Daddy's Wonderful Highlights of the Week

These pictures of my hike through Zions Narrows are in reverse order of my trip through the narrows. Some day I'll learn how to do this.

Daddy





















October 25, 2009
Dear Rosalynde, Gabrielle, Naomi, Brigham, Rachel, Benjamin, Abraham and Christian!
Let me tell you about the highlights of this week.
First highlight. Earlier in the week, I had invited Mama to drive to Claremont with me to hear a lecture sponsored by the Chair of Mormon studies and the LDS Council (on which I serve). Father Right Reverend Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles came to speak on the Catholic understanding of the Priesthood and Robert Millet responded with remarks on the LDS understanding of the Priesthood. So Thursday evening, Mama picked me up in Pasadena and we drove to Claremont. We had an acceptable crowd, although skewing toward older middle age, with fewer students. Father Alexei gave a nice presentation. Initially, it started out dry and “academic” in the bad sense, but I concentrated hard to follow him, and it got much better. He gave a very personal account of being “called” to the Priesthood, following prayer and introspection. He is a member of the eastern Greek Church. Within Roman Catholicism, there are 22 churches, mostly national churches, such as the Greek Eastern and the Russian Eastern Church. (These churches are not “Orthodox”, but still national churches that recognize the Pope.) For Catholics, there is the “Priesthood of the Laity” to which all Catholics belong and the Priesthood of priests (since Vatican II). Recently, with the shortage of Catholic Priests, the Priesthood of the Laity has been performing an increasing portion of the ministerial work. After attending theology school, and receiving recommendations, a person applies to become a priest, and the Bishop makes the final decision and call, and ordination. The Priesthood is somewhat mystical (I am not using this word in a technical sense), with Father Alexi drawing explicit parallels with the Eucharist. As the wafer and wine in the Eucharist is transformed into the actual blood and body of Christ, so the Priest in performing his functions as Priest becomes Christ. Mama and I had a good discussion on the way home. We were discussing what a difference the understanding of the nature of God and the plan of salvation makes. For Father Alexei, the higher calling was to give up a successful 15 year business career (and wife and family? – he did not mention that he was married before the call to the Priesthood) and regular life to become a Priest. The higher calling for him is not marriage, raising children, and becoming partners with God and Christ in saving souls in the great plan of salvation leading to deification. We also discussed, in this connection, some of the comments by Blake Ostler on theology and the council of Nicea. So much of current Catholic and Protestant view of God, from the creeds, arose from the adoption in the first centuries of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo. A further discussion of the connection between the creeds and this doctrine is beyond the scope of this letter. We can discuss it another time. On the way home, I told him that something kept distracting me during the lecture. Mama was wearing an attractive top, skirt, and black tights. When she sat down next to me, I could see her knees. (She is a beautiful woman and she has very attractive knees.) So how could I not be distracted during the lecture? I wanted to put my hand on her knee, but it was after all a public auditorium. (I did manage to put my hand on her knee a couple times briefly.) A couple of times during the lecture, she just out of habit pulled her skirt hem toward her knees, but I actually was thinking in my mind just the opposite. So anyway, I told Mama that her knees kept distracting me during the lecture.

Second highlight. Wednesday evening, I attended Mama’s class. We discussed the 4th lecture on faith and part of the 5th lecture. Mama, following Robert Millett, suggests that lecture 5th is doctrinally correct, we just have to look at it on a different level, rather than simply suggesting that the full doctrine had not been revealed to Joseph Smith at that time.
[For pictures, go to our blog: http://christie-russ.blogspot.com/.

