Dave and Jan’s camping activities during the past two years have been diminished by a foot injury Jan experienced last year while hiking a steep mountain trail and by back and sciatic pains she has experienced this year. So Dave invited his grandson Ryan (Stephen and Meagan’s son) to join him for a camping outing in mid June. They headed up Highway 14 to Navajo Lake where they spent two nights at the Te Ah Forest Service Campground at the west end of the lake.

Ryan enjoyed doing some riding around the area on the mountain bike Dave had brought along on the camping trip.

Ryan came prepared to do some fishing – something he enjoys and does quite well. So he and Dave headed to the shoreline along the south side of Navajo Lake so Ryan could try his luck catching some fish there. It didn’t prove very productive.

In the morning, before Ryan was up, Dave rode his bike along the road to the Navajo Lake Lodge – a series of cabins visitors can rent while they enjoy activities around the lake, primarily boating and fishing. Across the highway from the Lodge Dave tried riding up the Lodge Trail, a little more challenging mountain bike trail than he is skilled enough to handle.

Arriving at the top of the trail where it ends on the Virgin River Rim Trail, Dave rode down the trail toward the campground, his bike slipping off the trail at one point and landing him on a pile of logs.

Thankfully, his wounds were only superficial scratches. He probably needs to choose easier trails at his advancing age! Back at camp Dave realized that his cell phone was missing, so he retraced his route on foot to find it lying in the middle of the trail. But he did enjoy some very nice scenery in the process.

Dave suggested that they take Ryan’s kayak to another lake in the area for another try at fishing success. Their first stop, at Duck Creek Pond, didn’t look very promising, so they drove to nearby Aspen Mirror Lake – one of the most attractive lakes in the area as far as Dave is concerned. And it did turn out to be a more successful fishing venture.

Coming ashore where he had been invited to join a family who were catching fish, Ryan could see a large school of Rainbow Trout circling in the water just off shore, and he proceeded to catch three good-sized trout which he intended to cook for dinner. He also thrilled some young boys who were at the site by snagging additional small trout, then handing his rod to them so they could experience the thrill of reeling in their catch (to be returned to the lake for additional growth.

In addition to riding and kayaking and fishing, Ryan spent a bit of time by the campfire which he enjoyed building and stoking, providing the flame for grilling some hot dogs and making some s’mores. It was a fun outing for both Dave and Ryan. As Solomon expressed it in Proverbs 17:6: “Grandchildren are the crown of old men”!

Dave and Jan have enjoyed several camping experiences at a Forest Service Campground, Little Cottonwood, seven miles from the city of Beaver along the beautiful Beaver Creek in Beaver Canyon. It has been a very pleasant place to camp.

Unfortunately, a forest fire occurred in Beaver Canyon this summer (2026), named the Cottonwood Fire, which devastated forest lands and destroyed private homes and a ski resort all the way up the canyon to the top of the mountain and over, threatening communities at its base along US Highway 89. It was one of the most destructive forest fires in Utah State history! So Dave and Jan were among the last campers in the area before the fire did its destructive work.

Returning to an old structure visited previously, which appears to have been a part of the region’s water system, a dirt road beyond the structure climbs steeply up to a forested plateau. Jan wondered if the grade was somewhere near 90 degrees! Well, obviously not, but it was a steep climb.

The road cut across the canyon shows the highway up the mountain climbing precipitously along the canyon’s rocky wall.

A hike up the dirt road through the forested plateau led to a hiking trail to the west which was marked with signage inviting foot travelers to feel welcome on the path ahead. There was no indication where it was headed, but Dave and Jan decided to try it.

After around a half mile of hiking the trail descended into an appealing wash with a nice stream flowing through it.

Beyond the creek the trail climbed steeply before leading to a community of mountain cabins which have probably burned down.

Returning to the stream below there was a sign pointing in the direction of what it described as “the BIG TREE.” A short walk on a well-traveled trail led to the tree and some amphitheater style seating which suggested the tree was a significant attraction.

