just all around cool kid right now, because he is all that and more for sure. Just wish it lasted a little longer.

My baby girl

2009-01-21T20:23:00.000-08:00

Josie Maiz Larsen was born at 3:09 am on January 21st. She is weighing in at 6 lb 9 oz and measuring 19 1/2 inches. She came in record speed I think even beating her brother Jett's crazy delivery time. Sloan's doctor lives 5 minutes from the hospital and she came in time to deliver the placenta. A really cool nurse is who helped deliver our new daughter. She did not have to do much more than hold out her hand's and catch her though. Sloan is flat out incredible at this labor thing. She blew away all of the people at the hospital with not only how fast but how effortlessly she did the entire thing. From Sloan walking into the hospital to me cutting the cord was at best a 25 minute period. I am proud of her and grateful that she is my wife who has given me another incredibly cute and perfect baby. Both of my girl's are now taking the night to rest in the hospital before they come home to us boy's.

Not yet

2009-01-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well the 16th has come and gone. Now two day's later Sloan is still not showing any signs of our baby girl's arrival. She has been reading up on thing's to get labor going so the last two day's we have been walking, hiking , 4 wheeling, eating spicy food and other fun activities that I wish she would have read about 3 week's ago. She hasn't been doing anything dumb like drinking caster oil. She is uncomfortable and ready to be done this time but we know that everyday that the baby stays snuggled inside will make her much healthier. It has been so damn nice this weekend that I wish I could quit my job and move into a tent. Yesterday hiking out south of Gunlock was insanely pleasant and we all had a blast. The boy's had their dog , sand to play in , rock's to climb and just about their favorite toy in the world STICKS. Oh and on Friday afternoon when I got off work we walked over to the church parking lot behind our house and in about 15 minutes Johnny Bo learned to ride his bike with no training wheel's. The first time he got going a good distance after about 100 ft he wrecked laying the bike on it's side and slid for a few feet before jumping up holding his hand's in the air yelling towards a bunch of teenage girl's who were sitting on the lawn over at the church " Cheer for me everybody! " Ha ha , he is an awesome kid.

January

2009-01-12T19:25:00.000-08:00

Sledding down the hill to the old camp site in Pinto

You can see me wrecking face first in the snow with Bodie under me somewhere

Hiking with Tash on a cold freaking day a couple week's ago.

It has been cool having Tasha live down here again. It has only been a few week's since she has been here but we have seen and hung out with her many times. Johnny Bo and Chubb's love her to death. Every time either of them say's a prayer they always ask that they can see Aunt Tasha again. The weather has been pretty sweet this last 4 of 5 day's. It was so nice today that if Sloan wasn't about ready to pop I would be trying to think of a place to backpack this weekend. Sloan is really suprised that she hasn't gone to the hospital yet. She was convinced that she would be early. Only 4 more day's until her due date. So one way or another our little baby is going to be here some time soon. I am excited to see her and a little nervous about how crazy our house is going to be with 5 of us. Should be fun.....

NEW YEAR

2008-12-31T19:17:00.000-08:00

We celebrated a few hour's early so the boy's were still coherent. It has been a fun night with pizza, silly string, fireworks,movies, blow horn's and pot's and pan's. Bodie and Chubb's are fun kid's and know how to party. It look's like our baby girl is going to wait until 2009 to join our family. Happy Freakin New Year people.

December

2008-12-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

Long winter's nap with my boy's

Sloan and the boy's playing in the snow while I was freezing my arse off at work

Knights

Cutting our tree on the Kaibab

Boden is out of school for the next two week's and I'am pretty damn jealous. I think we should all live at high altitudes, everybody get's two week's off for Christmas and at least a month off for summer. The boy's are really exctied for Christmas not only because of Santa but they are ready to see Papa Cj , Grandma Lisa , Aunt Tash and Uncle Boo. It should be fun. If thing's stay the same it might even be a white Xmas. It has been bloody cold here in St. George and we have a had a few inches on the ground that the boy's have had a blast playing in.

Kwagunt Hollow - Jumpup - Kanab Creek

2008-11-24T16:29:00.000-08:00

We were driving through Hurricane at six oclock Saturday morning when the cop pulled us over. I was with Hubba, my old friend from my short stint in the Marine's and we were heading for the Kaibab Plateau where we planned to backpack into the Kanab Creek Wilderness. The cop was a pain in the ass but after he told me to fix my headlight and he got the green light from headquarter's that I had no warrant's or price tag's on my head we were on our way. We made it to the trailhead without further incident. We through our pack's on our back's and started down the jumpup-nail trail under clear blue skies and a chilly temp. We warmed up quickly as we dropped from the pines into the low desert. Once we hit the bottom we jumped straight into Kwagunt Hollow which we followed for a little over a mile. This red rock canyon was pretty with a little spring fed stream that ran over and under the smooth sandstone. We climbed over house sized boulder's and bypassed 30 foot waterfall's with clear pool's and yellow leafed cottonwood's. After more walking than we had guessed from studying the topo we finally hit Jumpup Canyon. We traveled five mile's down this beautifull canyon at which seemed record speed after the slow going through Kwagunt. Jumpup had a basically flat rocky river bottom with no large boulder's that allowed us to move quickly. Through most of this canyon the wall's on each side 10 to 15 ft up are so rock tumbled smooth that when the light hit's right they look wet. At this point we were racing the sun and moving at a brisk pace as we walked, talked, bitched and laughed about life. After a good half hour of wondering if or when this canyon would end suddenly and dramitcally a wall was in our way. We had hit Kanab Creeek. This is the lowest and closest to the Grand Canyon I have been in Kanab. The wall's are streaked red , sheer, intimidating and of course beautiful. We had come almost 8 miles over pretty rugged country and were bolth happy to slide our pack's to the dirt. After making camp , eating a simple dinner and staring into a whiskey lit fire we slept the pleasant and fullfilling sleep of isolation. The next morning was cold but not at all bitter. I lit the fire once more to catch a little warmth while we ate a quick breakfast.. After packing camp we swung our pack's into place on our back's a little more painfully this time and started the walk back to higher elevation. As usual the hike out was quicker even though our bodies felt half as strong as the day before. Eight mile's later and 16 miles total arriving at the truck and dumping our pack's for the last time we looked back at the top's of the rugged maze of canyon's below where we had only hour's before been in amazment.

