Island Park is a Great Classroom

I have always enjoyed being outdoors. Father’s Day caused me to reminisce about the knowledge and values my family imparted to me. I remember my great-grandfather taking me on a walk along a stream bank in Logan as he selected a willow for a whistle. My grandfather introduced me to Island Park while returning from Yellowstone when I was seven. He also taught me how to fence and irrigate on his farm in Lehi, Utah during my teenage summers.

The point is that my introduction to the outdoors and outdoor skills were conveyed to me beginning at an early age by those who loved me. It was those small, seemingly insignificant efforts that shaped my life.

For those visiting Island Park, the environment allows parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents the opportunity to instill skills and values that will shape their family. The youth unplug and appreciate the majesty of a moose grazing in the river or the serenity of a float trip down a section of the Henry’s Fork. Each experience introduces them to the real world instead of the virtual world. Conversations can be kindled that allow the elder to reinforce the values essential to a successful life.

The twenty-four hour news cycles emphasizes the horror, difficulty and tension around the world. A love of nature and outdoor skills will give one’s family a way to withdraw and recharge as they tackle the difficulties of life. Don’t miss those opportunities to create a teaching memory. Mine those moments as you would mine for gold because what the family learns will be more precious than any metal.

God has given this great backdrop for sharing one’s love for another.

Use it wisely.

Identifying a Threat

Living near predators is dangerous regardless of how benign they may appear. People that either bait a bear into their yard or creep too close to get a better view can suffer a catastrophic attack. One must realistically identify a threat before a plan of avoidance or elimination can be developed.

The government approach to both the Ebola and ISIS threats are a bit too passive. In the case of ISIS (who have sworn to bring jihad to the USA), the advice is to not be too concerned because it is a regional problem. We will drop some bombs, tell others to mop up the mess and call it a day. A week after ISIS called on its followers to behead infidels in the USA; a Moore, Oklahoma woman was beheaded by a radicalized Muslim convert. The assault has been initially classified as “workplace violence”. There is a concern that a majority of Muslims will get their feelings hurt if the threat is identified as radical followers of the Prophet Mohammed.

So Grandma gets frisked at the airport because we don’t want to be accused of profiling. That’s like avoiding squirrels while walking through the forest because they are furry, just like grizzly bears. We certainly don’t want to give the bears a complex!  . Perhaps if there was less tolerance shown towards the Islamic world due to their destructive brothers, the Muslims themselves would rise up and eliminate the threat of the Jihadists.

Regarding Ebola, the virus is centered in three African countries. One would think that travel would be severely restricted from those countries until the epidemic has subsided, but no…… We are told that it will make things worse for the people in those countries if they can’t travel here. Well, that’s a dilemma, the safety of our families or the inability of a limited number of people to visit the states! We don’t want to bruise their self-esteem because we are selfishly concerned about contracting a deadly disease.

In the wild, one cannot avoid or confront a threat if that threat has not been identified. If you unknowingly walk upon a bear, no plan of action will help you avoid the consequences. Ignorance and hope is not a successful strategy for survival neither in the woods nor in the world.  

Medical Conditions and the Vacation

Vacations provide an opportunity to create a temporary distance from life’s stresses and recharge the batteries. Island Park provides a great atmosphere to decompress. Vacationing does not include neglecting your health issues. Many visitors this summer have experienced health problems requiring emergency medical attention.

Medical conditions stay with you and must be managed. It is easy to postpone personal care when you are engaged in enjoyable activities. While on a four-wheeler ride through the pine forest, checking your blood sugar may be forgotten. Gathering the family together for a float down the Henry’s Fork seems much more important than giving attention to a few slight chest pains.

Inattention to your health details can turn your vacation into a personal and family crisis. So while you are enjoying Island Park and leaving your world behind, be proactive with your medical conditions.

1.           Take your medication on time. Carry it with you along with a bottle of water, a syringe or whatever device necessary to administer your meds.
2.      Notify others in your party of any personal medical conditions, including food allergies.
3.            Instruct others in your party how to recognize the symptoms and respond if your medical condition should arise.
4.      For serious existing conditions, wear a medical alert pendant or bracelet.
5.      Do not dismiss early warning symptoms because it is inconvenient. A visit to the Island Park’s Clinic (next to Pond’s Lodge) is much more convenient than a helicopter flight to the hospital in Idaho Falls.

Be safe and have a great vacation in Yellowstone Country!

Yellowstone Country Safety * Huckleberry Picking *

If you see a person with purple-stained fingers, you know they are a successful huckleberry picker. The berries are on and tasty. Good luck hunting for the forest treats.

Power Outage

Sunday morning opened with beautiful Memorial Weekend weather. The serenity of the mountains had not yet been interrupted by the sound of four wheelers. As the clock approached 9 am, a failure in Idaho Falls interrupted the grid for the entire mountain from Ashton Hill to West Yellowstone.

The merchants were most immediately affected. With cash registers and gas pumps down, commerce came to a screeching halt.  Doug at Robin’s Roost calmly sat in a booth at the back of the store while assuring customers that the electricity would be reestablished soon as he checked for power company updates.

