The Circle of Life Continues …..

Last week Sheri’s mother, Linda Knutson passed away. While not unexpected, her death was not anticipated. Sheri’s relationship with her mother, like my relationship with my father was distant prior to their passing. Life begins and ends on its own terms. We are just along for the ride. The ride includes joy, sadness, accomplishments and regrets.

The relationships we cultivate can be the source of our greatest fulfillment. Unfortunately all relationships do not enjoy equal success. Like seeds, they sprout and bloom. Without maintenance and care, they can wither and die. Some of those we love follow paths that lead them away from us. Expressing a bond to loved ones who have isolated themselves, while hoping for reunification feels like standing on uneven ground.  The more invested you are in a relationship; the more pain must be endured when things are stretched thin. I have experienced both joy of a successful reunification and the disappointment of complete detachment from a loved one.

Island Park has given Sheri and me a beautiful setting to cultivate the relationships that we hold so dear. The caldera also provides a little bait to hook the grandkids into a little non-electronic bonding time.  Floating down Box Canyon or Big Springs, hiking along the Henry’s Fork or sitting around the campfire burning marshmallows give us the opportunity to express our interest in those we love. Island Park has also given us opportunities to develop wonderful relationships with many residents of the high country. For those opportunities we are truly grateful.

We all live with the regret of relationships not salvaged. I choose to look back on those relationships and relive the good times that we shared. Focusing on the negative is neither healthy nor productive. I am grateful for the time that someone has shared with me, no matter how fleeting.

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.

Life’s Necklace

Life is a series of experiences strung together like beads on the thread of daily life. A full life is built with memorable experiences. A rich life is built by including those you love when experiencing memorable moments, adding to their string of precious beads as well.  The more common beads one holds with others, the stronger the relationship.

Island Park is a wonderful place to share experiences and build relationships. The hike through the pines forest, the float down the river, a four-wheeler ride to the top of Sawtell or heartfelt conversation at the campfire create memories that stay with us forever.

But just like individual preference in jewelry, everyone searches out their own experiences. As relationships mature, less of the experiences are shared. Many of the beads are unfamiliar to others of the group. Like many great necklaces, there is usually a pendant, a special jewel that holds more value. Island Park has created more pendants than any single jeweler.

With the last week of summer visitor season almost upon us, it seems appropriate to give thanks for those we love and those we have met. Things change and this summer’s experiences will never be repeated.

We share new beads with those that we see daily, many that we won’t see for months or years and others that we will never see again. 

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!

Reconnecting with the Pioneers

With Pioneer Day/ Days of 47 being celebrated throughout the intermountain area this week, many travel to Island Park to enjoy the extended weekend. It isn’t difficult to understand why. Island Park’s environment harkens back to the days of the pioneers. The Lodgepole pine forest and the volcanic formations are unaltered from the days of the earliest trappers.

The forest environment is ideal for extended families to gather together in a reunion of shared love and heritage. The serenity allows for sincere conversations and reminiscing. Many find that a one-time reunion morphs into an annual event. The smell of a pine log campfire and the unobstructed night-time view of the heavens is calming, adding prospective to life in these complicated times.

Moose graze between small clusters of rustic log cabins. A night heron dives into the Henry’s Fork and ascends clutching a cutthroat trout. A glimpse of an elk standing behind the forest tree line or a herd of pronghorn grazing on the meadows of the Flat are all reminders of the country in an earlier time. Even the necessary precautions of bear spray and running a clean camp to avoid grizzly encounters are concerns shared by our ancestors.

With all the emphasis on electronics and twenty-four hour news cycles, Island Park allows us to reconnect with ourselves and contemplate life’s priorities. For all but a few hardy souls, Yellowstone Country is a short vacation from life’s grind. For our ancestors, this WAS their life. Take a few minutes this week to give thanks for those who came before us. They lived difficult lives so that our lives could be better.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Summer Friends *

It is great to see the summer residents that I missed over the winter. It is my favorite change that comes with Memorial Day weekend.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Spring Clean-up *

I am always amazed just how much I have to clean up after our dog when the snow melts.

Winter hides so many sins.

The Graveside

Sheri found this poignant story the other day and I felt the need to share it with you. In this time of stress and turmoil, we can all use a little spiritual uplift.

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn’t stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and the crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down. The vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played “Amazing Grace”, the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, and we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothin’ like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years!”

See what I mean. Don’t you feel better already!

Yellowstone Country Safety * The Game is On *

Don’t expect much out of us Sunday afternoon. The game will be on and we will be unavailable for errands or other nurturing acts.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Christmas Wishes *

Merry Christmas

May you be surrounded by those you love during this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Mike and Sheri

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 * Loved Ones *

There is nothing finer than being surrounded by those who love you and whom you love.