Roastin hotdogs

2008-11-16T13:01:00.000-08:00

I decided to cancel my backpacking trip this weekend since I will be going next weekend. Sloan pointed me in the direction of the guilt I would be feeling if I abandoned my family two weekend's in a row. I kid, I thought of that myself plus I had nowhere in particular to go anyway's. It was the correct choice because we have had a good time. Saturday we drove out to Snow Canyon and let the boy's hike around. They had a blast and only agreed to leave when we told them we would go get their dog and drive out by Gunlock and build a fire. Another fine choice even though the wind was blowing and Sloan and Jett got a little cold. It was an insanely pleasant way to spend the evening. We roasted marshmallows, hotdogs and drank beer while watching the sunset behind the red cliff's. Today while Sloan and the boy's were at church I headed back to Snow's for some more hiking. Tonight we plan on taking the boy's to see a movie. So all and all a kickass weekend.

Nov - 8th

2008-11-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

The coolest kid's in town

2008-10-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

I love those two little buggers more than I can even say. Although I am nervous about the little baby girl that will be joining us soon , mostly because I have no idea what the hell to with a girl, I am looking forward to another kid to join our family. Sloan is doing awesome and getting big and still takin care of us all. I'm a lucky dude.

Sowat Point

2008-10-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I took off from my in-law's house in Kanab with my minature thoroughbred Boozer and drove 70 miles to the top of Kaibab National Forrest almost to the north rim. We were heading for Sowat Point which look's down into Jumpup Canyon and Kanab Creek. I had read about a trail that drop's 2000 ft in one mile off this point down into the canyon's below but had never been to it. It was a cool morning , the temp reading 38 degree's but sunny and soon to be freakin hot. It was a pretty drive following narrow dirt road's though the forrest. After a little more than an hour of driving the tree's began to thin and the world opend into sky and big canyons. Looking to the South I could see where Kanab hit the Grand. Sweet view to say the least. I was dissapointed to see their were a couple truck's parked at the trailhead. It did look like their might be enough land down there for more than one person though so I put on my pack and started down. My plan was to drop off this point then from the bottom hike over a couple mile stretch and drop into Sowat Canyon which then hit Jumpup Canyon and finally into Kanab Creek where their is rumors of a beautiful spring where I planned to drink , swim and walk around naked for the rest of the weekend. Well that didn't happen. It was a good goal but unrealistic for only a one night trip. Plus I was not physically prepared for that 2000 ft drop with a full pack on. Damn trail was steep. My calves were thrashed and cramping and we were only half way. The sun was beating down by this time and it for damn sure was not 38 degree's anymore. At one point Boozer looked up at me & said " I think we should postpone this hike unitl this platoon is better rested". I agreed 100 % but we were almost down now and climbing back up this mother of a mountain was not an option. We made it down weak in the leg's and wobblin but other wise in good spirit. Luckily we found water quickly which I was worried about because I did not have enough to last me let alone the dog. After lookin over the topo I had of the area I knew I did not have the time or energy to get anywhere near Kanab so I made peace with this and spent the day hiking around the red rock play ground. Really cool place with pottery , flint and overhangs where although not much at all was left you could easily picture the Anasazi ruins that stood here. I had a perfect night with a perfect view and slept like a wore out dog in the dirt, with my wore out dog next to me. Oh, and the hike back out was a cake walk compared to coming down.

I Can't Live Here

2008-09-20T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here as in society. It make's me weak sick and depressed. The only thing that get's me through a five day work week is the fact that my family need's food , shelter and gas money to get the hell out as soon as the bloody clock hit's five o'clock Friday afternoon. The last few month's that is exactly what we have been doing. Sloan the boy's and myself have only spent one weekend at our house in the last two month's. Sloan is about 6 month's pregnant now so I fear the 2008 family camping is about over. She is tuff so I'm sure she will be fine when Johnny, Chubbs and I take off into the hill's. The hard part for her will come when it get's to cold and I will no longer be able to take the two little hopped up badger's with me. This Friday evening we headed up to Pine Valley. We got a late start so the sun was already down behind the mountain by the time we turned on to the Grass Valley road. We usualy drive out by Pinto but being this late we chose a nice little camp site on a little hill looking out over Grass Valley itself. The temp went from a muggy 95 degree's down in shit town to a insanely pleasant 68 at our camp. I instantly felt strong , rejuvenated, and overly optimistic. In a fair world I would fill this five day's a week and the other crapola only two.

