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Show - -Island of pleasure in Wasatch ! Wt'ltJV j-' I J, u HI I) .1 ill I lii I ii ii i il m 1 1. . - ... ,'""" . r-- - - ; ; - ,', -"a?:- . - ... x. iv if ii ii nfiiO'iiliiMMMn iii I,,, .. -. " 51 1 I V'- IT - .i I -visa il'm I i ir II 1 1 iiiiiip ill Hill i'i . ll ,1,1 n,. .xjwBfcfrstfc, - . - . - J&. 50 cents. Motors are not available for rent. Next year they hope to have pedal boats. Larger craft may utilize a tractor for launching at the sand and gravel shoreline. Boats may then be brought closer to land in deeper ports. Launching is $1. Those not camping may be requested to park their vehicles across the highway. When the water is down, vehicles may be left on the beach. This camp boasts a large and well supplied general store. Snacks and drinks are sold, and hot sandwiches are available. Fishing supplies are abundant and there are tables to sit at while you eat or talk about the day's pleasantries. Butane is also available for your convenience. conven-ience. Other conveniences are flush toilettes. No showers. J'.l I WW IW I "'' Ml .U Ll UH ii I iHiMi unn ww ysjaD.wwW VW' ..t. .... 5,, its,,. N v ' -f - 4 ! 1 IjU r ;.., . k . MAP Knowing wher to go is made easy by maps. Tourists can Jf V , rS; . always ask directions but few are lff -v' "' f needed here. AV-'lLf fl'f ' Midway is to the north, Heber . j. . to the northeast, Charleston is H Zamm Bridge Boat campu" o . shown, and the road to Provo ex- 'q A " -JJ - its to the southwest by the ') vVa Vp jv spillway. AS1 L) J I 14 i Charleston Bridge Boat Camp Z1 15 C ) j J is northern most and most f ) 1 Ti 7 ( ! I t-4 primative. -S. j )l .j;..arle8ton Island Boat Camp is central A 1 ) Lt I; B vh"K' ' and handy to two beaches- both fine for swimming and boating. 1J Snow's Marina is tucked away ' W V J on an inlet that provides protec- jJ X. ')) j W 1 tion from winds and more seclu- A-l7 Af 22 j lx- w sion form roadside. It is located JrWSil near the Wallsburg turnoff. t j By Lou Jackson A good vacation must include water: bottled water, mineral water, soda water, spring water, chlorinated chlori-nated water; for drinking, bathing, swimming, fishing, boating, or just looking at. The ocean, the body from which all life springs (say some), constantly beckons and holds the fascination that thrills some and chills others. Those that live close to the sea watch its movements move-ments and never grow tired of the constant change. Those that are distant from that "mother" yearn for the vision of her, and eventually the trip "home" is made. There, in awe, they pause. They drink in her moisture-laden moisture-laden perfume. In the surf they feel her pull their vagabond feet homeward. On her, the lullabye rocking is eternal. As her child feasts on lobsters, crabs, and oysters, clams, and great fish and small, he knows the welcoming feast is just token of countless blessings that "mother body" gives him. From her comes his life-supporting life-supporting moisture he must have at his inland, foster home. Great mountains and small, large rivers and gentle streams help form the foster parents, the lakes and ponds, that man adopts as his own. When natural defiles disgorge their annual streams of water to sinks and loss, man sees a blessing gone and moves to reserve the moisture for his pleasure. Reservoirs dot the landscape from sea to mother sea, and man does his homage there. No sea breezes, no tides, no salt, nor great fishes, but enough to make time and distance navigable, and he is home today. His dry land home admits a small portrait of his mother, and he plays at her doorway stoop. He plays at her lapping skirts. He floats on her bosom. He catches fishes at her feet. He swims in her arms. He is home. Wasatch County is probably known for Deer Creek Reservoir as much as for anything. Wasatch Mountain State Park lies to its west. That park has golfing, camping, hiking, and snowmobiling facilities. Directly to the north of the lake is Midway (previously a fortification midway between two older settlements), a quiet, residential-farming community. The Homestead, Home-stead, a resort hotel of some renown, is located in much the same vicinity. Roads, crossing easy passes, proceed pro-ceed to Park City and Brighton. Good rides for those in love with unpaved roads and the byways. Charleston, a loose cluster of homes and farms, edges the northeastern shore. Heber City lies further to the east and north and is fed by Highways 189 and 40. Beautiful Provo Valley (called so because the Provo River runs through