Road Trip

The arrival of our 13^th grandchild necessitated a road trip to Boise.  The opportunity to see our latest granddaughter was worth the trek through the flat and into the congestion of the Magic Valley. After the initial introductions and a good night’s sleep, three of our daughters’ families met for some quality time, and nothing says quality time in Boise like a group shopping trip to Cabela’s. We rendezvoused in the parking lot and entered the hallowed halls of animals, weapons and camo! 

With adults in tow, the kids went for the aquarium exhibit where the trout and bass were being fed. Oohs and aahs echoed through the fish exhibit as the large trout attacked the goldfish and worms that were dropped into the tank.

The next stop was the Duck Dynasty section where kids proclaimed their admiration for various cast members. Moving from the displays of the bearded ones, we proceeded to the mountain located in the center of the store that is decorated with numerous examples of wildlife. After answering the inquiries of the young ones, we documented our afternoon with a group photo.  It was ironic that we were standing in front of a bunch of taxidermy animals on a fake mountain, in a fake forest while the real thing was outside our door at home. A great time was had by all!

Hopping back in the cars, we fought the traffic back to the new addition’s home where her proud parents, Jen and Jose, grilled up some great carne asada tacos.

The 60 degree temperature, a complete absence of snow or an engulfing pine forest reminded me why I love Island Park.

It is always wonderful to visit family and this weekend was no exception. 

Yellowstone Country Safety * unhappy spouse *

Don’t aggravate your spouse. It is going to be a long winter and any cabin is too small if the other half is unhappy.

Bows and Knives

I enjoy sharing the experiences of the outdoors with my grandkids. I took my grandson Luke down to Coffee Pot Trail. While hiking along the river, I pointed out a few fresh moose tracks and some moose sign (poop). We discussed the difference between moose and elk sign. A few days later, Luke accompanied his mother and a friend on an afternoon fishing excursion. Upon their return, Heather said that her son correctly identified moose tracks and sign without being prompted.

Since Luke was showing an interest in the outdoors, I provided him a small bow and set up a target in the backyard. It didn’t take long for him to successfully impale the target from 20 feet. He was genuinely excited with his success.

It was time to teach this almost-five-year-old how to use a knife. I raided my stash of new knives that I keep for such occasions. Luke was surprised when I produced a 3 inch pocket knife. We began with a conversation about knife safety and practiced opening and closing the knife. We progressed to the proper technique of skinning bark from a stick, always cutting away from your body.  When we were through, he returned his knife to me for safe keeping.

The following day Luke and I went to the bank.  As we arrived he insisted on returning home to retrieve his knife. He wanted to show it to his friends at the bank, who always welcome him with smiles, kind words and a sucker.  After a quick trip to the cabin, he performed his knife handling skills and received praise and a sucker from the attentive audience. He was beaming with pride as we left.

Teaching outdoor skills provides youth with an alternative to being continually plugged into electronics. You can teach the next generation that knives, bows or guns are useful tools to be used safely and with respect.

It Feels Like Home

It Feels Like Home

Last Memorial Day weekend, my wife Sheri and I moved from Pocatello along with two cockatoos and an energetic malamute named Aspen to Island Park. We relocated ourselves and our company here because we felt that there could be no better place to live or work.  Our daughter, Heather followed shortly thereafter and opened The Salon at Mack’s Inn.

I was introduced to Island Park in 1961 at age seven. My grandfather owned a few undeveloped acres on the reservoir and after a visit to Yellowstone; he gave me the tour of his property. I moved to Pocatello in 1977 to become a police officer and it was then that I began to get reacquainted with this beautiful country. Camping with scouts or family or spending my Septembers bow hunting helped me to develop a love for the high mountain country.

 We started Bogden Outdoor Equipment, LLC in 2010. My first invention was the FlashLantern. The FlashLantern has a clear, solid fiber-optic mantle containing a circular prism which disperses light effectively and eliminates several breakable parts of traditional lanterns including mantles, globes and bulbs.

The FlashLantern uses an LED flashlight as its power source.

A bracket holds the FlashLantern in an inverted position from a rope harness with a quick release for hand use. It is manufactured in Idaho.

 We also sell a self-contained battery powered motion sensor floodlight called the NimoPD. I developed it as a nighttime perimeter defense and warning device against intruders, especially bears. We do most of our business via the internet at flashlantern.com. We also have a retail outlet in the Stage Stop at Mack’s Inn.

I have had numerous people tell us that they wish that they could live up here but weren’t brave enough to take the plunge. We started the YouTube channel Base Camp with Mike and Sheri to let others who can’t be here share in our experiences. We also wanted to chronicle some of the local events. We’ve posted videos on the Hungry Bear Market fire, the Fat Bike race and the Trails to Yellowstone public hearing. 

Everyone has been exceptionally kind and helpful as we transition from flatlanders. We have learned to appreciate the hardiness and character that is required to become a year-round resident of Island Park and hope to earn a place in this community.