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| The Sons of the Utah Pioneers awarded the Hole in the Rock Float with the Pioneers Award |
Thursday, July 28, 2011
And the Winner is...
Pieces of the Float
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| The cactus at the bottom of Hole in the Rock |
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| This is how rocks are made |
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| The wagon coming down the Hole in the Rock |
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| Lizard keeping an eye on things |
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| A cute puppy with its creator |
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| The rooster flying over head |
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| The Hole in the Rock mountain |
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| Matt unloading a horse |
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| Putting the pieces together on the float |
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| Sewing fabric for the float |
Creating the Float
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| The wagon |
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| The ramp for the wagon |
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| Jen painting the mountain |
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| Hieroglyphics on the mountainside |
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| Jen, Bob, and Brother Smith working on the mountain |
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| Linda and Jen causing the mountain to shimmer |
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| Don applying more shimmer to the mountain |
A Rooster and Some Cacti
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| Working on the rooster's tail feathers |
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| The rooster's "comb" |
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| Jeannine with the completed rooster |
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| Ashley applying glitter |
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| Drilling holes in the cacti |
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| Jeannine adding the finishing touches-probably glitter |
Friday, July 8, 2011
Giddy-Up!
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| What will this become? |
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| Matt sanding a horse body |
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| This horse looks great! |
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| Another picture of this fabulous horse |
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| Matt with the horse, just for scale |
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Float Creations
People have been busy creating and decorating the items that will go on the float.
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| Ashley and Courtney rasping prickly pear |
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| Ashley tracing petals |
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| Mia Maids from the 8th Ward painting petals |
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| Ashley painting yucca |
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| Courtney painting yucca |
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| Courtney glittering |
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| Hyllarie glittering cactus thorns |
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| Jeannine making a butterfly |
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| Bob and Austin building the wagon |
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| Don framing the float |
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| Don with the wheel against the float frame |
The float is coming together. We appreciate everyone who has helped us thus far. Stay tuned to watch the building of the Hole in the Rock float.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The History of Hole in the Rock
**This information was taken from the National Park Service website located at http://www.nps.gov/glca/historyculture/holeintherock.htm. If you are interested in learning more, please go to that website.**
Hole in the Rock
The Expedition
Leaving their homes east of the Mississippi River because of religious persecution, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) began arriving in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. By the 1870s, they had expanded settlements into the southern portions of what is today the state of Utah. Few Mormon families, however, were living in the region east of the Colorado River, and the area was void of any major settlement. In order to establish a stronger foothold, the Mormon Church organized the San Juan mission to select a site for settlement in the region.
A call to fill the mission was issued by the Mormon Church in 1878-1879. A scouting party under the direction of Silas S. Smith left Paragonah, Utah, in April, 1879, to determine a route and search for a suitable place to establish the new colony. A site at the mouth of Montezuma Creek on the San Juan River was selected, but a viable route was still uncertain. If the expedition chose either route used by the scouts, it would mean a trip of nearly 500 miles (800 km). A short-cut, thought to be simpler, was chosen with a rendezvous at Forty-Mile Spring, south of the town of Escalante. The expedition, consisting of 250 men, women, and children, 83 wagons, and over 1000 head of livestock, gathered at the appointed place in November, 1879.
Leaving their homes east of the Mississippi River because of religious persecution, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) began arriving in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847. By the 1870s, they had expanded settlements into the southern portions of what is today the state of Utah. Few Mormon families, however, were living in the region east of the Colorado River, and the area was void of any major settlement. In order to establish a stronger foothold, the Mormon Church organized the San Juan mission to select a site for settlement in the region.
A call to fill the mission was issued by the Mormon Church in 1878-1879. A scouting party under the direction of Silas S. Smith left Paragonah, Utah, in April, 1879, to determine a route and search for a suitable place to establish the new colony. A site at the mouth of Montezuma Creek on the San Juan River was selected, but a viable route was still uncertain. If the expedition chose either route used by the scouts, it would mean a trip of nearly 500 miles (800 km). A short-cut, thought to be simpler, was chosen with a rendezvous at Forty-Mile Spring, south of the town of Escalante. The expedition, consisting of 250 men, women, and children, 83 wagons, and over 1000 head of livestock, gathered at the appointed place in November, 1879.
