Monster Update

Here's an important example of why it's important to take photos when you've got the opportunity. The irony of it all will be revealed in a moment.

On Friday, we took our scout troop on a hike through the lava fields west of Idaho Falls, and included 17-Mile Cave as part of the trip. The cave is the home of the Monster, which features so prominently on the banner of this blog.

He has been altered somewhat in the few years since I took this photo. Unfortunately, not for the better, in my opinion. Also unfortunately, I forgot to bring a camera to document the trip so I have no proof to post here. Someone, however, has taken orange paint and tried to make him look more dinosaurish, but in an amateurish way taht detracts from the overall effect, rather than adding to it.

He has been joined by other monsters, however, which add to the overall spooky effect of the entire spooky package. It's likely I've got to drive to work one day next week, so I'll be sure to smuggle a camera with me so I can get some photos of the guy to post here later.

Hiking Toward Sith Lord Rock

I've been on this trail before -- it's the trail to the Palisades Lakes in eastern Bonneville County, Idaho, but I had never noticed on the cliff face, about a half mile in from the trailhead, this little rock formation on the north canyon wall. If you squint your eyes just right and look at the little rock poking up between the two big rocks, it kinda looks like Darth Vader standing there, leaning into the wind a bit, contemplating his ultimate badness as he stares out over the canyon. So from now on, this place will be known as Sith Lord Rock.

I've been to the Upper Palisades lake a few times, and it's a beautiful place. I took my wife hiking up there shortly after we got married in 1997, and we got drenched. The lake was high, so the campground I picked out beforehand was waterlogged. We also got rained on all night. The tent leaked, and we ended up sleeping in a puddle. It rained all the way out as well. As we were hiking out, after a cold breakfast because there was no dry wood for the fire, a few other hikers passed us. "Were you camped out at the Upper Lake," one of them asked. We answered yes. "Rough night, wasn't it?" We had to agree. There were so many drips from the clouds and trees it sounded like we had a herd of horses outside the tent all night. And we were none too happy about all the wet.

This last time we went up, we only hiked a few miles because we had the kids with us, and they're not too hep on hiking yet. Well, our daughter would probably make it, but the boys, it's questionable. We need to toughen them up.