it, but popularly called Heber Valley for more obvious reasons) catches the morning sun before Wasatch Front residents enjoy it. The eastern side of Mount Timpanogas, the more beautiful side because of its cirques and glaciers and steep cliffs and alpine aspect, overlooks the reservoir reser-voir (often called a lake) and evokes memories of Swiss scenes. One cannot isolate a single aspect of the vision, but each portion of the setting is appreciated in play with others, and the panorama is engulfing and almost overwhelming. A deep breathing from ecstatic shock is appropriate for those visually alive. Eventually Even-tually this beauty becomes humdrum to the natives and the frequent visitors who soon become involved with things at hand. Time transforms most things, but at present there is still the freshness of underdevelopment. under-development. One can find his solace on the shore or on the lake, or he may find his joy in partnership or group activities. No matter, the land, the mountains, the sky remain, and the water gives them all significance and additional enchantment. One can still number on fingers the commercial enterprises, en-terprises, and even name them. The only commercial vestige on the northern and western shores is that of quiet steel rails that trundle the scheduled Heber Creeper Creep-er steam railroad from its station in Old Heber City to Bridal Vail Falls midway down Provo Canyon. Traffic from Midway finds first forms of activity on the lake at the Charleston Bridge, where the Provo River discharges at the channel on the north plains. Just south of the bridge, on the west side of Highway 113, is the Charleston Bridge Boat Camp. This is a rustic and unpretentious camp run by Frank and Debbie Hill, a young couple with three children, who are in their fourth season. This is, not a large camp but does accomodate accom-odate those who wish to be close to the channel where the big ones are caught. A small store that offers snacks and drinks and fishing supplies stan at the entrance. Here are several tables and benches where one may sit and chat or watch and learn how to filet the perch he's caught. Debbie, using her electric Hfcnife, has a dozen fish prepared in as many min-rutes. min-rutes. Only three slices per fside. and "voila," one is-ready is-ready to cook his dinner. Frank tells that, "The deepest part of the lake is by the dam, about ittQfeet. The channel, with the water as high as it is right now,' may be fifteen feet deep." The perch, a game fish, is abundant, but trout, rainbows rain-bows and browns, are "also caught. Four great ones were mounted on the back wall of the shop, and, as always, the photo gallery proved fishing success with an array of smiling "experts" holding their prize catches. Frank produced a large bass from the frozen locker. "This was recently caught by my boy. People don't know we have bass, too." A unique feature about this camp is its guide service.lt provides 2-4 hours of guided fishing for $10 (eleven years or under,, $5). The minimum party number is four persons, maximum six. The service includes guide, boat, poles, bait, net, and life preservers. Boat rentals, of flat bottomed bottom-ed wooden craft that hold up to seven adults or aluminum ones that hold four, are priced at $12 a full day or $7 a half day. Motors are not available - it's an easy row to the channel. If one wants to troll, he'll bring his own motor. Frank hopes to have motors available next year. Camping, with electricity and water available, is $5. Without those conveniences it is $4 a day. There are fifteen spaces. Vault toilettes are present, but self-contained units are required to dump as required. The Wasatch State Park facility is available nearby. Boat launching costs $1. There are convenient locations loca-tions to leave trailers and cars, and, with water as high as it has been this time of the year, it is possible to bring ones craft up to land. The boat camp is open early in the season to get the best fishing from mid-July to October's end. Proceeding south, passing Charleston, and continuing on Highway 189 going toward Provo, one next encounters Beck's Island Boat Camp. This is the largest camp on the lake and has 56 spaces with hook-ups, 8 without, and 14 overnight locations. Costs range from $3 with no hook-up to $60 a month with hook-up, when sites are available. Several sleeping cabins are on the premises. They rent for $200 by the year, but they are filled and a waiting line exists. Jay and Joan Beck own and run this camp. They've been on location three years