OCR Text |
Show Page 4—THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Tuesday, August 4, 1981 Utah Valley News about your friends, neighbors and leaders in Central Utah = Rub-a-Dub-Datt-T ree Men in a Raft By DARRELL BERKHEIMER Herald News Editor The whole trip was one humongousfiasco. Can you imagine an outdoors magazine beginningoneofits articles with that statement? All the outdoor stories I've ever read tell about the successes of the outing. Seldom do we hear about the minor disasters that were a part of the trip — such as who forgot what. And never do I recall reading about the trip that was a complete fiasco, or when the entire group was ‘‘skunked,”” Even on a wilderness trek for trout, when the trout are mostly uncooperative, we read about the few that were caught, the exquisite camp cuisine, all the animals that were spotted and photographed, how great the campsite and camaraderie were —evena short history about the suide, . After all, the story of the trip must attempt to justify the expenses. But today I’m going to break all those traditions andtell about the trip that was an unequivocal fiasco — because nothing worked as planned, except the vehicles that got us there. Moststoriesinclude one or two morals, but this one probably offers more than the number of pages in today’s Herald. In was my brilliant idea, of course, to use my family’s sixmanraft for a float trip down a part of the Provo River. So I asked Herald reporter Pat Christian to go along becauseofhis experience canoeing the river. Managing Editor Ben Hansen was eager to go, and we asked one of the Herald photographers to accompanyus. Pat advised the ‘‘easy’’ stretch between Deer Creek Dam and Vivian Park was the safest portion. He explains that the Bridal Veil Falls section is the most dangerous,the portion from Glen Canyon Park to the Murdock Diversion also can be quite hazardous, and that the last section through Provo doesn't always have enough water. The stretch below the dam is “relatively calm” in a canoe and probablyis for a raft, too, Patindicated. (Moral — Alwaysclarify the meaning of the word “relatively.””) tar rot Our troubles — excuse me — our “opportunities” — did not begin until a couple of days before the scheduled day of the trip. (Ben Hansen explains that Jaycees emphasizes there are no such things as troubles or problems — only “opportunities” io find solutions. ) Anyway, our first opportunity occurred when the photography department indicated there might not be a photographer available to accompanyus. But my premonitions of ill bodings did not begin until Pat suggested he might, instead, travel with his canoeing buddy, John Weiss of Orem, whoalso has taught canoeing at BYU. Pat explained he could then do the picture-taking from the canoe. “Oh-oh, there goes our experience,”’ I was thinking. But when Pat further informed me about John’s many trips down Provo River, I irrationally speculated the two of them in a canoe nearby might be better than one in the raft. (Moral — ‘Twois the bushis notbetter than one in the hand.) So now we were down to two in the raft — Ben and I — when I knew that four paddlers are desirable, and that three should be considered mandatory. (Moral — News editors don’t always know what they're talking about. I've learned since that one man in the center, with a good pairof oars, has much more control.) Enter Clair Cherry, stageleft. Clair worksin the Herald’s classified advertising department and indicated aninterestin joining us. Although he didn’t actually give a definite ‘‘yes’’ until less than a half-hour before it was timeto leave, I was sure that he would go since my optimism was overruling all other considerations. Upon picking up Ben at his house,I informed him of another “small opportunity.” The raft. which I partially inflated the evening before whenI stuffed it into our ‘camper, was pushing against the inside of the doorknob, making it impossible for me to unlock the camper door. (Moral — Don't stuff inflated rafts into campers.) With optimismstill prevailing, I suggested to Ben, ‘So maybe PatChristian Photo Clair Cherry (L) and Darrell Berkheimer get ready to abandonflaccid ship. we can resolve that ‘opportunity’ while driving up the canyon.”’ From our riverside parking spot, that opportunity yielded the following options: break the window, break the door, tear out a window frame, or break the plastic seal around one of the windows andlift it out. I was fortunate, the window repair only cost $4.09 after we settled on the last option. (Moral — Every gloomypicture hasat least one bright spot??? It could have cost more.) When wefinally got on the water, I was reminded of one facet of rafting which never ceases to amaze me — how quickly a raft full of hot air seems to deflate whenit touches the cold water. (Moral — Cold water has a deflating effect on many sourcesof hotair.) We hadn't even floated 50 yardsuntil we knew it was necessary to pump moreairinto the raft. But wouldn’t you know it, the hand pump wouldn't work. (Moral — Check and prepareall equipmentin advance.) Don't evertell Ben, Clair or I that raft handling is easy. After all, we're so used to traveling by wheels, I guess it’s only normal we would paddlein circles as we tried to reach shore.(I think I'll skip the two or three morals implied here.) With the help of the current, and someone’s private stone dock, we reached shore about 100 yards farther downstream. After Pat exercised his jogging prowess, by making a quick trip back to the camper for the foot pump,we once again readied the raft for a re-start. This time, with plenty ofair in the raft, we “knew’’ we could float our way down without a hitch — until we cameto the first bend, thatis. (Afterall, I already told you news editors don’t always know what they're talking about.) As we swept aroundthat bend, we narrowly missed one of the pillars under an auto bridge. The water was faster — faster Cool Front MovingInto the Area By United Press International ‘A weakcool front was moving through northem Utah today. which will cool slightly along the Wasatch Front, but otherwise the weather will be typical for August statewide through Thursday and cept to near 105 in the Vernal and Richfield’s 53, into the weekend. The forecast calls for southern deserts. Lows up to Salt Lake City’s 67 generally fair skies through Wednesday. with a slight chance of afternoon ms in southern Utah Wednesday and slightly cooler highs in the north today. Highs today and Wednesday mostly in the 90s, ex- and a 73 at Wendover. Cedar City 92.59 _{dahoFalls ae 4 95 62 a3 $383 7 97 67 103 68 89 52 % 73 Veteran Actor Douglas Dies that I was deserting them"he said later Before beginning his acting career in 1990, however. he had worked at various odd jobs and was a reporter for the Chicago an Academy Award nomination as best actor in 1970 Melvyn Edouard Hesselberg hetook the “Douglas” from his mother who was of Scottish ancestry — was born April 5 1901. in Macon, Ga During World War I. he tried unsuccessfully to enlist in the Canadian Army at 13. but finally 1979 for best supporting actor in playing a puckish senior citizen was accepted by the Army when Peter Seller's “Being There. 1n *Spofford’’ on the siage he was 15. During World War Il had recently completed filming His best-known role was that 27 yearslater and by then an ac of the thriller “Ghost Story "in of the crusty elderly man in the tor. he again enlisted as a which he starred with Fred film “I Never Sang For My private Astaire and Douglas Fairbanks Father.” for which he received MGMthought 1 wasatraitor as Opin MORTUARY ome My (11) Orem, 225-1530 Max John White Graveside services will be held on Wednesdayat 12 noonat the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday at the Sundberg Olpin Mortuary from 10;30-11 a.m. Douglas’ son, Peter, 47, a psychoanalyst. said his father died at Sloan Kettering. where he had been for four days, of pneumuiua complicated by a cardiac condition He had a passion foche for himself as a strong character actor winning an Oscarin 1968 for his supporting role in “*Hud” and After sleeping through a big story. however. the newspaper fired him, Douglas wenttolive in 4 Chicago boarding house where he and actor Ralph Bellamy began to train with the same acting teacher After making his Broadway debut in "Tonight or Never he attempt to paddle awayfrom it. Wequite well rememberBen's most emotional unprintable outburst as a portion of the pylon seemed to be coming towardhis forehead. Games, Music, Parades, Rodeo, Royalty 9351 The extended outlook — Logan mostly inthe 90s. from a for Friday through Sun- Ogden 105 at Hanksville and St day — calls for fair skies Fcatello George’s 103, downto 92s andhot afternoons. Highs jichfield at Blanding Cedar City from 90 to near 105. Over- Roosevelt Salt Lake and Huntington and Ver- night lows 55 to 65. Intemational St. George