Success

2008-08-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sloan, her almost 5 month pregnat belly, the boy's and myself headed up to Pinto Friday afternoon to camp for the weekend and see if we could get a deer. Just like Cedar Mountain the weekend before we saw a bunch of deer but nothing with antlers. I had gone out hiking a bit here and their and was having fun stalkin around in camo and getting close to some of the doe's and fawn's. I have never done that before and it is pretty cool. Another thing I have almost zero experience in is shooting a bow. I practiced in camp the last couple weekends and could hit a target once in awhile. So with my skill's being what they are I was not worried about the fact that if I did hit a deer I would have to teach myself how to gut and skin him. Well I should have worried because it turn's out I am an incredible shot. Haha. Saturday night as the sun was going down we were driving around the dirt road's and we had circled around and had gone by the road to our camp I noticed two deer down by the river. I got out of the truck and jumped in back and had sloan pull up a way's until we got close enough to see that one of the two was a little two point. We got within 40 or 50 yard's before they looked like they were ready to bolt. I figured this was my probably my only chance to even shoot at a buck so I stood up over cab of the truck , drew back on the bow and let it go. I watched my arrow heading for the deer but lost site of it. I thought I must have missed because the buck took off back across the road and up into the tree's. I had jumped out of the truck by now and had knocked another arrow as I was running for the other side of the hill he had gone up , hoping that I might get another shot at him if he came down the other side. I only got a few feet because Sloan was yelling something at me and I could here the deer thrashing around in the tree's but not sounding like it was going anywhere. I thought to myself "Damn I must of hit him". I walked back to the truck where Sloan and the boy's were staring into the tree's. By the time I looked up and saw him he was allready laying down and only moving a a little more than a twitch. I couldn't believe it. Not only did I hit him but he only ran about 15 feet and was down for the count. I exclaimed my disbelief to Sloan and high fived the boy's. After waiting a couple minutes to make sure he was dead I walked up into the tree's to check out my first kill. He wasn't big at all but he was a pretty little two point all in velvet. At first I thought I had hit him low and in the gut but as I turned him over I realized that is where the arrow had come out. He was shot low about 3 inches behind his front leg. The arrow had gone completly through him and out the other side. According to the target I had been practicing on that is almost precisely where the heart is loacated. On the target I had never came close to this sweet spot. I would call it Divine Intervention. I guess God had heard my grocery bill's were getting a bit steep and he thought this could help. It was freaking AWESOME! I pulled him down the the hill and started gutting. I didn't know what I was doing but I did it. My badass pregnat wife even held the leg's for me while I cut him open. She likes to eat Venison but she has never gutted one or seen one killed and didn't exactly love the process but helped me anyways. I don't think many women would do this , especially pregnant. My other partners were right by my side the entire time too. Somebody asked Sloan if the boy's thought the gutting was gross. No they didn't. They were like wild monkey's with to much Red Bull in them. They were singin, screamin , dancin and prancin. They loved it all. Today Boden did get upset and cried but that was because I hauled the carcas off and he wanted to keep it. Just the weekend camping with my family was a hell of a good time. Getting a deer was just gravy.

Five Years & Counting

2008-08-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

Sloan and I had our fifth anniversary this last Saturday. We didn't even see it coming. Well we both rememberd the month's and even week's before but some how we managed to forget on the actual day, at least most of the day. My Dad had stoped in the night before on his way back from Texas and he stayed the night with us wich was pretty cool because the Idaho people don't get to pop in all that often. We got to hang out a little that night and a couple hour's the next morning. Johnny and Jett had a blast wrestling and beating the hell out of him. After he left we packed up all our camping gear to head up on Cedar Mountain to camp for the the rest of the weekend. It was Saturday August 16th, the opening day of the bow hunt. Sloan and I did both remember that. She likes venison and I would like to shoot a deer with my bow that I don't no how to use. Anyway's as we were driving up Cedar Canyon enjoying the cool air as we headed up the mountain Sloan mentioned we should go up to Pine Valley and eat at the steakhouse for our anniversary wich was coming up..........As soon as she said it we looked at each other and said in unison "wich is today". It was only four oclock so we didn't miss it completely . Really we were both just happy that the other forgot so their was no bad blood. It was all good. We had a great day doing exactly what we most likely would have planned. Plus we were happy and in love on the 16th and not just because we had to be.

North Idaho Vacation

2008-08-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

I took last week off from work so Sloan , Johnny Bo , Chubba and Myself could head up to Idaho to spend the week with the family. We had a great time. I think it's safe to say it was the best vacation we have had since we've been married. Just staying at my parents new place was a treat in it's self. The place is pretty sweet. Bodie and myself were bolth pretty upset with the fact that we couldn't live there. My parents spoiled the hell out of all of us taking us to do a lot of fun things and feeding us the entire time. If you know me and Sloan feeding us is not cheap and we demand food every few hour's so it's not an easy thing to put up with. The boy's loved running around the house chasing deer and playing on the huge lawn in the back yard. They took us to Silverwood Theme Park where we all had a pretty good time. The boy's have never been to any place like it before and they loved it. They checked out at least half of the city parks while we were up there also. I got to go see Ted Nugent on top of Silver Mountain ski resort with my Dad on the second or third night of the trip. It was an incredible place to get and watch a concert and Nugent was perfect for the setting. He freakin rocked and I had a hell of a good time. A couple day's later I had the privilege of floating the C'oeur D' alene River in a cool old little drift boat, also compliments of my Dad. I loved every second of it and can't wait to do it again. The entire family was awesome and hung out the whole week. Mom and Dad took off all or most of the week we were there and Tash and Boo barely left the entire time. It was freakin great to hang out with everyone. Thanks Guys.