and are there year around. The season is May 1 to the second weekend of deerhunt-ing, deerhunt-ing, which may vary on the calendar. They provide for hunters at that time. Winter storage of trailers is available for $10 a month. Boats may also be left. A launching fee is $1. Fourteen feet, aluminum boats may be rented for $10 for the day, or $6 after 2:00 p.m. The boat with a motor is $24 the day, or $16 after 2:00 p.m. Life preservers rent for Families picnic. This is the place for children with their parents. This is probably the best beach on the lake. Eventually an entrepreneur will see its potential and provide amenities to enhance it further. Up the hill and around the corner, one next encounters Snows Marina. Wallsburg' s Round Valley empties its Main Creek into the lake at that point. Here is an inlet, almost fiord-like, that gives harbor and protection to many boats. Here at the marina one may dock or moor his craft - 18 dock spots, 35 mooring locations, for the cost of $5 plus $1 per foot of craft length. A boat is provided to get to and from moorings. Some winter storage stor-age is provided also. Colleen and Mel Snow are in their tenth year of -managing this marina which has been in the family 33 years. They are present year around, but their season is from May 1 to the end of October, depending on the weather. Their own 16 feet aluminum row boats rent for $3 an hour, $9 a day, or $6 an afternoon. They have no motors nor motor boats for rent. Furnished with the boats are nets and life preservers. The camp has 65 spaces with lights and water - $7 per Just north of the camp is the island for which the camp is named. It is a hillock that is separated from the mainland main-land by a shallow, grassy channel. Later in the season, when the water has been drained off, the island becomes a peninsula and can easily be reached on foot. Between this island and the camp is a small pomontory, a state beach, that accomodates accomo-dates windsurfers and sun-worshipping sun-worshipping being practiced while waiting for favorable and exciting winds. This territory pertains to the Island Boat Camp, ,but launching fees per board have not been charged unless the riders have come through the gate at the main camp. Season passes have been attained by those who serve the public there. Boards, equipment, instructions instruc-tions and lessons are usually available on a commercial basis as well as from those who know and show. Most windsurfers find this the spot for their best endeavors. The state has provided sanitary facilities at this beach. Clockwise-All cragts move easily away from dock at the State Park. Smaller sailboats will beach at short just sailing moments away. (Upper Right)Windsurfers wait out a clam. Steady and constant the breezes make this bay a sailor's paradise on most days. (Lower Right)Big and little fishermen use Charleston Bridge Boat Camp boats, an island of pleauser, nets help bring in the ones that don't get away, and someone is always willing will-ing to row to the best spots to get trout and perch. (Lower Left)Mother, daughter, and tube nymph enjoy the shallows at the beach. Easy access makes this location great for families. (Upper Left)Casual and humble it may be, but unfriendly, never. Charleston Bridge Boat Camp amkes visitors happy they've come. Guide service is special offering here. f " - ' 1. I l J . M ,. V -sr-- , "v , w-- .v-xxlK.0 . . , . .v.iX:-.-x... . ....vlH ..wl" ... r x, - , . i 3"' v i'-:r.:: - ,-."':'':. '- -:' : -I'.-y-;:.. :VN -. t:'-'-"- - -. '. ' 'SNr"Ww'.yjV :'-' -k ' " x x -I , x , .xx.xxx. ' , PS"'.-. - .X ., J X X. I vxx" s X x'" KV, vvl v r x.b i x s - - J x;SxX' .-":x; --.-.v.---.: : .. .X: v -. :w..::.ww:. fixxiixiiW v: - ::."xx-,.. .y: vx:-- : -:;v. . x. . ... x:-;.-... x . . x ; ;.xx- . ..x :-.;:: :w .....:XXNx.xx vxs-xx xi-xxxx-x: xXX;-.- ..x.x iixiS-xx;i lflillxS-l . X;V- . - W-XVXX XX V--"----, ""C' ..--X''v X,5-xx; - S-M,- s-X...-XXX-x,,sSW.S xx.. xv , xxxx-SSS-ss ZLJZr xW-.xxx xT ' x- d ..Mto. ' ""x .. .&' xx. -w..,. ..X ...sbw, .... x. , x. . T Down the road further, one sees a beautiful, little core. On some maps, this area is also designated as a boat camp, but there are no facilities there. From roadside road-side parking space, a path descends easily to the core beach. Here bathers, sun-ners, sun-ners, and fisherman can enjoy a quiet not found in other camps. Boats can be drawn up on shallow beaches. beach-es. Further out the water skiing appears excellent. C ; ; , v.. .., x r vv-. Jp-' xw x ,,r mmgS!, 3r r t .iisiiss:'', 1 -xjiwiix x. x |