Dave and Jan enjoyed a week-long visit with Stephen, Meagan, Ryan (7) and Erin (4) July 2-13. It was the best chance they have had to spend time with Stephen and family for some time, and it was nice that it began over the 4th of July week-end because Cedar City is a very patriotic community and Meagan loves fireworks. The families (along with Pattie Shew, Dave and Jan’s former neighbor from Brea, CA) took in two city fireworks displays – one in St. George on the 3rd of July and one in Cedar City on the 5th. And Ryan enjoyed using grandpa’s small camera to take pictures of the 4th of July parade (on July 5th in Cedar City).

Ryan also took some interesting night-time pictures of the Cedar City fireworks display at the airport.

Stephen’s family enjoyed Cedar City’s Aquatic Center on some of the city’s warm summer days. And they also enjoyed cooling down in the water of Coal Creek which flows through town not far from Dave and Jan’s house.

Because Ryan and Erin like to climb rocks, Dave and Ryan hiked to the top of a red rock ridge close to the house.

What summer visit to Cedar City would be complete without a visit to beautiful, nearby Cedar Breaks?

A more recent discovery for Dave and Jan is the interesting trail to Cascade Falls – formed by a stream which flows for a mile or two from Navajo Lake through lava tubes to the place where (when water flows) it falls into the canyon below the colorful and beautiful Virgin River Rim. The cascade was dry, but the hike was invigorating!

The final scenic outing took the family to Kolob Canyon where a short hike provides views of the amazing rocks.

Dave and Jan were happy for the opportunity to share the patriotic atmosphere of Cedar City and some of the scenic beauty which surrounds them with Stephen’s family during the fourth of July holiday season – and they look forward to more opportunities to introduce family and friends to the beauty of “color country” in Southwest Utah. If the Lord can use the judgment of the Flood of Noah’s day to create such beauty, what will the perfection of heaven be like?

Dave and Jan had a conversation with a local man in Cedar City some time back in which they first heard of the Tushar Mountains east of the City of Beaver – just over fifty miles north of Cedar City. His reference to Mountain Goats which can sometimes be seen in the area with binoculars was particularly captivating, so the day came recently when they decided to do some exploring in the area. What a pleasant surprise to discover, just over sixty miles north, an alpine environment – including another ski lodge area at around 10,000 feet elevation. The area has been described as one of Utah’s best kept secrets – so don’t tell anybody!

A sign on the skyline trail told of the presence of Mountain Goats in the region – though Dave and Jan were disappointed not to have seen any during their hike on the Skyline Trail.

On a day when temperatures in the valleys of the area were typically in the 90’s, it was very refreshing to enjoy cooler temperatures which almost called for long-sleeved shirts or other warmer garments. Jan was well prepared for the cool air as she searched in a mountain meadow for Elephant Head Orchids.

U.S. Forest Service information on the area stated that the best time to see wild flowers in the region is late July or early August, so Dave and Jan were happy to find some very nice displays of wild flowers as they hiked.

A picnic lunch is always most enjoyable in a flowery mountain meadow along a crystal clear stream.

Dave and Jan are not down-hill skiers, but for those who are, the Eagle Point Ski Resort welcomes winter visitors.

There’s far more to explore than a day’s hike can begin to reveal, but it is great to know that such amazing scenery is revealing the creative genius of the Lord only an hour or two away from home for Dave and Jan – and for those who come to visit Dave and Jan in southwestern Utah’s “color country” (as their former neighbor Patty Shew from Brea did in recent days).