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Spiking 150

You history buffs may recall a monumental conclusion that occurred 150 years ago. If not, let me spike your memory. This May marked the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at unlikely Promontory Summit, Utah. In celebration of this anniversary, 150 parties took place around the state. Jason and I were delighted to be part of one of these and to be able to visit Promontory Summit itself during its three-day celebration.

hooped and boxed
The Heber Valley Railroad utilizes cars built from 1910 to the late 1940s.

The Heber Valley Railroad (Heber Creeper) is the sole historic railway in Utah; it’s the only place in the state you can ride a 100-year-old train. So, it was a perfect track for one of the many sesquicentennial festivities. Before the Heber Creeper rolled down its 15-mile line hauling eight cars filled with 400 people, our vintage dance group enlivened those riders with moves from the 1860s. On the platform, we taught them to chasse and skip along with us.

Big Boy
Big Boy weighs 1.2 million pounds and is over 132 feet long making it the world’s largest locomotive.

During the ride through Provo Canyon, our twirling troupe traversed cars and chatted with attendees. Their passion was contagious. With so many train enthusiasts from all over the world aboard, the Heber Creeper was feeling the love that night. I enjoyed wandering the compartments and conversing with people, but it was a challenge to fit my hoopskirt though the aisles and even harder to sit down. Apparently, train cars aren’t built to accommodate 4.5-foot-wide passengers.

the last spike
During the summer, reenactments of the driving of the last spike happen every Saturday at Golden Spike National Historic Park.

We managed to get tickets for the Sesquicentennial Celebration the following day at Golden Spike National Historic Park. The weekend’s festivities were completely sold out with thousands of attendees. On the way to Promontory Summit, we stopped in Ogden to see Big Boy, the largest and heaviest steam locomotive ever made. Decommissioned in 1959, Big Boy No. 4014 was restored to operating condition in honor of the sesquicentennial by the Union Pacific Railroad. The crowds to view Big Boy were dense, even thicker than the throngs we encountered later that day at Promontory Summit. It was worth the wedging though to examine that beefy chunk of a bygone era.

rolling perdition
We partied like it was 1869 with some family members who also came to Golden Spike.

We made it to Golden Spike in time for the afternoon reenactment, which was packed but entertaining. We heard some true tales about the completing of the railroad, ate from a plethora of food trucks, and visited “Hell on Wheels.” The working replicas of the Jupiter and No. 119 locomotives, although not new, were new to me. I loved how they breathed tangible steam and smoke into the stillness of the past.

No. 119
The original Union Pacific No. 119 was scrapped in 1903, but this operating replica is pretty convincing.

As a history nerd, I was super excited about the sesquicentennial, and it did not disappoint. Being a part of the revelries with our dancing group made it even more extraordinary. It was surprisingly easy to get swept up in the momentum of an occurrence that changed this continent 150 years ago.

Rachel July 26, 2019 No Comments

Escalante for Everyone

When Jason and I first visited Escalante and stayed at Escalante Yurts, I immediately thought it would be a perfect spot for some family adventures and togetherness. Two years later, Jason and I made that bonding outing happen as our birthday present to everyone in my clan.

Escalante Yurts
The yurts at Escalante Yurts have all the perks of camping and none of the drawbacks.

Planning this trip was a bit complicated. We told the group about our idea last November and managed to schedule a weekend this spring when the yurts and almost all my family were available. Although we planned months in advance, only 75% of the crew ended up attending. Still, it was the greatest concentration of us in a remote location in over 20 years. Hallelujah for my preparation inclinations!

creek curiosities
The hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls passes many intriguing elements like beaver dams, a pictograph, and ancient granaries.

We all arrived at the yurts within an hour or two of each other. Then, eighteen of us ate pizza and Spanish anchovies at Escalante Outfitters. Escalante Outfitters is an unconventional but tasty consortium of lodgings, gear, and grub. After dinner, we wasted no time getting pungently smoky around a campfire. Encompassed in its crackling hospitality, we chatted until after midnight.

Lower Calf Creek Falls
Although some family members were already on their way down from Lower Calf Creek Falls as others were heading up, with the help of some freshly-pulled taffy all were convinced to assemble at the falls for a group photo.

The next morning, we headed off on the 5.5-mile trek to Lower Calf Creek Falls, one of Escalante’s most popular paths. Our group spread out quickly between teenagers trying to impress each other with speed and younger children not being entirely convinced they wanted to move. Jason and I stayed with the slower faction and kept the kids distracted through entertaining readings and dramatizations at each of the trail’s 14 interpretive stops. It was an enjoyable ramble with plenty of meaningful conversations, merriment, and views of marvelous wilderness.

an assured escapee
The kids were eager for some cousin time. Many games of Fugitive were played around the yurts, even after dark.