Because the Cottonwood Fire was so extensive, Dave and Jan may have been among the last people to see it undisturbed.

Jan opted for a rain slick during the lunch break as grey skies began to produce a mysty environment, but hiking back to the beginning point from which Dave and Jan began did not result in any serious dampening along the path. The forest appeared to be enjoying the moisture.

Dave and Jan are grateful for the opportunity to have enjoyed some of their favorite forest lands before the Cottonwood Fire did so much damage to the area. It will take the region years to recover, but it will be interesting to see what recovery looks like. The Lord has built recovery into the natural world and, even more importantly, into the spiritual world for those who trust in Him!

Dave and Jan’s camping season for 2026 got off to a challenging start. They chose a campground not far from Cedar City at a county park known as Three Peaks. Setting up to camp, the trailer moved unexpectedly so that its tow hitch dropped to the ground. Getting it leveled was a little challenging, but after a good dinner it was time for a pleasant hike and a good night of rest – though the generator wasn’t providing a reliable source of electricity during a cool night, so the camping experience was cut short.

The second camping outing was a free “dispersed” camping experience when they returned to stay at Webster Flat (sixteen miles up highway 14 east of Cedar City). The generator proved deficient again but, because the car can be reattached to provide electricity, camping continued.

An evening walk to Deer Haven campground (not yet open for the season) was pleasant, and several deer were spotted as we jumped the fence and walked around the empty campground, returning to our “dispersed” camping site at Webster Flat through a long grassy meadow.

The next day was our day for a longer hike somewhere in the area. Driving further up highway 14 to the turn-off to Cedar Breaks (above 10,000 feet in elevation) lead to closed trails because the snow had not yet cleared sufficiently for the planned hike to Alpine Pond. So heading back down highway 14 led to a narrow dirt road and a trailhead into the Ashdown Gorge area.

Dave and Jan chose to take their hike up Blowhard Trail – a popular trail for extreme cyclists who are driven to the top of the Markagunt Plateau for a very exciting ride down a scenic route. Because it was too early in the season for cyclists to ride down from the top there was no need to listen carefully for cyclists racing down the trail.

The trail ascended fairly steeply through beautiful forests of spruce and pine and aspen trees with grassy patches throughout.

Before too long we were beginning to see patches of the red rock cliffs characteristic of the area to the north and the south.

The view continued to open up to the north revealing more of the red cliffs of Cedar Breaks National Monument. In this photo the mountain peak in view is that of Brian Head (over 11,000 feet in elevation) just above the popular Brian Head Ski Resort.

Back at our Webster Flat camping spot we enjoyed some rest, a meal, and another evening walk through beautiful forests.

Dave and Jan are very grateful to the Lord for the ability to continue to enjoy the amazing beauty of the things He has created for their discovery, and for the strength and resources to do what they do well into their senior years. With the author of Psalm 146 we say “I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 146:2).

Dave and Jan have enjoyed several visits during their five years in Cedar City from one of their former neighbors in Brea, California – Pattie Shew. Pattie, who lived two doors north of the Balsleys on Redwood Avenue in Brea, has taken a liking to Cedar City, and has shown some fascination for the Heritage Festival which occurs near the end of October – including the sheep parade, an annual feature of the Heritage Festival parade. Here is a picture of the sheep parade from an earlier time in 2021.

One of the outings we enjoyed this year was a short hike to a rocky formation known as “Lion’s Mouth.”

Jan and Pattie posed for a picture in a cave-like structure which features some Indian Petroglyphs.

Views from Lions Mouth include the route to Pinto to the south and Juniper covered hills to the east.

The next day Kathleen of Cedar City joined us for a hike and picnic in the Yankee Meadows area.

The mountains above Yankee Meadows were featuring a powdering of late October fresh snow.

Some fall colors were reflected in the waters of the small lake which was the destination for our hike.

Dave and Jan are grateful for the good neighbors the Lord has brought into their lives in California and Utah, and the good times they can enjoy as they share common interests exploring the Lord’s handiwork.