Sacred Place

2008-07-24T14:58:00.000-07:00

I backpacked into Deep Creek last weekend and had a freakin blast. It was a bit nerve racking sneaking in. This year they have new big shinny yellow KEEP THE HELL OUT signs and it appeared that every damn land owner was up there enjoying their undeserved private land. I got to the starting point and turned my truck around so it was facing the right direction for a quick getaway the next morning but before I could even shoulder my pack a truck came cruising out of the old man's property. I had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide so I stood tall and tried to pretend like I was not going do to exactly what the signs said I couldnt do. Apperently I looked legit because the couple didnt stop to question my motives. They did look at me like they would send a posse down later to beat my ass and burn my camp but they didn't stop to chit chat so as soon as they went around the corner I grabed my gear , jumped the fence and headed for the cover of the forrest. I could not have asked for better weather. I had complete cloud cover the entire trip so the temp was perfect and no sunburn. I got down to the bottom kind of late, probably around 8 oclock. After coming to the bank of Deep Creek and taking a knee out of respect to the river itself and the Gods who let me get here I headed up O'Niel and found a place to camp just up stream that had a nice view but kept me hidden as well. Wich was comforting since I was alone and the owners new I was here allready. I made camp quick and stashed my pack inside the tent to keep it dry before grabing my fly rod and heading up stream to try and catch a few before it got dark. I didn't catch a fish the first few holes and was starting to wonder if it wasn't going to be as hot as usual. As soon as that thought went through my mind I caught my first. He was nice to. A 12 incher missing one eye and had some other battle wounds on his mouth. After that it never stoped. I caught 11 or 12 more in the next 20 minutes before heading back to camp to enjoy the night. The next morning I got up at first light, made a quick breaky ,packed up camp and stashed my pack in the brush before heading up stream one more time. I fished hard for at least two hours. Going up O"Niel further than I ever have before and catching more fish than I ever have before. It was freaking insane. Their was a good hour, probably around 7 to 8 oclock where I was catching fish on every single half way decent cast. I would unhook a fish, dry my fly, step a couple feet up stream and cast again straight into the waiting mouth of another. It was incredible. I was enjoying myself so much that thought of my truck sitting up top with it's tires slashed or maybe a tresspasing ticket waiting for me when I climbed out didn't matter a bit. I was just damn thankfull to have the privalge of being in Deep Creek.

Water Canyon

2008-03-31T19:58:00.001-07:00

This was my third trip into this canyon and it was just as sweet as the first two trips. The place is awesome. Sloan came with me on this one so it was really fun. It was her first time backpacking and she liked it more than I even thought she would. As far as the scenery their is not much to dislike. It is a beautiful canyon with a bunch of waterfalls and everything is pretty green this time of year. We actually got up into some snow as we neared the top but despite that and a cold wind we had a great time on top of the cliffs above Colorado City. The wind died down as the sun sat and gave us a couple really pleasant hours to sit around the fire and check out the stars. It was nice to crawl into the bags with my pretty wife instead of just a cold empty tent like I had the weekend before. We stayed up late playing cards, I talked her into a little strip poker but after I elbowed her in the eye and she kicked me in the somache we decided the two man tent wasnt quit big enough. Just kiddin , we played for matches. The next morning we hung out into the early afternoon playing around and eating breakfast before the wind picked up and brought in some threatening clouds. We were able to have a nice hike out and get to the truck before the rain started. It was a perfect trip. Sloan described backpacking perfectly. She said "its like medicine". I couldnt agree more. That is exactly what it is - sweet sweet medicine.

March 08

2008-03-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

This month was pretty nice. Jett and Sloan bolth had birthdays. Jett turned 2 years old and Sloan caught up to me at 26. The weather has been pretty sweet and we have been out of the freakin house for most of it. Not much has changed otherwise. I am still working against my will putting in an insane 40 hours a week. Well almost 40. Sloan is still going to Dixie College and still doing very well. I am proud of her. It has to be hard with a couple crazy little boys jumpin around at her feet while she trys to do homework-but it doesnt hurt to have a kickass husband like me for help. We about bought a house again and again it looks like it is going to fall through. We are bolth sick of it and will probably just rent something now and wait until Sloan graduates and we can move somewhere that people dont expect a half million for a piece of sheet house. Maybe Mexico.

Solo trip , Hack to Kanab

2008-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

This was a cool trip. Much needed to, it felt good. I headed out late friday afternoon and made the drive out on the Arizona Strip. It was perfect weather and amazing views. I made camp in Hack Canyon about a quarter mile before it hit Kanab Creek. When the sun came up I climbed on top of the solid red rock mesa above Kanab and headed south towards the Colorado. I hiked for about five hours and saw a lot of incredible country. I found some really cool overhangs looking out over the canyons full of flint and a little potery where the Ancinet Ones had about as sweet as view as one could ask for while they smoked peyote and chipped away on arrows and spears. There is a lot of country to explore down there and I have only seen a small piece of it. The best part is it is pretty damn isolated. People do go but I have never seen a soul. With the 21 mile drive on the Toraweap road and then the nine mile drive down the ass kicking Hack road ,plus the hike down hack though basically flat , not easy. It is all in a dry rocky river bed and you can feel it. So it keeps a lot of shit heads out. Obviously not all though.

Camp - Flat Arch Cove

2008-03-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

Feel Good Morning,,scribbles from outside the tent

2008-03-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Wake up to the sun heating my tent
Climb out in to the most refreshing
air my body has breathed in a long time
I look at the landscape that surrounds me..
I can not explain exactly what I feel -
It is all real, nothing artificial, nothing dead
No pavement , no cement, no box houses -
Nothing is sick, it all breathes...... beautiful life.

2008-03-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

I'v been itching in a bad way to get out and get lost in the canyons. I have a long distinguished list of places I would like to experience this summer. Mountains I would like to climb, dirt I would like to sleep in, rivers I would like to wade, red rock I would like to warm me as the sun comes up, petroglyphs to find, private property to sneak into, horrible dirt roads to drive, fish to catch, rattle snakes to dodge, fires to sit around, rain water to drink, adrenalin to shoot through me, cheap beer to guzzle, hidden desert gardens to discover, stars to gaze, people to avoid, slickrock to scramble, quicksand to fight, cold shitty food to eat, mummy bags to curl up in, sand in my eyes - I wish society would leave me with a little more time so I can try and squeeze some of this stuff in.

