Jackson, Wyoming

Tuesday - 17 June 2003: Jackson, Wyoming - One day. Three States. And we drove less than 200 miles. If it weren't for the luck that I happened to have a few dog treats in the Honda, we would have never been able to unhook and leave Logan this morning. Our neighbor had gone off to work, leaving his snarling, barking canine companions chained-up outside for the day. DT was able to work around the RV, side-stepping the piles of dog doo while the Springer-Lab mix - who I noticed was not altered - gnawed away on one of Snickers treats.

We continued out of Logan on Highway 89, through the beautiful, green Logan Canyon along the Logan River. The road has recently been repaved and it was smooth as glass, so we had a very enjoyable ride. But, when we would go around a curve (it was a very curvy road) we could hear a little creak. I got out of my seatbelt to investigate. It seemed to be coming from the sofa... so I waited and listened. It was the slide room! Someone had not brought the slide room in all the way. (Wasn't me.) Thing is, I usually do bring the slide room in and know the "noises" to listen for. DT had left it out less than 1/4 of an inch! We had to pull into a turn-out and stop the engine - the slide room motor will not engage if the engine is running... something about safety I guess... and all was right with Goldie again. The top of the canyon opened into a vast meadow with acres and acres and acres of Bachelor Button, Daisies, Lupines and Black-eyed Susan. Just spectacular!

We stopped at a "scenic vista" at the 7,800 foot summit and looked over Bear Lake. Bear Lake, at 120 square miles, is called the Caribbean of the Rockies" because of its turquoise water. It was formed 28,000 years ago by volcanic activity and had no outlet until settlers built canals for irrigation. From the summit you can see directly east to Wyoming, directly north to Idaho, while standing in Utah. Half of the lake is in Utah, half in Idaho.

Bear Lake


Mountain wildflowers

We stopped at the lake, in Garden City to sample the "famous raspberry shake" at La Beau's. I am not sure why, exactly, it is referred to a shake. It is served in a tall cup, but only with a spoon. This was raspberry ice cream, plain and simple. No straw needed. It was divine. The lake is actually quite nice, brilliant blue, with sandy beaches - but considering school is out and it is very hot, the campgrounds, resorts, marinas and beaches seem deserted. On nearly every fence post in this dairy community were Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Gorgeous! We could not finish our milkshakes - but luckily we carry a freezer with us wherever we go, so they are saved for a later time... probably later this afternoon.

Just north of Garden City we entered Idaho and stopped in Paris for a photo of the historical Paris Stake Tabernacle. The tabernacle was built in 1884, using red sandstone quarried 18 miles away and hauled by teams of oxen and horses to the site. It is a very pretty building. They have tour guides, but we did not go inside. Instead I had a question, which I posed to a guide. What, exactly, is meant by a "stake"? He began by first telling me: "This is Mormon Country."

The smallest group in the church is called a ward. Each ward has a church building - sometimes several wards will share one building. There are seven wards along the shores of Bear Lake, and all together they are referred to as a "stake" - and this is their tabernacle. The tabernacle is only used twice per year, for big gatherings. Weekly worship services are held in the ward churches. When further prodded, he said the word stake came from Isaiah, who referred to the stake in a tent as holding a community together. And then he told me the difference between tabernacles and temples. Temples are used for ceremonies, etc. only. Then, amazingly, he told me something that deeply upset me. He said they do a lot of genealogy research in the Church. (I did know this.) Then he said they can go back, find dead relatives, and baptize them for you. Baptize dead people! Without their knowledge or permission? It was quite an interesting conversation.

Paris, Idaho Stake Tabernacle

The highway was under construction, so we had to take a detour south on 30 to get back to 89. Which meant we went from Utah, to Idaho, to Wyoming, into Idaho and finally back in Wyoming again. Whew! From Paris, heading towards Geneva (wow, this could be a whole 'nother trip, couldn't it?) we drove through Montpelier - a town named by Brigham Young after the city of his birth in Vermont. Butch Cassidy once robbed the Montpelier bank of $7,165, but now it is a sleepy little town of 3,000. But, things are looking up - the entire length of Main Street is a construction site. Montpelier is getting new sidewalks. Which brings us to the beautiful Star Valley - home of Olympic Heavy Weight Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, Rulon Gardner. Star Valley is very proud of Rulon.

The beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming

So, now we are in Jackson, Wyoming. We really like this little town, and this is our fourth visit and the third time to camp at The Virginian RV Park! We will spend several days here, so check back to see what we are doing.

RV Park: The Virginian RV Park in Jackson, Wyoming