OCR Text |
Show We did a lot of hiking, all to same place ; I'd been to Aspen Grove before, so I thought I knew what to expect when the ward arranged for a fall overnight excursion in the canyon. It was easy to imagine the crisp autumn air, with leaves turning color from bright red to bright yellow. And a clear night away from the city lights - a night of good "seeing," as an amateur astronomer might put it. After all, I'd been there before when the BYU department I worked for visited the university's get away for "professional development." That, too, was in the fall, and it was great. So I was looking forward to loading up the kids (all six, plus two friends) and spending the night in a cabin for nine. (There were 10 of us, but we figured the baby wouldn't take up much room.) It would be a weekend away from it all, without having to get too far away. We could sleep on beds, just like human beings are supposed to. Rest room facilities were nearby. Meals would be enjoyed indoors and then we could enjoy the out-doors. With our neighbors around we would be in friendly territory. And with BYU in charge, we figured, everything would be well planned. Well, as the old Romans used to Say: Caveat emptor. We had heard the plans for the the editor's column By MARC HADDOCK outing were disintegrating. And it didn't all go our way in the first place. To begin with, getting there wasn't all that easy. We had just pulled off the freeway and were heading to Provo Canyon when we heard a loud pop and smelled that old something's-leaking-in-the-engine smell. The radiator hose had burst. We limped into a nearby auto supply store where my mechanic-wife mechanic-wife effected a hasty repair, and we were on our way, a little rattled but ready to rough it. We got to Aspen Grove only to find it crawling with hundreds of - gasp ! - college students. When we got to our cabins, we found they had been freshly painted in anticipation of our arrival. The wood had dried, but the metal doors were still a bit tacky. The kids coats will carry a reminder of the our weekend forever -' paint just doesn't come off. We picked a small A-frame with a queen-sized bed for us, four bunks and a loft that would sleep three more. It was next to the showers and rest rooms designated for our area. With eight kids along, we figured the closer to the restrooms the better. Not that it mattered in the long run. And a long run it was. The restrooms were locked - closed for the season. The nearest flush toilets were over the river and through the woods, down the hill and up the other side to the lodge. The nearest non-flush facilities were just a little further away. With eight kids, we got a lot of exercise. And the lodge, where our meals were supposed to be eaten, had been reserved for us for Saturday - but here we were on a Friday. Someone had goofed. However, I'm sure whoever it was ate a warm meal indoors that night, while our party roughed it at the park area near Aspen Grove. I hope they got in- , digestion. i Not that I want to complain. The entire weekend was fun. After dinner and a program, we retired to ( our cabin and helped the little ones j, all find a warm bed. And frankly all eight kids slept ) pretty well. Mom and Dad had a harder time. For a while we listened to the j college students yelling across the s way in the night. I guess they were having fun. . After that we lay awake ana . smelled fresh paint for a few hours and then took turns going outside for some fresh air. At about 3 a.m. I too a long stroll along the canyon road, made friends of sorts with a porcupine por-cupine and took a lingering look ai Orion high in the eastern sky. That walk made the trip all wortn it, although a Saturday hike,g companionship and good food au made up for the Aspen Grove management's deficiencies. The scenery was breathtaking, u mountain air exhilirating. wonder the facility can be manage so carelessly and still manage attract all kinds of visitors. But if the offer comes arouno again to take another overmgmer Aspen Grove, I'm going to cm ahead first and makj s sje restrooms are open. Alter an, a little variety in my hikes. |