Chad at Mack’s Inn was beginning the second operational day of his new ice cream store when he was hit with no power, hence no refrigeration.  Making the best of the situation, he enthusiastically proclaimed all ice cream 50% off. Using ice from the nearby convenience store, the ice cream survived the crisis. Chad did mention that he was considering a backup generator.

I appreciated the calmness with which the merchants dealt with the power crisis which had interrupted their first busy retail weekend of the season. They reminded me of a duck on a pond. No matter fast a duck franticly paddles, above the surface he appears calm.

Returning to the cabin, I was faced with the one area of power loss that could not be ignored. Wells do not supply water when there is no power to the pumps. All of Island Park is on well water. Showers, dishes and laundry can wait but toilets, not so much! Grabbing a couple of 5 gallon buckets, I headed down to the river to fill them. Other bucket toting residents made the same pilgrimage. Ten gallons of water was enough to keep the toilet tank full until the power was restored.

The power was restored in stages beginning around noon. It was after 3:00pm before it was restored at Mack’s Inn.

Verizon Disappoints

When I purchased my first cell phone in 1992, I went with US Cellular because they had the best service in eastern Idaho, including Island Park. Later the service was purchased by Alltel and eventually the area was transferred to Verizon. I have stayed with the same service for 22 years because it was by far the strongest signal in areas where I work and hunt.

Around the first of the year, I noticed a distinct drop in Verizon Wireless’ cellular signal.  All three of our phones and our internet signal were all affected. I attributed it to weather interference and chose to live with the inconvenience until spring. Two weeks ago, I called the Verizon help desk and reported the problem. A service ticket was initiated. One week later I was contacted by a Verizon service employee with the results of the investigation.

She advised that the decrease in signal strength was not due to an equipment failure but could be due to either the realignment or the elimination of a tower. She said that the exact reason for the weaker signal was “proprietary” and could not be divulged. When pressed on how the company planned to resolve the problem, she said that Verizon had no immediate plans to improve service.

Verizon has a map of service areas. Island Park is listed as a non-priority area. The Verizon employee advised the area is low on the list to improve the current signal. She offered to let me out of my contract if I could find better service with another carrier. Unbelievable!

My response is to publish my experience, post it on my blog and forward a copy to Verizon. I would suggest that if any other residents have noticed a drop in their Verizon service as well, give them a call. I would suggest contacting the local sales offices or better yet, drop in and complain in person. While Verizon is advertising 4G service to the country, Island Park should be grateful for any-G! 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Carbon Monoxide Detectors *

Install Carbon Monoxide detectors in your cabin, especially if you heat with propane. The gas is odorless and fatal. It is worth the $30 investment!

Road Closure in Island Park Due to Snow!

A week after I wrote the article complaining about a lack of snow, we got a storm that closed Highway 20 both north and southbound out of Island Park.  This is the road to West Yellowstone and it was closed for more that 24 hours! Cool, huh?

Yellowstone Country Safety * False Snow Forecast *

My iPhone weather report indicated that were supposed to get snow every day last week. That was the most pitiful week of forecasted snow that I have seen!

Avoid Tragedy in Island Park

Last Saturday a snowmobiler crossed Highway 20 in front of a vehicle and died in the collision just north of Island Park Village. Norman Zullin of Long Island, New York was following a fellow rider in a dash across the highway and did not see the northbound vehicle. It was an immediate and tragic end to a vacation in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

The same afternoon as the collision, I was pulling into Elk Creek when three snowmobilers jetted across the parking lot entrance. The snow berms concealed them from view. They did not slow as they crossed in front of my suburban. Had I not caught a glimpse of a helmet and slowed, the results could have been as tragic as the collision on Highway 20. I recently saw a snowmobiler park behind a truck at Robin’s Roost. The driver began to back up when a pedestrian alerted him to the sled’s presence, averting a crisis.

The snow accumulation diminishes the low-slung snow machines’ visibility to motorists. It also inhibits the snowmobiler’s ability to get a clear vision of road traffic. It is essential that the snowmobiler’s approach to a roadway be cautious. It is understandable that after a carefree and wild snowmobile ride in the back country, the rider forgets that traffic exists when coming down off the mountains. Drive defensively. Snowmobilers that are accustomed to looking for boulders, stumps and other hazards in the back country may be less attentive in the populated areas of Island Park.

It is incumbent upon snowmobile operators to avoid collisions with cars and trucks. The sled will be on the short end of any encounter. Please be cautious while enjoying Island Park. The residents want you to have a memorable visit and return home safely to tell others of your adventure. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Tow Straps *

Keep a tow strap in your rig. It may help you avoid a tow bill if you get stuck in the snow.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Christmas Compassion *

During this final week before Christmas, look for someone who is struggling and surprise them with an act of kindness. Most hide their difficulties, so be attentive and compassionate

Yellowstone Country Safety * Winter Survival *

Pack a small go-bag before snowmobiling away from the populated areas of Island Park.