nal’s 89. Lows this morn- By United Press High Low Pep, Vernal ing ranged from a 52 at Boise 8751... Wendover tonight 55 to 65. Highs Monday were than I expected it to be. And the river is narrow — much narrowerthanI thought. So with all its twists and turns, I now have a much better understanding of how dangerousitis Mytotal rafting experience includes six annual three- to fiveday trips to Flaming Gorge, where we made many floats down the Green River from below Flaming Gorge Dam to Little Hole. That section of river is much wider, much deeper, and usually much slower than the Provo River. Thenext bend wasour undoing. The current was sweeping us toward the left buttress of a bridge — an old one that apparently deteriorated into a foot bridge. We continued heading toward the side of the bridge despite our furious, but feeble, went on to suave, high-comedy films. including “Ninotchka” in 1939, His roleinthat film eamed him thetitle of “The Man Who Made Garbo Laugh.” im By DAWN TRACY Herald Staff Writer Alpine City is hoisting its 34th annual Alpine Days celebration starting today and continuing through Saturday. Tonightall-star major and minor baseball games will begin at 7 o'clock at the Alpine Elementary School. On Wednesday. the Alpine Music Fest will begin at 7p.m.at the Alpine Stake Center. Alpine Mayor Don Christiansen will officially open Alpine Days there andpresentthe Miss Alpine Junior Miss royalty and Miss Alpine Rodeo andher twoattendants. The Music Fest will feature musical numbers performed by local and professionalartists in piano, voice, brass and string instrument presentations. The chargeis $1 per person over12 years old and $5 per family. On Thursday, the Country Western Hoedown, a new city event, will begin at 7 p.m. The outdoor Hoedownat the Alpine Stake Center will have a beef picnic barbequepicnic supper from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $2 per person or $10 per family. : There's also family entertainment that will feature the dance group the Sundowners and later guitar , music. OnFriday,starting at 9 a.m., the youth horse show will begin at the Rodeo Grounds: The adult show , + begins at 2 p.m. for Alpiners over 18 years of age. Jody Carling BOUNTIFUL Funeral ser vices for Jody Lynn Carling. 18. whodied Saturday at her home. will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Granite Third Ward Chapel $75 S. 3100'E Her grandpareats reside in Pleasant Grove basketball for three years Her survivors are her father Bountiful mother, Mrs Jay (Patricia) Bingham. Casper Wyo. one brother and onesister Michael Carling. Bountiful. Lyn nette Carling. serving a mission grandparents. Mr and Mrs Ben: ne: Carling. Pleasant Grove Mr and Mrs Wallace Ivie Scipio and Zoy Bingham, St George Friends may cal Family Mortu in Grove, tonight Pennsylvania even stepbrothers and three step She was born Feb 1. 1963 in Salt Lake City to Gordon J. and sisters, Karl, Duane. Dary! Melody. Renea Bingham Patricia G Beech Carling She was a member of the LDS Michael Todd. Handy. Cindy Church residingin the Val Verda Holt, half sister. Sara Bingham and at the chi hour prior services wil pm att Cemetery EESLEY MEMORIAL As with a diamonde929Tg monument's color, «Zs; clarity and cutfing 4 a Fdeterminesits quality A “beauty and value! ay fi Clay N. Second Ward She attended Lake area schools and was graduated fromAlta High School and Seminary in 1981 She was active in sports andlettered in SALT LAKE CITY Utah and Wyoming / Graveside services for Clay His survivors are his wife. one Norman Harper. 74. sho died daughter. Mrs Richard Anna Waitney Mitchell. Salt Lake Monday. Aug 3. 1981, at a (Maurine) Funeral services will be hospital. will be Thursday at 10 City. three grandchildren ild held on Wednesday at 9 am in the Salt Lake City Cemetery a.m, at the Logandale He was born Nov 3 1906 in LDS Ward Chapel, Logan, Eurekato Walter P Nevada. Friends may Openshaw Harper He 373-1841 call on Tuesday at the 4 son Palm Mortuary in Julia A. Brown Knudsen S WE Hi ran ot World War Henderson, Nevada. Funeral services were Il and »8 p.m and mem! He 930am Interment Logan held today at the Berg worked as an auto mechanic in Nevada Mortuaryof Provo. Interment Provo City Dorthy Ellen Branstetter Cemetery ices Alpine City Cemetery ALPINE Gri Henderson Her survivors are her parents for Laina Christ Funeral services were Winnie Carroll hourold daughter of Dennis Lee five brothers and sisigrs. Brian