Cedar Mountain High!

On August 2, we took the old camper to the top of Cedar Mountain where members of my Rotary club and their families met for our annual summer party at Jack and Louise Petersen’s summer cabin at Swain’s Creek – about a 200 mile round trip from St. George.  The party was scheduled for Saturday but we decided to beat the rush and go up on Friday so we could ride the ATV’s and enjoy the peaceful, serene beauty of the area sans the crowd milling around.

Jack brought out his four ATV’s and took us for a ride through the Dixie National Forest ending at what they refer to as “Little Bryce” on the backside of Bryce Canyon National Park (see photos).  While riding, Jack led the way while Louise helped Ed turn his ATV around on a narrow trail.  I was on my ATV in the middle of the pack.  Apparently Jack’s ATV caused enough ground motion that when I came along the trail a few minutes later I was the “final straw.”  I noticed some movement on the right side of the trail … and suddenly a good sized tree fell over across the trail missing me by about 2 feet.   Jack said he had heard of such a thing, but in the 18 years they have been riding through the forest, he had never actually witnessed it.

With Rotarians and their families – numbering nearly 40 men, women and children - we enjoyed a spectacular view, comfortable temperatures, ATV rides, horseshoes, volleyball and badminton, a live country-western band, a fabulous meal and the chance to hang out with friends. 

After dinner, but before the sun went down, about a dozen couples on 4-wheelers headed out for an hour long evening ride along Muddy Creek for the perfect ending to a perfect day!