Dave and Jan have gone cross country skiing at Deer Hollow, a hilly area which volunteers keep groomed for skiers during the winter months. So they decided to try dry camping at a large meadow area just west of Deer Hollow, thinking that it would be nice to see the trails in fall colors. They were not disappointed!

“Dry camping,” in case the term is not familiar, is camping (free of charge) in U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management territories, within 150 feet of an existing road (paved or unpaved), where there are no amenities (e.g. water or electricity or rest room facilities). The view from the campsite Dave and Jan chose was already a beautiful view looking across the meadow.

On Friday morning, following a refreshing rain storm the previous evening, Dave and Jan decided to explore a side road near their campsite. The fact that it was a numbered road suggested that it would probably go for some distance through a forest filled with fall colors – and it did!

One of the many numbered side roads from the one Dave and Jan were hiking provided a nice view of Navajo Lake in the valley below, and it served well as a picnic spot at lunch time.

Utah’s fall Aspen forests provide a nice variety of colors from stop to stop along the path.

Dave enjoyed an evening walk on one of the roads which connect with the Deer Hollow ski area.

The time has come to winterize the camping trailer for another season, but Dave and Jan hope to continue to explore the beauty of Southwest Utah when winter snows have melted – though there are some great hikes to be enjoyed even during the late fall and winter months ahead. As the Lord promised Noah, following the great Flood of his time, “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 (NASB).

After an unusual summer season because of Jan’s broken toe, when camping and hiking were not in order, it was nice to return to normal summer activities in early September. Dave and Jan planned to camp at a favorite campground at Navajo Lake on the Markagunt Plateau twenty five miles east along Highway 14. The internet indicated that all campgrounds were open, but most were closed after Labor Day, so Plan B was to camp at Duck Creek Campground – the only forest service camp still open in the area.

The campsite chosen was ideally located on a nice meadow where some deer were immediately seen grazing (not pictures) and the surrounding forest provided a very attractive setting.

On Friday morning Dave and Jan drove a few miles to take a hike on a portion of the 31 mile long Virgin River Rim Trail which they had not hiked before. It was a good trail for a test of Jan’s foot – where the broken bone has healed, but there is still some swelling, which the doctor says is normal.

The trail climbed steadily for most of a mile before leveling out as many parts of the Rim Trail do.

As the trail sign promised, there were nice views in the direction of Zion National Park along the path.

There were some very interesting examples of complex root systems and some twisted Aspen tree configurations to be seen at various places along the trail.

As the trail sign also predicted, there were some nice displays of the red rocks which are characteristic of the area and frequently visible along the Virgin River Rim Trail.

At noon a fallen Pine tree log provided suitable seating in a pleasant meadow to enjoy a picnic lunch.

Jan’s foot managed the hike of around five or six miles very well. It was very pleasant to get back to camping and hiking, something Dave and Jan have enjoyed doing each summer for much of the time they have lived in the high desert and mountain country of Southwest Utah. Their hikes often bring to mind the words of a familiar chorus which quotes the Psalmist David in Psalm 8:1 and 9: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

Dave and Jan decided it was time to pay a visit to South Dakota – camping along the way and back in their camping trailer. It was a busy time for the Crandall family, with Alissa nearing the end of her studies to become an accredited mid-wife, and the four Crandall boys about to return to classes, but Andrew and family graciously accommodated the visit.

The first stop on the trip was at Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway, Utah – a town with a decidedly Swiss flavor to it, because early settlers thought the nearby mountains reminded them of Switzerland.

Alissa made camping arrangements for her parents at a campground in a city park on the James River. It was a very pleasant stay, with many park amenities nearby (grassy fields, walking/biking trails, regular and disk golf courses, etc., and the James River just over a levee behind the campground.

On a day when Alissa was working on her studies, Andrew led Dave and Jan, with the boys, to an interesting recreation area on Osceola Lake not too far from Huron. Because the state decided not to maintain the area, the local Mennonite community took on the responsibility and made it a very nice place to spend a part of the day.

