Driving on Highway 28 from Nephi to Levan, the strong contours of the Wasatch Range mellow out and the land and sky stretch wide. A single facility stands in the plain like a lone watch tower. Several silos rise over a hundred feet tall. A plume of vapor rises from the top into the blue sky. As I approach, the smell of corn permeates the air. I pull in and it feels as if … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2012
American Fork Canyon
Traveling along I-15, the mountains are calling. The streams, forests, aspen groves and trails are in full vigor right now. Hints of mountain majesty can be found in the small gaps between billboards along the I-15 corridor. It would be nice if instead of billboards we could enjoy the mountain skyline. The Swiss Alps don’t have billboards, why Utah? The call of the mountains … [Read more...]
The Loss of Utah’s Green Belt
Discussing the topic of growth with employees at Young Living Farms, in Mona, Utah they agree that the appeal of Nephi and Mona comes from what you don’t see: an absence of billboards and traffic jams, big box stores and tract homes. Instead, people want to live in the quiet valleys around farms, rivers and lakes in the still largely rural West. From my perspective, I … [Read more...]
Wild West Beef Jerky Stand, Levan, Utah
Levan is the very center of Utah, which is why Levan is navel spelled backwards. Highway 28 leads to the navel of Levan which happens to be the Wild West Beef Jerky Stand. A sign outside reads, “You can beat our prices but you can’t beat our meat!” This is just the type of place I need right now. My stomach is rumbling. Another sign reads that they are open but will be … [Read more...]
Little League Baseball Game Santaquin, Utah
When I enter Santaquin at dusk I find half of the town’s residents gathered at the little league ballpark. This is certainly the biggest show in town. Mason is up to bat followed by Gunner. After three sucessive runs it looks like a humiliating victory for the visitors. Everyone yells to the pitcher, “It’s ok Caleb! Take your time!” Despite the defeat, fights, … [Read more...]
7 Essentials For Backpacking With Kids
From the Rocky Mountains to the red rock deserts, Utah has some of the most unique and beautiful places to park an RV or pitch a tent. When our kids were babies, we carried them along with our gear on short backpacking trips to two of our favorite spots, Willow Lake and Mary Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon. By the time we had three small children, backpacking became … [Read more...]
Happy RVing Choosing the Best RV for Your Family
Happy Campers Part III The RV is what the pioneers wish they had. It is a home away from home and a way to enjoy the wilderness in a somewhat civilized fashion. For the Lindemann family of Draper, RVing creates happy memories and close bonds with friends and family. Jerry and Collette started camping with a tent trailer when their kids were little. Later they … [Read more...]
Volkswagon Bus Camping and the Journey to Burning Man
For Coulson Rich, camping is indeed a lifestyle. “When I bought my bus, I was no longer comfortable paying rent. I wanted to live in my bus and have the freedom to move around and see the country.” Rich says he spent six years in his early twenties living out of his 1972 VW bus. He customized it with cabinetry, wood floors and upholstery. His first jaunt was a three-week trek … [Read more...]
Utah Happy Campers
Camping is finding a balance between enjoying creature comforts yet still feeling a connection with nature. The question is: Can you have it both ways? I was once a very hard-core backpacker, which made me anti-RV. I believed anyone who would consider it “camping” while maintaining a fridge, toilet, AC and in some cases a flat screen TV with a DVD collection at … [Read more...]
Camping with Kids
Happy Campers Part II -- Discover how to successfully backpack with kids at any age. When our kids were babies, we carried them along with our gear on short backpacking trips to two of our favorite spots, Willow Lake and Mary Lake up Big Cottonwood Canyon. By the time we had three small children, backpacking became difficult, so we resorted to primitive car camping, … [Read more...]