Third highlight. I spent a night, a day and a night at Zions National Park. Since the first week in September, I had been looking for a weekend when perhaps Benjamin and Christian could come down from Provo and Mama and Eva could join me in traveling to Zions and hike the Narrows. However, other commitments kept intervening, and I kept pushing the date back, until finally October 24 was about the latest. It did not seem like we should be hiking the narrows in November. So when Benjamin went to a physicists conference in Denver, and Mama and Eva were gone the previous week and had Girl Scout commitments on Saturday, I decided to just go myself. (Hopefully, I would like to take Mama and Eva to the Getty Museum on a Saturday morning in the next few weeks.) I went to my office for a couple of hours Friday morning, and then left about 9:30 pm. I had to be in the Park before 5 pm in order to get my back country permit. After a number of telephone calls with clients between Pasadena and the Nevada line, I stopped for 15 minutes at the Nevada line to pull out my computer, revise a letter, and send the letter for a client. Then I drove on, stopping for gas in St. George, and driving from there straight to the Park. Fortunately, Mama had given me some food that I could eat on the way up. I made it just in time to get my permit before the Visitors Center closed at 5 pm. After getting my permit, I then took the shuttle to the Grotto. I put a bottle of water in my pocket, and took off for the hike to the top of angels landing. I made it in about 50 minutes to the top, and I hiked fast enough that I would have kept up with Mama, Eva and Christian the last time we went up. I didn’t get started until about 6 pm, so I only had 45 minutes before the sun went down. I was the last one to go up the trail, or so I thought. But when I was nearly at the top, a fellow (about 50, I estimate) overtook me. I told him he was almost sprinting up. He laughed and said that 30 years and 30 lbs a go, he had been able to go up and back in under an hour! (5 mile roundtrip, 1500 foot elevation gain.) So I ended up being the last one after all. After admiring the view and making a couple of phone calls, I started back down as darkness was rising quickly. I managed to get off Angels’ Landing at the top before it was too dark, but I would not have wanted to wait any longer. One mis-judgment and misstep could send one for a nasty fall (nasty is an understated euphemism, for those of you who have been to the top of Angels Landing). It was actually dark coming down through hidden canyon, and down into the river valley. A quarter moon made everything beautiful. The stars were brilliant. I should have brought my telescope! On the shuttle ride up, I saw deer and wild turkeys. On the way back, I saw a fox.

The shuttle to Chamberlin Ranch, where the hike down the narrows starts, left at 6:30 AM, which in Utah is still dark. In my backpack, I took a pair of pants, a shirt, camera, water filter, and food, together with plastic garbage bags to keep them waterproof. I had on my red windbreaker. In the 15 passenger van were 11 college students and their leader, who were backpacking to do camping in the canyon. The drive took quite a while, and it sure seemed like the hike would be more than 16 miles after all the driving. We arrived at Chamberlin Ranch about 8 am, perhaps a little later. As I put on my daypack and said goodbye, one of the students said, “We’ll see you in the canyon”. I said, “Probably not”, but I thought if they did meet me in the Canyon, it would be because I was in trouble! The temperature in Zions Canyon valley was forecasted for mid-70s, but the ranger told me it would be in the 30s up at Chamberlin ranch where the hike begins. Also the water was 54 degrees in the valley, and the flow rate 38 cubic feet per second (which is low). When I started the hike, the temperature was quite chill, so I walked fast to keep warm. I had 1-2 miles before I had to get into the canyon. The start of the hike was in a nice meadow. As I hiked I saw a dead deer in the middle of the meadow, a kill by a mountain lion. (One can tell by the damage to the neck and the amount of fur scattered around.) I also passed a couple of deer hunters. (The hike starts outside the park.) The north fork of the Virgin River starts at Navajo Lake. It has already been snowing at Navajo lake. The water in the river (just a creek at the place) was COLD! I estimate it was in the high 30 degrees. When the meadow finally narrowed and the trail was forced into the river (one of many many crossings), I stepped into the water and my feet went numb. Really, I walked on numb feet for a long time.

After a while in the narrow gorge, I saw a pool of water back up behind a dam made of fallen trees that a flood had jammed against the narrow walls. I thought I was in trouble already, perhaps here I would have to wade through deep water, with unknown footing and underwater currents. You will see a picture of this tree dam. Fortunately, I was able to creep along the right bank of the river, climb on to the logs, and clamber safely over the top and down the other side without having to wade through deep water.