Back in Huron the boys assembled a model airplane, while Andrew and Alissa worked at assembling a long list of school supplies which teachers at James Valley Christian School were requesting for their classes.

Andrew and the boys enjoyed doing some fishing on the James River where Silas got the catch of the day.

Levi and Elijah are both competing with their school’s track teams, and Dave and Jan caught a picture of Levi completing a practice cross country run as he returned to the James Valley Christian campus.

It was a busy time for the Crandall family, but Dave and Jan enjoyed the chance to attend worship (where Andrew is pastor at First Presbyterian) and spend time in and around Huron, South Dakota with (L to R) Levi, Andrew, Silas, Elijah, Alissa and Ephraim.

Dave and Jan are very grateful to the Lord for the blessing of their two children and their families!

Dave and Jan were blessed with a visit from some special friends from their time in California and their association with The Church at Green Hills in LaHabra. One of their guests was Caroleen Suzuki, who lived with the Balsleys for six years while she was establishing residence as a student from Japan in anticipation of her schooling at Fullerton College and California State University in Fullerton. The other two guests were Bruce and Judy Riggins who took Caroleen into their home when Dave and Jan moved to Utah. Bruce and Judy are long time members at Green Hills, where they sang in the choir with the Balsleys and Caroleen and were active in leadership roles in the church.

Arriving on Sunday evening, August 3, and staying only until Tuesday morning, there wasn’t much time to take in the scenery and explore the community in the Cedar City area. But there are good things to enjoy nearby, so Tuesday began with a visit to nearby Cedar Breaks – located around 30 miles up Cedar Mountain east of Cedar City at an elevation of just above 10,000 feet. Spring flowers were still displaying their beauty at the visitor center, and the beautiful red-rock geology of the breaks was on full display.

A drive down the mountain through the Brian Head Ski Resort area took the group to a picnic area along the scenic road to Yankee Meadows with its beautiful red-rock geology.

Following lunch the tour headed us south on I-15 for a visit to Kolob Canyons. The canyons are a western part of Zion National Park, with access to the main part of Zion only by hiking a 14-mile trail.

Back in Cedar City we drove to Thunderbird Gardens where interesting rock formations exist and access to several trailheads are found. We took a few photos amid the colorful rocks where Caroleen displayed her enthusiasm for the beauty of the area.

The evening included a visit to the Shakespeare Festival area to enjoy the Green Show, a free dramatic presentation which many visitors and locals enjoy evenings during the summer season. And Tuesday morning included a short venture into beautiful Rainbow Canyon, just around the ridge from home.

Dave and Jan always enjoy sharing their love of the Cedar City area with guests from out of town, and it was great to host Caroleen and the Riggins who have been a significant part of their experience while they were living in California and attending the Church at Green Hills in La Habra.

Eager to return to camping and hiking – the normal routine Dave and Jan have enjoyed during summer months since moving to Cedar City – their two night stay at Cathedral Gorge in Eastern Nevada in April was followed two weeks later by a two night stay at the Baker Dam Recreation area near Pine Valley (which is Jan’s favorite camping location – recently seriously damaged by the Forsyth Canyon fire which burned 15,600 acres and destroyed 17 homes in Pine Valley). Jan’s broken bone in her right foot has prevented any camping and hiking since their Baker Dam stay through the end of the month of July.

The campground at Baker Dam is quite primitive, with no water or electricity and some poorly maintained restrooms, but a quiet, pleasant place to stay nevertheless (and very inexpensive).

The reservoir which is backed up by the dam is a good-sized body of water in a scenic setting.

The rugged mountains between Baker Dam and Pine Valley rise to some impressive heights.

Hiking near the campground and up a dirt road toward the mountains revealed many spring flowers.

The gorge below the dam flowed with water of the Santa Clara River coming out of Pine Valley.

Though the spring and summer months have included fewer camping and hiking outings than Dave and Jan would normally like to experience, there have been some very enjoyable opportunities to take in a little bit of the abundant variety and beauty which are revelations of the Lord’s creative genius!