Oh how I have missed this tradition, without really being able to pin down what I was missing. I can now emphatically say "IT WAS THIS!" After Dad died I was a bit heart sick and reluctant to attend, knowing that it would just not be the same without him hollering "OOOOHHHHLLLLLOOOOUUUUU" and employing his famous tree tarping technique.
Then I wasn't physically up for the project. Oh bother. Enough said. Glad that's over.
Thankfully my HFUN family has been keeping up and adding to the tradition all these years and welcomed me to return to the festivities. They've modified the techniques a bit. It's WeeeeeeeeeRt instead of Oh Lou (though most of them would still recognize it and call back, some with tears in their eyes) and with so many pickups in the family and a much shorter haul to home the tarp bundle is optional. When possible a campfire is included to keep the non hikers busy and provide a warm rest before the trip home. But the intent is still the same.
We arrived a touch late to the party having planned on Hillyard standard time, but were able to follow Eric's ford in...thank goodness. While I am roughly familiar with the back roads and canyons of cache valley I would probably not have found this exact spot without GPS directions. Sorta reminded me of the spots Uncle Jim used to guide us in to for those first oh so memorable tree hunting trips.
Jamie and Dallas had the beginnings of a fire going and I was glad to add the few sticks of hardwood I'd brought from our back yard to the mix. The tree hunters took off in groups (each with a saw) and the rest of us settled in to enjoy the mild sunny day. It was some time after this that I realized the deadwood we were pulling our firewood from was willow. I am not fond of willow.
While hosting Willows campground I learned that while it is possible to burn willow wood, it's not fun and it NEVER smells good. Add to that frozen sometimes damp wood conditions and...well you can imagine the smoke plumes. If they couldn't hear us they could certainly smell their way back to the trucks.
But even when I was cowering form the circling smoke it was fun. After all if every fire was perfect and every day was sunny we'd never know how lucky we were to enjoy the nice ones.
Once the trees were all gathered in we all stood around fire and enjoyed what was finally an awesome coal bed. I suppose that the star valley tree hunts had this portion of the tradition during the night before when we would stay at the Keeleys' and then after when we would stop on the way home for a burger. But it's just as much a part of the tradition as Mum and I counting the homes with their lights on on the way home in order to meet Dad's selected goal number in order to turn our own house lights on. Like I said before, these are some of the best and brightest memories of my childhood. The group moved on to Big J's in Richmond. Underwhelmed by the food, but the ice cream was worth a visit. I had a Banana Caramel shake and stole a taste of Mum's Strawberry Marshmallow. From there a few of us stopped in at the Christensen Ranchette for a brief visit. I love my visits out there and always feel reluctant to leave.
At the end of this day I find myself full of satisfaction. I NEEDED that. Didn't know it, but it's part of who I am. Gonna go find some twinkle lights to plug in. Thanks family.
Y'all enjoy the season, whatever your reason.
~m
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