I am attaching some pictures of the upper part of the hike. The scenery was fabulous. I enjoyed it immensely. (The conversation was not too stimulating, but my thinking was quite stimulating.) The canyon narrowed and became a gorge. The stream looked like it should be a great trout stream, but I never saw any fish. I didn’t really carefully look. You will notice how beautiful the leaves are. There were some wonderful colors on the scrub oak and some of the other broadleaf trees along the river. After hiking for some time, I came to a waterfall about 25-30 feet high. I looked over the edge. There was a fallen log there. I said, I am not going down that. I thought to myself that I would hike back to the top, rather than take the risk of going down something so dangerous, with water falling over it. But then I thought no one warned me about a waterfall, so there must be a path around it. Yes there was. I concluded that God is gracious. He wants us to hike the narrows, and provided a way around the water fall. You will see a picture of the water fall, and then a cleft in the rock against the canyon wall that allow me to hike around it. The only reason the cleft is there is that God is gracious. Shortly after that, I came to the first really spectacular narrows, with the towering sandstone walls going straight up hundreds of feet, and the creek from wall to wall only about 8 feet apart. I hope you get the feeling from the picture attached.

As I went down the creek, I saw only one set of footprints in the last few days since the last storm. In addition, I saw a set of deer tracks, and a set of tracks of a solitary cow (which I never did see). The water in the river was only ankle deep in the places where I crossed (picking the right places). So although me feet were numb, I was not too worried about the statements that the water would probably be up to my waist on the hike down. By the way, the latest for hikers – at least new to me – is “dry pants”, which are water impervious and sealed at the boot. I simply hiked in cut-offs. I wanted to wear my garments on the hike, so I cut off my old corduroys which were about to go the way of all pants in any event at the knees. I had my white AYSO coaching shirt on, with my red windbreaker on top of that, and my hat from the Virgin Islands on, together with gloves to go with the hiking pole. By the way, always take a hiking pole on this type of hike. The main value is keeping your balance when walking through the river and stepping on hidden rocks. I am sure I would have fallen a number of times without the walk pole to hold me up. It also allowed me to test the depth of the water when I needed to.

After a few hours, I finally saw the sun for about 15 seconds before the canyon walls closed in. I only saw the sun one other time. Finally, the north fork of the Virgin River, which flows basically west, joined another fork of the river coming from the north. The water from this other fork was much warmer, and I felt it immediately. Also, in the main canyon, there are a lot of springs that feed the river, all warming the water, so that the temperature is 54 degrees below the narrows. Finally, as I reached a lower altitude and the time approached mid-day, I took of my windbreaker and put it in my daypack. After a while, I stopped for lunch. There is nothing better than eating Mama’s banana bread in the middle of Zions Park narrows. I pulled out my water filter and drank several cups of water. That is all the water I needed for the entire trip.

I passed a beautiful spring gushing out of the canyon wall. You will enjoy the picture of it and another picture with me in it. By this time, the river was not just ankle deep, but it had become mid-calf deep, and finally knee deep in many places where I crossed. I was feeling pretty good about not have to get into the water up to my waste. Up to this time, I just had my camera around my neck. But as I proceeded down the canyon, and the walls started to narrow, and the pools and river became deeper, I decided to put my camera in the plastic garbage back and wrap it up tightly. However, I was able to take pictures of the famous narrows, where the walls really close in. but these pictures are the last that I took.

In the narrows proper, I was soon walking through the river with the water coming up to my crotch a number of times. So now I really no longer doubted that the water could get to me waist. I finally came to one passage where I saw no way around a pool where the entire river plunged into it. I crept near the side, using my walking stick to support me and to test the depth of the water. All of a sudden, the bottom fell off. I tried to find the bottom, but couldn’t. As I went into the water, my hat came off and I started swimming. After 20-30 feet, I pushed by walking pole down and felt the bottom and started walking again. I grabbed my hat and went on. However, even though my rayon AYSO coaching shirt would have dried out quickly, my cotton corduroy pants, and cotton garments hold a lot of water, so I was wet the rest of the way. I had to hike fast to keep my circulation going. Although there were several other pools that were crotch deep, I only found two other deeper pools. One came up to my chest, and the other was waist deep, just a few hundred yards from the end of the hike.

