New Experience Week 17

Sister Smart on Top of Rocky Ridge

Sister Smart On Top of  Rocky Ridge With Missionaries

This week was busy and lots of new things happened.  We had Monday and Wednesday working in the office and  Tuesday we served in the visitors' center.  Monday office time was shortened because we were all excused from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. to watch the eclipse.  We went  back to our missionary village and roasted hot dogs while we watched the eclipse.  We had about 97% eclipse right outside our trailer.  Kathy and Matt and family joined the missionary group as we watched and ate. 

Enjoying the Eclipse

Matt and Kathie took their family and headed home as soon as the eclipse was over.  They avoided the traffic on highway 220.  We headed back to the office to finish things that we needed to do.  We were ready to go back home and to FHE but our 15 minute drive looked like it might be an hour or so with back up traffic on highway 220.  We teamed with another missionary couple and got permission to drive one of the 4 wheel drive trucks of the mission on the back roads to the ranch.  We saw a lot of things including Jackson lake that we have never seen before.  We made it home in good time.  We could see the highway while we were moving over the hills and bumps.  The road was almost at a stand still.  We never in a million years would have believed that there was this much traffic even possible in "nowhere land" of Wyoming.

Traffic On Our "In the Middle of Nowhere"  Road

We started early Thursday morning for Rock Creek Hollow.  We stopped at Sixth Crossing for Correlation Meeting.  We headed to Lander for any needed groceries and had lunch there before going to Rock Creek.  We were greeted by Elder and Sister Tobler, whom we were replacing and Elder and Sister Rogers, missionaries from Sixth Crossing.

Our Camping Trailer for the Week

Elder and Sister Rogers graciously took us around the roads and trails in their jeep our second day here.  Sister Smart had had the opportunity to hike up Rocky Ridge last week, but Elder Smart had not been able to see the ridge.  They took us up the road to the back of the ridge and we both were able to see most of the trail that the youth trek and lots of the original handcart trail.

Elder and Sister Smart at the Lower Monument,
Front Trail of Rocky Ridge

The Rogers took us in their jeep on the backside of Rocky Ridge.  We were 1/4 of a mile from the top and so Sister Smart and Sister Rogers took advantage of the opportunity to once again be at the top of Rocky Ridge.

Sister Smart and Sister Rogers
Walking Up the Back Trail To Rocky Ridge

Looking down the Back Side of Rocky Ridge

(Enlarge to See the Jeep where Elder Smart Patiently Waited)

Sister Smart at the Monument on the Top of Rocky Ridge

(Enlarge the Picture To Read Monument)

When we returned to Rock Creek we went to supper at Atlantic City.  It is about 8 miles from Rock Creek Hollow.  It is an old miner's town.  Miner's Grubstake is a depiction of the old town.  The food was very tasty and homemade.

The Miner's GrubSteak

Friday we had  special quests arrive.  Jolene Allphin had traveled from Utah because she was scheduled to speak at a missionary fireside at Martin's Cove.  We were a little sad that we were not going to be able to attend since we were assigned to be at Rock Creek Hollow.  She and her friends and family staid in their motor home here, at Rock Creek Hollow, Friday night and staid most of Saturday.  Jolene has made an in depth study of the Willie and Martin Company for 30 years.  She understands and loves these pioneers more than anyone.  We were blessed with her staying here and sharing.  She invited all of the Sisters to join her on a woman's hike on the actual Willie trail Saturday morning.  We walked and talked about Jane James and how hard it would have been for her to bury her husband at Rock Creek Hollow and trek on with her 7 children to the Salt Lake Valley.  What a special walk that was for Sister Smart!

Sister Southam, Rogers, Smart and Allphin

Walking Down the Original Trail
Look Close; You Can See the Trail

We spent hours on Saturday morning listening to Jolene Allphin.  We are sure we got more information than the missionaries that she spoke to the fireside on Sunday.

Sitting in the Garage Listening to Jolene Share Stories and History

                               
Happy Birthday this week to Mattie and Carter.

We are grateful to Lord for the blessings of being able to serve here. We know that this is Christ's Church and He lives and loves us all.


Grandpa and Grandma Smart, Mom an Dad, Elder and Sister Smart, Paul and Annie