2008-03-06T19:04:00.000-08:00

The world,
we are told,
was made for man,
a presumption
totally usupported
by the facts.
-John Muir

Sweet Mother

2008-02-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

It hit mid 60s this last weekend in St George and we couldnt have been more happy We were all sick of being cold and stuck in the house. Those of you who live farther north and fill I shouldnt be complaing can put it in a sack. Its your choice, move. I always move and look at me Im kick ass. But seriously it was nice. We went hiking in the red rocks and had a blast. The boys were in heaven. So were me and Sloan. Cant wait for more. We are still in the same routine. I go to work , get off at five , Sloan throws me Johnny Bo and Jett and she hurries to the college for her class at 515. It is going pretty good so far. Were still looking for a house every single freakin day and were hopeing to buy one soon. We could use a couple hundred thousand extra if anybody wants to donate. Bodie, Chubs and myself got our season pass to Snow Canyon yesterday and I think we will be spending most of our spare time there for the rest of the year. Espeacialy while Sloan is still at school. ( click on the pics to enlarge, jett cracks me up)

St. George

2008-01-22T20:09:00.001-08:00

It looks like we will be staying awhile this time. Sloan and Johnny Bo have bolth began a new school year. Sloan started at Dixie College a few weeks ago and is doing really good. She is planing on being an RN. I think its a good plan. We could use the money and benefits and it wouldnt hurt to have a nurse in the house to take care of my sorry ass. Boden started his first year of preschool and is also doing really well. Last month he had his Christmas program and unlike his daddy he stole the show. He was the best one by far. He spoke and sang clearly with a big happy smile on his face. Jett doesnt like his big bro leaving and is very excited to pick him up but he gets his mama to his self for a few hours a day so they get to hang out and he is happy. So I guess we will be staying in St George for a while. We have been looking at houses and hope to buy one soon. I am sick of it being cold and cant wait for spring so we can start backpacking and camping every weekend.

Three Amigos- Bodie , Jettster & Me

2008-01-22T19:51:00.000-08:00

I always kind of hoped my own kids would one day watch the three amigos with me. I did not expect them to like it as much, treat it with as much respect and reverence or memorize every single line like me and Tash did. Bodie boy picked it the other night to watch and him Jett have not stoped since. They have watched it 4 times in the last two days and bolth of them are all ready doing the amigo salute. I have not really watched the show for years but with those two little bugers getting into I have to say I'am once again loving it.

Bodie Jett & Santa

2007-12-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

Nice system we have

2007-12-10T20:12:00.000-08:00

Holy shit. What kind of completly twisted society do we live in where we give a guy ( Michael Vick) 23 months in prision for dog fights while we have child molesters and rapists getting two months or a couple years of probation. I never have liked Vick, always thought he was a punk. I think what he did was messed up and he should have to pay for it. Give him a whole shitl load of communtiy service pickin up dog shit , give him fines big enough that would actually sting somebody with his kind of money but good hell two years in prison. Bullshit! You probably think I dont like dogs, I do. I dont give a damn if you do nt believe me. What I dont like is people who put any freakin cat or dog above human life. People who mess with children should be tortured and put to death. Instead they get a slap on the hand and live amongst us. The people that let this happen and helped this happen make me sick. Fight for something worth fighting for. For example : The poor freakin volunteer millitary personel who are rotting in in millitary briggs for taking some harmless pics of low life scum bags who belong to a group of people that want every single one of us dead. They torture our troops , they cut our heads off and post them for us to see and we do a little harmless hasing which from what they showed was was less offensive than what happens at boot camps and and colleges every freakin day. The entire counrty should have called bullshit on all of these charges and let them free . Can you say I am wrong?

Ashland Mt

2007-11-09T22:28:00.000-08:00

Ashland Montana Fantasy Camp

2007-11-09T21:22:00.000-08:00

We will be paying for that little trip off for some time to come. It was an experience ......and for some reason, I would do it again. Have any of you ever been on highway 212 through the Crow and Cheynne indian reservation's? Probably not. I would bet that most of you will never find a reason to do it in your life either. But , Sloan , Johnny Bo , Myself and the Jettster went down that road and lived on it. We worked hard , played hard and even made some pretty cool friend's. Although not anything about the area was spactaular or even all that unique it was a beautiful place. Sloan found a park beside the Tounge River that belonged to the Saint Labre Res School that for the 8 week's that we were there was our own private sanctuary. We watched movie's and read every night huddled on Sloan and my bed, slash dinner table, slash trampoline. That is just a few thing's that that 5 by 5 area was used for. We took long drives down dirt road's through counrty that was packed with Antelope and White Tail deer. We drove to laundry matt's North , South , West and East of Ashland every Saturday to do our laundry for the week. The closest one was 45 miles away. It did teach us that we could conserve a hell of a lot of water by wearing a pair of pant's more than once and using the same towel for the week was not that big of deal. We also learned from living with no microwave that no matter what the hell the food is, with out question 100% better cooked on a stove. We stood where Custor and his men foolishly died on the Little Big Horn Battlefield. We stood on top of Bear Tooth Pass at almost 1200 feet as the sun was falling over the mountain's to the west. We tried like hell to find a bear. Didn't, but we did see a pretty good portion of of the animal life that resides in the area. We lived in Ashland............

2007-11-09T21:04:00.000-08:00

I wrote this on the inside of a magizine one night in the trailer while I was waiting for Sloan to get the boy's to sleep. She found it and it and it made her sad. She just read it wrong.

Livin in Ashland

Still in Luxuroy

Still to comfortable

Still not satisfied

Still not enough.