We spent the evening hanging around the yurts and carrying out an epic Easter egg hunt covering a significant portion of the yurt’s 20 acres. Usually, our Easter hunts are impressive only in terms of the number of items hidden. Obviously, this one’s ambitiousness extended to terrain complexity and size.

scanning for stashes
When you have access to 20 acres and plenty of crannies, choosing where to stash goodies becomes difficult in a different way.

On our return journey, we made lots of stops. The first was to see the Freemont granaries along the Escalante River and hike to the 100 Hands Pictograph. This short, and somewhat-adventurous, trek has lots of points of interest that kept the kids attentive. I’ve heard rumors that it was the favorite outing of the weekend for many.

swings and things
The grounds at Escalante Yurts are well-appointed with everything needed for a memorable stay.
Pushy brothers!
This is what happens when you let your brother give you a push.

Next, we snacked and refreshed ourselves at Kiva Koffeehouse amidst gorgeous views and agreeable sunshine. Then, at Anasazi State Park, the kids and once-upon-a-time kids explored replica dwellings and viewed artifacts dating back to 1050. The last stop on our way home was Hell’s Backbone Grill, an appetizing diversion. The Jenchiladas were just as scrumptious as I remembered them.

searching for 100 hands
The trail to the 100 Hands Pictograph is short and packed with rock art.

This weekend excursion was basically a reunion sponsored by the Sabins. I wish my entire family could have come, but it was still awesome to have a significant portion present. We got to witness Ryan’s performing skills, sample Andrew’s chili, watch the kids excavate muddy stumps in search of golden eggs, eat anchovies like the aliens on V, and laugh about childhood mishaps. It reminded me that my brother has a superb sense of humor, my sister an infinite reserve of kindness, and that countless connections bind us to each other. Happy birthday everyone!

Rachel June 22, 2019 No Comments

Christmas: Epitome or Excrement?

No holiday elicits polarized feelings like Christmas. To some, it is the epitome of what a holiday should be. To others, it is a piece of crap wrapped in pine-scented wrapping paper. I find it amusing, genial, and nostalgic when handled appropriately. This year, it fell mostly into the non-poo category for Jason and me.

crunch in the mouth
We ordered this giant croquembouche from our favorite bakery. We struggled to eat all 60+ creampuffs but mostly succeeded.

I remember those unencumbered days when I’d have Christmas presents wrapped for Jason before Thanksgiving; I didn’t want the tree to be up for a moment without gifts underneath it. I’ve remedied that issue in recent years by not erecting our tree until embarrassingly late. Now, when I don’t wrap any presents until right before Christmas, no one is the wiser… except the whole world since I just tattled on myself.

a Christmas candid
I don’t think our family members adequately appreciate the perks of having a photographer among them.

Don’t let the lateness of my presenting mislead you though, I don’t believe in just throwing random present at people. I generally put thought and time into what I give. Amongst my gift projects this Christmas, I made a nerdy tree skirt for my sister-in-law even though Jason technically had her name. I also went through hundreds of pages of archived Nintendo Power Magazine searching for the article that featured Jason and his grandma years ago. This proved futile as he was never actually highlighted in this publication. The myths that become part of our childhood memories are many. Don’t revisit yours with the realities of adulthood or you will only be disappointed.

dessert edifices
We made gingerbread structures with my sister’s family on Christmas Eve.

Jason did not fail Father Christmas with his gifting. For me, he tied seven handwritten poems to seven presents with connected themes and recited these rhymes as I opened the gifts. He read me everything from Lord Byron to Data’s “Ode to Spot” and even an original composition. I think I’ll keep that boy.

a peace of the puzzle
This puzzle occupied the kids while the adults unwrapped in peace.
for trees with taste
I customized this tree skirt to fit my sister-in-law’s fan tastes.

For all the nieces and nephews on my side, we created a puzzle collage highlighting the outing options they could choose between as their present from us. They had to put together this 252-piece puzzle before we would discuss any plans with them. It proved, as expected, the perfect undertaking to keep them busy and focused while the adults unwrapped gifts from each other. They picked the Labyrinth for their activity, and we challenged ourselves in its corridors a week later.

I love you!
I gave Jason gifts of love in all five languages.

The Labyrinth wasn’t our only family-fed excursion in the days following Christmas. We took one nephew to the Museum of Ancient Life and played laser tag at Boondocks with a couple others. These happenings were made easier by our lack of regular obligations. Over the holidays, Jason and I didn’t work for more than a week. What was not made easier by our lack of obligations was our sleep schedule. We quickly started staying up between 2:00 and 4:30 AM every night. My body managed this sleep shift until the last couple days of it… and then it went batty. My eyeballs hurt for a week. That’s what you get Rachel for making bad slumber choices.

presenting poems
Jason’s present poems were touching. I laughed a lot and cried a little.

Christmas, you may be misunderstood and overstated, but you are definitely not a piece of dung decked in lights and topped with a candy cane.

Rachel March 10, 2019 1 Comment
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