held today at the Provo Graveside services will and Linda Elaine Sumner Nease Jeared, David, Leah) Christan all of Alpine, grand died Wednesday, July 29. St. Francis Church. Inter be held Wednesday | p.m who 1981 at the American Fork parents. Mrs Maxine Nease ae Eastlawn Memorial at the Hayden Cemetery hospital, were Saturday in the Lompoc. Calif. and Mrs Hayden, Colorado. Claudine Jestin. Leko, Wash ills. ey Berg ) Mortuary et Christine Nease z { As Clair worked to help Ben free his leg, I was straining to hold the raft by its rope. The current was washing through two gaping, right-angle rips in the bottom of the raft — each about two feel long. I was losing ground to the current when I realized I no longerhada life jacket on. As I read back over whatI have just written, the event now seems muchlike a melodrama. But it could have ended in tragedy. I'm a reasonably good swimmer,butI havenodesire to batile the Provo River current for very long — not withouta life jacket to keep me afloat, particularly if I hit my head on a rock or similar object. Earlier, several other people got on the river just before us. They had severalautotire innertubes which they lashed together to a piece of plywood. They seemed to know what they were doing since they acted asif they had floated that stretch before. Butnot a oneof them worea life jacket. Our predicament ended with tBen pulling his leg free, and then, he andClair heiping me to haul’ the raft ashore. “My wife's gonna kill me,” I said. She warned meI might ruin our raft by takingit on the Provo River. Alpine Days Begins Tonight; Features Burley O bituaries NEW YORK(UPI) — Melvyn Douglas, reporter turned awardwinning actor who played suave leading men, impish senior citizens and crusty fathers during a 50-year career in theater and film, died early today at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, He was 80, Douglas, who won an Oscar in The bridge buttress didn't worry me that much, since a raft usuaily will bounceoff that type of barrier, then swirl around it with the current — unless there are some sharp objects protuding. Speaking of sharp objects... Then I noticed some inchdiameter “‘re-bars” (reinforcing bars) protruding 16-t0-18 inches out of the water alout 15 feet in front of the bridge buttress. I never saw them come through the raft, because as we were aboutto go over them, both Clair and I bailed over the side. Ben was attempting to do the same, but his one leg became captured between the raft and the rope attached aroundtheoutside edges of the raft. Welaugh about it now, but I rememberthe horror thoughts in my mind — about how near we wereto one of us becoming impaled on oneofthose bars. Food concessions at the city fire Station are available and at 6 p.m. comes the Primary miniature Parade. The Community Fair begins at 7 p.m.at the Alpine Elementary School and at, 8 that evening, the Lee Family singers will perform at the elementary school. Then at 9:30 that night, a youth street dance will he heid on Center street with live music by the Legends. At 7 a.m.on Saturday, the Mini Marathon Race starts, followed by good food prepared by Alpine firemen at the Fire Siation, flag raising ceremonywill begin at 7:30 at City Hall and then at 9 that morning, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers will open the Relic Hall for all day tours of the city’s first city building. The Primary miniature paradewill be repeated at 10 a.m.and at 11, the fair, contests, prizes and fun can be found at the City Park. Also on Saturday,the grand waterfightwill be held at the City Park at 3:40 p.m. which is guaranteed to cool off participants and spectatorsalike. At 6 p.m. the Community Youth Rodeo will begin at the Rodeo Grounds andfireworksat 9:45 that night will cap off the week's activities. More information on Alpine Day's celebration is available at the City Hall -NOTICE. The UTAH OFFICE SUPPLY store at 69 East Center in Provo will be closed from Aug. 3 to Aug. 13 for remodeling. UTAH OFFICE SUPPLY will be open at the following locations to serve your needs, 595 So. Univeristy Ave., Provo 273 So. State, Spanish Fork What You'd Like To Say ! WIRE , SERVICE 1042S. State, Orem 744 So. State, Orem 92: Yeors Of Experience Helps Us Answer Your Questions BEESLEY MONUMENT & ‘AULT CO. 5 725 South State 900 East, Provo ph. 374-0580 Across The Street East Of Provo Cemetery We appreciate your cooperation and are sorry for the inconvenience. |