Looking forward to a

solo trip in the desert.

I hate work but it

does make me feel better.

Figure a way to wander

with my pack and get paid

................and I got it made.

Lake Powell & Playin in the rain

2007-07-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Last blog from this house

2007-07-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

We will be completely moved out by tomorrow night. So this is the last entry I will be putting up for possibly three month's. Still haven't got word on the exact day we will head up to Montana so that's a little bit of a kick in the ass. It should be soon, or at least it better be soon. Bodie and Jett are rearing to get into the trailer and have already loaded it up with their toy's. It is going to be cozy for sure. We have a four person family plus a dog that has grown way to much in the last few month's. We know it's not going to be easy living in that tight of space but we are also excited to live a much simpler life. Yea even Sloan.

Johnny & Jett checkin out there new 1967 trailer and playin in the old house

2007-07-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Packin

2007-07-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

We have been haulin everything to storage all week and almost have it done. Got to say it's not all that much fun. The idea of moving sound's good to me but actually doing it hasn't been all that great. Sloan has been workin hard packing everything and cleaning up our beautiful new home that we will be moving in to shortly. Johnny Bo is excited about it all and keep's asking if we can leave to go camping. Poor kid doesn't realize that camping is all he will be doing for a few month's.

Bodie holdin the tail of the biggest trout I have ever caught , washin bike's, and sand dunes

2007-07-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

Cedar Mountain

2007-07-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

Bodie , Jett, and myself were fishin a little creek that run's down Stout Canyon while Sloan was back at the truck with Boozer. When we came back she was holding a little kitten that she heard crying in the wood's. He matched the dog perfectly and the boy's obviously liked him but since we don't even know where were going to live we thought it best not to add another mouth to the family. The next day we took him to Best Friends and went through and hour long process of filling out papers explaining why we were giving him up and what his freakin name was and his eating and grooming habits. So thanks to that the next cat Sloan finds in the wood's can give it his best shot becoming friend's with the local wild life.

Summer fun.......and the livin's ezzzy

2007-07-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

We have been having a lot of fun lately, maybe not all that easy but it has been fun. Thing's are starting to get a little crazy since we have to have this house packed up by the end of the month. I can not believe how much crap we have accumulated since we got married. Before I married Sloan and got my Boy's I could pack everything I owned in my Bronco. Now I need the biggest damn U-hual they make. In short , possession's suck. They are a noose around my neck which for the most part I could do with out. In other new's there is some talk of me going to work for South Central Communications. The job is for the Cedar City , Summit, and Parowan area, so we could live in any one of those town's. I'am not a big fan of Cedar so if it happen's probably one of the other two. It is just talk for now though so I'am not to worried about the pressure that would come with a regular forty hour work week. Well that's all I got for the moment. The pic's above show a little of the fun we have been having. Later

The Desert

2007-07-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

As much as I love being in the mountain's I never feel as at home as I do in the desert. After being in Tahoe for only a couple week's I was ready to move in permanetly. That is until I made the drive back to Southern Utah. As soon as I topped the little rise just past the Arizona State Line and got my first view of the red rock surrounding St. George I new I was home. I cant say exactly what it is but there is definitely a feeling I get from the harsh desert landscape that I feel nowhere else. There is a deep quite I can hear in the desert that I could not appreciate more after escaping from civilization's harsh noise. It bring's my body a deep peace that I think some of you may feel from religion. I may leave from time to time but I will always return and always call the desert my home.

Not the first time and wont be the last

2007-07-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

We are packin up our stuff again. Sloan and myself made the decision about 11 oclock this morning that we will move out of this little house and put most of our crapola in storage. Decision was made at 11, a lot of our possession's had price tag's on them by 2 , and yard sale signs were strategically placed through out Kanab by 6. Sloan has turned out to be one hell of a wife. I say pack, she smile's and get's to it. Well it wasnt that easy but way better than I could ever hope for. Everybody that has been around me know's that if at all possible I like to have a new job, new house, new town , at least every six to eight month's. We have been in this little house for well over a year and a half. So as you can see this little adventure is long over due. I asked Johnny Bo if it would be okay if we sold all of our stuff and lived in a tent on the mountain. He gave me a dead serious look and said " ummm..... I think we should probably keep the dvd player because we will want to watch some show's". Couldn't say much to that so the dvd player stay's. I will be starting a three month job in Ashland Montana in a few week's. Luckily Sloan and the kid's have agreed to come up there with me and live in a tent , motel , or if were lucky an old camp trailer. I'am lucky to have such an awesome wife because that last job in Tahoe was way to damn long to go with out seeing her and the kid's and this job would be a lot longer. Ashland is only a couple hour's away from east Yellowstone so Iam guessin we can make it a pretty good time. I cant think of anything more rewarding for Sloan than to sit in an old camp trailer for 8 or 9 hour's a day with two insanely well behaved young boy's while the daddy is at work. Plus when it is all over we will have our storage unit to return home too.

