Dave and Jan learned of an icy waterfall in the area of Parawan (around 10 miles north of Cedar City) from a new neighbor. So they decided to check it out on Saturday, March 12th. The hike to and from was only around a mile and a half, and the weather was beautiful (if cool), but the trail was snowy and icy (in some cases) and muddy in places.

The hike took them through some pleasant forest areas, over some bridges, and along a small stream, and there were even some benches and picnic tables along the trail.

Dave and Jan enjoyed a picnic lunch – on a dry bench – before making their way into the canyon where the trail became a little more challenging and the ice became more prevalent.

The view of the falls was spectacular! And, yes, that is a man at the upper left corner of the falls. He had climbed up the ice (with special equipment), and his girlfriend was beginning to make the climb as well.

The box canyon was surrounded by some very scenic rock walls high above the falls.

On the way out of the canyon, after passing the more treacherous parts of the trail where there were some large snow-covered rocks to negotiate, Jan had the unfortunate experience of an icy fall of her own. Slipping on ice, she reached out to break her fall and ended up breaking her wrist. So she is sporting a pretty blue cast for the next few weeks – until around shortly before “Easter.”

In spite of the broken wrist (a “clean break” according to the doctor), Jan said the hike was worth it. She continues her normal activities for the most part in spite of her injury – even playing the organ for our church’s worship services with one hand (fortunately, her right hand) and one foot on the pedals! She is practicing the Apostle Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say , rejoice”!

After many years living in the mild climate of Southern California, preceded by many years in the desert heat of Tucson, Arizona, Dave and Jan are happy to be living back in snow country at the 5,700 foot elevation of Cedar City. The snow in southwest Utah comes with some frequency during the cooler months of the year, but seldom in large enough quantity to make life difficult or dangerous. And it is beautiful to see. Here is Cedar Mountain and the foreground with a fresh dusting of white.

Snow, of course, offers great possibilities for recreation which grandchildren always enjoy!

Snowy days challenge Grandma Jan to come up with some indoor activities for Ryan and Erin like their creation of pine cones coated with peanut butter and sprinkled with bird seed to feed the birds.

Picnics in the back yard will have to wait when very many inches of snow pile up on the picnic table.

Dave enjoys the chance to get some exercise when there are driveways and sidewalks to clear of snow.

And living on a corner lot offers extra exercise for those who enjoy the exercise of shoveling snow.

And fresh snow even provides some spiritual lessons in view of the Psalmist David’s thought that the Lord is able to cleanse sinful hearts who turn to Him, making them “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7)!