Include: a knife, two types of fire starters (matches, a lighter or magnesium starter), dry newspaper in a Zip-Lock, a flashlight or lantern, a tarp, food, water, rope, a compass, cell phone and a gps.

Don’t get stuck in the back country without a survival kit.

It’s all in the Preparation

In the winter of 2009 I was living in Pocatello when the local news announced an impending storm. The storm was labeled “the storm of the century” with forecasts for three feet of snow. Store shelves were emptied of food and water as residents stockpiled provisions in anticipation of the apocalyptic event. When the day of the storm arrived, we received about a foot of snow! What a letdown.

I was in Pocatello last week meeting with several clients. I was repeatedly asked about how I coped with the Island Park winter, especially the snow fall. They were surprised when I told them that I enjoyed the winter. It is fun adapting to the challenges of the lower temperatures and higher snow fall. I explained that one has to prepare for winter before it begins. Exterior cabin repairs must be made before everything is winterized and stored away. Firewood is split, stacked and covered. Propane tanks are filled. The pantry is stocked and winter clothes are replaced if necessary.

I explained to my friends that the trick to enjoying the winters in Island Park is to be ready for them before they arrive. That is why when we get a three foot snow, the shelves at Robin’s Roost remain stocked.

The residents of Island Park have learned how to avoid crisis through preparation. I have benefited from good friends who continue to teach me how to make winters enjoyable in the high country. I am sure that without their help I would have been jumping from one winter crisis to another instead of enjoying the beauty of Island Park’s winter white cloak. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * Winterize Cabin *

Check and replace old weather-stripping around doors. Inspect chimneys for creosote buildup. 

All That Is Old Is New Again

   In 1991, I began selling life and health insurance. The work was long but the money was decent and it seemed that I could be a help to others. It was a life far removed from the previous 11 years that I spent as a police officer for the City of Pocatello and as an owner of a bodybuilding gym.  Later I expanded into mutual funds and business was good. The industry was changing however. No longer did the corporate headquarters recognize significant value of agents in small markets. Eventually the company was sold to an international concern and I was let go.

   We started Bogden Outdoor Equipment in the hope that we could create an income for ourselves. I designed the Flashlantern and we were off and rolling. While promoting our new venture, I also spent the past year doing some bail bonds and fugitive recovery work.

New snowfall June 6 in the mountains above the cabin.

   I remarried eight years ago to Sheri and while I was dealing with my transition, she was facing her own obsolescence. She had been working in a mail house but the years of hard work had taken it's toll on her body. She has endured two surgeries on her right arm within the previous 18 months and was let go from her job.


   We became a couple who were both middle-aged and discarded . After some introspection, we decided that since the job market was not good, we would create our own jobs. We believe that one of the greatest advantages of this country is the ability to reinvent one's self  and create economic opportunity!




      We started Bogden Outdoor Equipment in the hope that we could create an income for ourselves. I designed the Flashlantern and we were off and rolling. While promoting our new venture, I also spent the past year doing some bail bonds and fugitive recovery work.  I took Sheri with me on a few arrests and she seemed to have fun.

   Finally, Sheri and I had an opportunity to move to Island Park, Idaho. We live about 5 miles west of the western border of Yellowstone Park. We both felt that it was time to reboot our lives and see what life has in store for us. This blog is a chronicle of our journey. Wish us luck and follow along if you would like.

  You can check out our products by clicking on the FlashLantern link on the right side of the blog page.

Emergency Preparedness

It looks like everyone is in panic mode since potassium iodide sales are going through the roof. Be attentive but be calm.

Emergency Preparedness

With the potential of nuclear pollution being expelled from the Japanese power plants, it would be wise to keep an eye on the movement any radiation  in the US and to have a supply of powdered milk, especially if you  have children. If fallout drifts to the United States, it will show up in the milk supply.  Potassium Iodide tablets can be stocked in a 72 hour kit but there is nothing to currently indicate that taking them now would be prudent.
Pray that they can settle down those reactors!

Emergency Preparedness

   It was shocking to see the damage caused by the Tsunami in Japan. Being used to movie special effects, I  struggled to comprehend the loss of life that was occurring before my eyes. Pray for those who are suffering. Tsunami photo
   I lived in Crescent City, California during 1974-75. It is a tranquil, isolated spot nestled between the ocean and the redwoods. Who would have guessed yesterday that the people of Crescent City would have their lives uprooted by a Japanese earthquake!
   This event reminded me how important 72 hour kits are. These unforeseen events have a direct and immediate effect on our lives. Know what you need and where it is .... in case you have to grab and go.

Environment

Stay away from CFLs, the corkscrew light bulb. They contain mercury. It makes no sense to introduce mercury into one's house or into our landfills. CFLs will end up being the 8 track tape players of lighting. Wait for something much better to be introduced. Stock up on regular light bulbs while they are still available. Here is an article by Mike Snyder that you might find informative:  get-your-dirty-hands-off-of-our-light-bulbs. An article by  Deirdre Imus about the danger-lurking-compact-fluorescent-light-bulbs reinforces this view. Control what you introduce into your family's environment!
         
                                                                                                                                                       MB