It's good to be home

2007-06-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

Back from South Lake Tahoe

2007-06-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

Well I rolled into Kanab Monday night more excited than I have been in a long damn time. Excited because I hadn't seen my wife and boy's for a little over a month. Something I hope will never happen again. I was able to bring them up for a couple week's during my first month and we had a great time. Played down at the lake and got to see some of the most beautiful places in the world. We even made a trip to Sacremento for no particular reason one weekend and ended up at the Zoo where the boy's had a hell of a time. Tasha made the trip over for a week and hung out with Sloan and the boy's while I worked. It had been almost a year since we had seen Tash so it was a well needed vist. Bolth of the boy's had a lot of fun with her, espeacially Bodie who latched on to her and didn't let go untill he flew out. Tash stayed a couple day's after my little family flew home wich helped take a little of the sting away. We took a really cool hike up to one of the area's many waterfall's one day and had fun hanging out with the vagrants and hippies at the Tahoe flea market the next. She flew home the next day and I settled into a rythme of work , fast food , cell phone, and casino's. I had hoped to do a lot of hiking after work and on the weekends but jacked up my foot pretty good and limped my ass around the remainder of the time. Wich consequently cost me a little cash because that left me with only food, gambling, and a couple concerts to kill the next month. I got to see Australian Pink Floyd in Reno my last weekend there and was blowin away. If you ever get the chance to see them do not miss it. As most of you have probably heard a lot of South Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area is now gone do to the Angora fire. Still have not heard if the job site I was working on is still there or not but the absolutely beautiful one lane road through the forrest I drove a couple times a day is now nothing but ash, along with the couple hundred cabins that hid through out. Although it sucked being away from my family that long I'am happy for the time I got to spend there. It was one pretty place. The fire did send me home a week early. Iam still waiting to hear if my boss is going to fly me back up to finish the job. Doestn't sound good though, just talked to them and they might be evacuated out of house where we had lived for the last two months. The pic of the smoke I took from downtown Myers just as the fire was getting started.

Lake Tahoe

2007-04-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Oh.........shit.

2007-04-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Well Im heading off to Tahoe on Saturday. I have managed to avoid a real job since Kanab City back in October. About 6 month's. Not bad. I will be installing a 16 inch water line. Im guessin for some out of control growth of housing and other paraphanalia. The only good thing about it is the fact that I have never been to Tahoe before and have heard it is not a bad place to be for a few month's. The worst part about is I wont have my wife or kid's with me for the first couple of week's or possibly even for the duration. The real tragedy in all of this is that Iam still a young man with plenty to offer my communtity. We can make sacrifices and send our middle aged men into Neveda to do work that not many are willing to accecpt but for the love of God must we send our hope for the future as well. I kid , I kid. Actually I think I will be on the California side so Neveda wont be to clustered with Larsen's. I will see you all on the other side. Later.

Vegas Baby

2007-03-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Vegas Vacation

2007-03-21T18:43:00.000-07:00

Jonny Bo, Jett, Sloan and myself just got back from our "change" vacation. We had been throwing money in a jar for a couple year's now planning on using it for a vacation once it was full. We had hoped for something like Yellowstone but the total amount was only 300 hundred bones so Vegas it was. The first night we spent at the Exacilbur which Boden was pleased with since he got to sleep in a castle. We took the boy's to the shark reef at the Mandalay Bay and bolth boy's got a kick out of that. That night back at the castle was a little insane since neither kid had their afternoon nap and had been spoiled rotten all day. After a dinner of pizza, delivered to the room because there was no way in hell we were takin the little buggers out to eat, we yelled , wrestled and bullied bolth boy's to sleep. The next day we hit the Vegas Zoo. Yea, they have a zoo. Not very big and not very nice but they had a tiger a couple of lion's some monkeys and chickens that roamed free. So it was a good time watching Jett and Bodie chase chickens and pigons around the place. That night we got a room at Circus Circus which turned out to be a good choice because bolth boy's had a freakin blast playing all the carny games and winning bag fulls of stuffed animals. So it turns out Las Vegas was a pretty fun Vaction for a young little family. To all my critics out there I will have you know I didnt gamble or drink a dime. Nerves of steel? Nah, just a damn fine man.

Proud Boy

2007-03-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

2007-03-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Boozer

2007-03-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

We dont have any job's. We dont have any money. We have no real prospects at that moment.
But by gawd we got a dog. Yup, we added another little puppy to the litter. That makes it 3 boy's under 3 that Sloan and I try and take care of. Smart choice? Probably not but Johnny Bo and Jett are pretty damn happy about it so it's allready worth it. It really is like we just added another boy to the family. I get mad at all three of them non stop for example: Pissin on the carpet, biting each other, whinning, bitchin , yellin, screamin, kickin, stinkin, sloberin. That's a few but far from all. They are all insanely cute though, so we wouldn't change it for anything. We thought maybe we could call Jett "Boog".
So then we would have a Bodie a Boog and a Boozer.

Kanab Point

2007-02-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

Another AZ Strip Trip

2007-02-26T09:10:00.001-08:00

Adam and I headed down the Trumble road for about fifty miles before turning off and heading East towards Kanab Point. I have talked to a few people that have been out there and I had even seen a couple pictures but nothing could have prepared either one of us for this place. Incredible , beautiful, awe inspiring , trippy, mind blowing. Those are a couple words that could be used to describe Kanab Point. Still doesnt do it justice though. Between the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Kanab Point there is no comparison. Kanab Point win's hands down. For me anyways. The fact that it is a two hour drive on a ruff dirt road and we had the entire mesa too ourselves plays a big part in my choice. We hung out and admired the views for probably an hour and a half before heading North along the rim of Kanab Creek. After driving for a few miles, getting stuck once and nearing a half a tank of gas. Bolth factors shaking Adams nerves almost to the point of no return, we made camp on top of a little canyon that I have hiked once before. Fun place to camp , you cant take a step without finding at least a piece of arrow head or some kind of anasazi artifact. After a delicous dinner of dutch oven potatoes. My recipe , a pound of sausage, a pound of bacon, one onion and two bags of hash browns. It is more a health food version of dutch oven than most. We kicked back and played guitars for awhile staring at the millions of stars in the clear desert sky. Nice night untill Adam fell ill. Couldnt handle the two pounds of grease I guess. Pussy. We bolth retired to our tents to wait out the long cold night. Woke up to another cold day this time with wind. Spent the day hanging around the fire and taking a few hikes around the canyon before packing up and heading back into society. If I could give any sugestions to anybody who might take this trip in the future.
Dont come back.