After commencing the hike at the top, I did not see another person for hours, until later in the afternoon, when I finally met some hikers who were coming up the narrows from the Temple of Sinawava. I finished the river walk quickly, and boarded the shuttle bus about 5 pm. The hike took me just under 9 hours to go the 16 miles. On the bus, I put on the wind breaker, which had remained dry, to keep warm. I arrived at the visitors center about 5:45 pm, and then went to my motel. I took a long hot shower to warm up and relax. I was pretty thrashed, much like hiking to the top of Yosemite and back. Although it was all downhill, basically, walking through water, picking one’s way through rocks, etc., is actually quite taxing. After showering and warming up, I went back to the giant screen theatre and watched the Keith Merrill movie on Zions Canyon. Then I went back to the motel, ate something, and went to bed. In addition to the food mama sent with me, I stopped at a grocery store in Springdale, and bought yogurt and bananas, which I ate for several meals, together with Mama’s banana bread, left over chamber singers granola snack bars.

So, what is my evaluation? It was fabulous! Let’s plan on doing it next summer, perhaps July-August when you will be in Southern California, or if not then, then toward the end of September when Abraham has returned from his mission. We will go to the park on Friday afternoon, if there is time, hike to Angels Landing, then hike the narrows on Saturday, and attend Church in Springdale on Sunday before heading home. However, I recommend not going the last week in October. I was lucky. The weather was warm. But Sunday as I left Springdale about 11:00 AM local time, a cold front had blown in, and the temperature was only in the upper 50s. if I had been hiking in the water with a cold north wind, I would have been quite cold. Further, I recommend that you not hike it solo. I had forgotten that a hike like that can be a bit treacherous. Although I did not fall, I could have fallen on the slippery rocks with a resulting injury. A companion would be wise. Further, do it together with a spouse sometime, when there are few hikers. It would be very romantic. I would have loved for mama to come with me. I would have loved to hold her tight, kiss her, and just enjoy the beauty of the canyon together in some isolated spot. Finally, do it! Make a date and keep it. Otherwise, it will be too easy to let it slide by.

When I returned to the motel Saturday evening, I had an urgent email from a client who needed some work on a software contract. I emailed back that I would get to it Sunday morning. I slept for 9 hours, then I woke up, worked 2 hours on the contract, and then drove home. On the way home, I decided to drive over through Santa Clara, along US 91, which used to be the main road to Los Angeles, and which basically follows the Old Spanish Trail. It was a scenic drive. The next we go to Utah, if we have time, we will have to take that route.

I met stop and go traffic all the way from north of Barstow to Pasadena, but made it home by about 5:20 pm. On the drive up and back, I listened to quite a few sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, a Shakespeare play (Julius Caesar), and several Sunstone Lectures (including one by Leo Lyman on the Mormon Trail to California (which basically was the old Spanish trail), a paper on which I commented. I was actually surprised at the quality of my comments.) I also listened to some nice classical music. I enjoyed calling each of you on the telephone on my drive down. I hope I did not impose on your time too much. I tried to keep the calls to a reasonable length.

In listening to Section 121, I couldn’t decide whether the Second Coming will be sooner or later. Here is the passage:
26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;
27 Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fullness of their glory;
28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.
29 All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
30 And also, if there be bounds set to the heavens or to the seas, or to the dry land, or to the sun, moon, or stars—
31 All the times of their revolutions, all the appointed days, months, and years, and all the days of their days, months, and years, and all their glories, laws, and set times, shall be revealed in the days of the dispensation of the fulness of times—
32 According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.

This knowledge has not yet been revealed. It seems that our physicists and other scientists are not really that close to discovering all this knowledge, so the end time seems far away. But then I remember that Benjamin is studying physics. Maybe he is the one who will solve all these great mysteries of physics and astro-physics. If that is the case, the Second Coming is not so far away.

That’s all for now.
Love Daddy