Down The Hole
The "short-cut" proved to be deceptive, and the pioneers spent the winter at Forty-Mile Spring. A portion of the group camped at the top of the Hole-in-the-Rock, a narrow crack in the canyon rim 2.5 miles (4 km) downstream from the mouth of the Escalante River. It was through this notch that the party intended to make its way. Throughout the winter, they worked on the crack, enlarging the opening.
Work was slow and tedious with only pick axes, shovels, and limited quantities of blasting powder available. The precipitous drop to the river below was nearly 2000 feet (610 m) with an average grade of 25 degrees, although some places were as steep as 45 degrees. At last, on January 26, 1880, the expedition made its way slowly down the precarious road. A ferry built at the river by Charles Hall and others was used to cross the river.
The "short-cut" proved to be deceptive, and the pioneers spent the winter at Forty-Mile Spring. A portion of the group camped at the top of the Hole-in-the-Rock, a narrow crack in the canyon rim 2.5 miles (4 km) downstream from the mouth of the Escalante River. It was through this notch that the party intended to make its way. Throughout the winter, they worked on the crack, enlarging the opening.
Work was slow and tedious with only pick axes, shovels, and limited quantities of blasting powder available. The precipitous drop to the river below was nearly 2000 feet (610 m) with an average grade of 25 degrees, although some places were as steep as 45 degrees. At last, on January 26, 1880, the expedition made its way slowly down the precarious road. A ferry built at the river by Charles Hall and others was used to cross the river.
San Juan Settlement
Once across the river, the pioneers discovered that their problems had only just begun. Through a rough, perilous, uncharted wilderness the group made its way. Remarkably, no lives were lost. In fact, two babies were born. After long months of hard work and deprivation, the party reached the San Juan River. Though several miles short of their goal, the determined but weary travelers founded their new home at the current site of Bluff, Utah. A journey that was to have taken six weeks took six months instead. The Hole-in-the-Rock Road continued to be used as the primary link between Bluff and the established settlements to the west for several years. It was eventually abandoned in favor of a better route.
**This information was taken from the National Park Service website located at http://www.nps.gov/glca/historyculture/holeintherock.htm. If you are interested in learning more, please go to that website.**
Once across the river, the pioneers discovered that their problems had only just begun. Through a rough, perilous, uncharted wilderness the group made its way. Remarkably, no lives were lost. In fact, two babies were born. After long months of hard work and deprivation, the party reached the San Juan River. Though several miles short of their goal, the determined but weary travelers founded their new home at the current site of Bluff, Utah. A journey that was to have taken six weeks took six months instead. The Hole-in-the-Rock Road continued to be used as the primary link between Bluff and the established settlements to the west for several years. It was eventually abandoned in favor of a better route.
Hole-in-the-Rock Today
Most of the original Hole-in-the-Rock trail is visible today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a silent monument to the faith and tenacity of those first Mormon pioneers.
Whether you approach it from land or water, much of the original trail is visible, though approximately one-third is now under the waters of Lake Powell. Visitors may hike the passage - one-half mile (.8 km) each way.
Carry water and plan on a minimum of one hour for the round trip. The trail is very rocky, so wear sturdy hiking shoes. Time and the elements have sent large boulders and other debris into the passage, making it difficult to identify much of the original road. On the other hand, this may make it easier to appreciate the obstacles and considerable amount of work done to create the road in the first place.
Most of the original Hole-in-the-Rock trail is visible today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It remains a silent monument to the faith and tenacity of those first Mormon pioneers.
Whether you approach it from land or water, much of the original trail is visible, though approximately one-third is now under the waters of Lake Powell. Visitors may hike the passage - one-half mile (.8 km) each way.
Carry water and plan on a minimum of one hour for the round trip. The trail is very rocky, so wear sturdy hiking shoes. Time and the elements have sent large boulders and other debris into the passage, making it difficult to identify much of the original road. On the other hand, this may make it easier to appreciate the obstacles and considerable amount of work done to create the road in the first place.
**This information was taken from the National Park Service website located at http://www.nps.gov/glca/historyculture/holeintherock.htm. If you are interested in learning more, please go to that website.**
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