2007-02-20T23:23:00.000-08:00

Willie

2007-02-20T22:37:00.002-08:00

Willie Nelson in St. George Utah. It was a freakin cool show. Once in a life time for me Iam sure. I doubt that old man will make it back to Southern Utah for another. Then again he might have a better chance than I do myself. He looks pretty damn good for a seventy four year old. Actually he look's like the people I passed in the hallway of the Burn's Arena upstairs before the show. Wearing black pants , black t-shirt , stoner shoes and a cowboy hat. Funny, I looked at them with pity and or disgust. Willie on the other hand I looked at as a badasss rebel who doesn't give a damn about what others think. He had his old gutiar. Complete with the hole from being picked one to many times and red, white, and blue strap like I have seen many time before in old video's and on tv. Best song of the night? Poncho and Lefty.

Sloan and her boys

2007-02-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hikin with my boys

2007-02-17T15:35:00.000-08:00

New Blog

2007-02-17T14:46:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to start a blog for a long time but as most of you know I'am a very busy man. I have people to see and places to go. Nah, I have nowhere to go and I hate most people. I avoid them at all costs. If it means faking a phone call in one of the grocery store aisles or scoping out the vehicles in the parking lot before entering then so be it. Life has been a little crazy for us lately down here in K-town. I have been working out on the strip staking uranium claims. It goes against everything I believe in but I have no other work at the moment and I get to hike all day. So I love it. I just hope nothing comes of it and they leave all of the places out there alone. Sloan is completly hammerd from taking care of her three boy's. She works hard and even though she get's a little nuts' she is an awesome wife and mom. She just got put into young womens. She is the come back story of the year. Just kiddin, she has been back for a long time. They will never take me alive though. Boden is getting big and we are losing control of him fast. He is an awesome kid and loves to do anything outside. Jett started walking on Christmas Eve so thing's have gotten a lot harder around here. He loves chasing his brother around even though he get's the hell beat out of him for it. They are a blast and Sloan and I are looking forward to a fun summer with them .

2007-02-16T23:18:00.000-08:00

Arizona Strip

2007-02-16T21:57:00.000-08:00

Hack Canyon

We rolled out of Kanab at about 8 o’clock on Saturday morning. Driving my 87
Chevy that I wasn’t a 100% sure would get us there and back. The sky was cloudy but not looking like it should give us much trouble. We hit the Toraweap road and drove on for about 30 miles and then turned off heading East down Hack Canyon. A winding , rocky , bumpy son of a bitch that after a good five miles I was ready to get out and light the truck on fire. We made it into the bottom of the canyon without incident. That didn’t last long though. Driving along still in two wheel drive I hit sand that I have never seen the likes of. The stuff was pure powder and before I could do anything about it the truck was buried up to the axels. After evaluating the situation and freaking out accordingly we proceeded to dig out with our hands for lack of a more useful tool . After a good hour of hauling rocks and brush and jacking the truck up as much as possible we were able to get out and head on down the road. We drove on for only another 20 minutes before coming to the fence that was the boundry of the Kanab Creek Wilderness area. Having killed a lot of valuable hiking time playing in the sand we shouldered our packs and headed out. The hike starts off in in the bottom of Hack where the canyon is very wide. Before long it narrowed up enough to push us in the dry river bed. After about 45 minutes of walking we came to willow spring. From reading a few old accounts of trips down Hack this spring use to be a good place to fill up but today it was a cow and horse pond. It did have two coyotes at it that we chased off before they were ready am sure. From this point the canyon starts getting a lot narrower and gradually turns to red rock that is about 150 feet high on either side. Beautiful area witch I could have stayed for weeks. The idea was to turn south and head down Kanab and eventually hit the Grand Canyon. But only having a looked at topo briefly before the trip I had no idea that we wouldn’t be able to leave the bottom and get on top where we would have been able to head in the right direction. Did not help that my guess at the distance from Hack to Kanab was no where in the ballpark. We ended up hiking the rest of day thinking that any second we would hit Kanab and turn. Never happened. Ignoring my partners pleads to make camp we trudged on. After walking at least a couple more miles down river and not having much left in us we started looking for places to camp. At this point another canyon ran into Hack from the North. I should have realized this was Kanab but because there was not a trace of water and the canyon was solid red rock and not nearly as massive as other parts I had seen before I didn’t even consider it. Here I dropped my pack and headed further up still convinced that the confluence had to be right ahead. Of course I found nothing and seeing that there was not a way up on either side where I could climb on top and get my bearings I headed back. We found a little spot that had not been completely covered in cactus and made camp. The night was perfect temp and uneventful. Early the next morning before the sun rise it started raining. Not being able to sleep anymore I climbed out of the tent and watched the sun com up over the canyon wall sitting under an overhang sheltered from the rain. Not a bad way to start the morning. Restless and with friend still sleeping I started off up canyon to see if I could figure something out. Anything . I made it a couple miles further than I had the day before and it didn’t take long, well actually a lot longer than it should have, before I realized that I was following a canyon up stream and not down like we had been the entire day before. So for the first time I realized I had crossed in to another canyon. No worries though. This was as remote and beautiful of canyon as I have ever been. I found a place where I could jam myself up the side of the cliff eventually and get to the top. The view blew my mind. Solid sand stone mesa on both sides of this little canyon. I could see from here that the canyon we had come to was actually Kanab. Not wanting to leave but with rain picking up and morning dissolving rapidly , not to mention a long ass hike back to the truck I quickly headed back to camp. We packed up , took a long look around and started the hike back. Didn’t make it to the Colorado. Didn’t matter. I will be back.