12-31-2014 Cover photo of the Island Park Journal

Visiting snowmobilers leaving Robin's Roost after gassing up on 12-27-2014

The Snow Has Arrived!

A little more than a week ago employees of local businesses felt like Maytag repairmen. I swear that I heard an echo when I entered a store and said “Hi” to a clerk. A couple of feet of snow later, things are hoppin’ in the caldera. I believe I saw the Lodgepoles sway from a collective sigh of relief as merchants were suddenly inundated with snowmobile enthusiasts.

Crowds of sleds surround gas pumps in clusters. Adults and kids alike are completely outfitted in the latest snowmobile apparel. The inside of the stores looks more like a Star Wars convention where everyone decided to wear their Darth Vader costume. Stocking up on munchies, the procession returns to the pumps. Firing up the sleds, their pending excursion is confirmed and off they go in single file. Their adventure is on.

What must be acknowledged is their joy as they tour the Island Park Caldera that is blanketed in white. For many, this is an annual opportunity, for some it is a weekly event and for others it is a once in a lifetime experience. It is difficult to tell from their enthusiasm which visitors cherish the experience more.

Island Park offers much of the scenery available in Yellowstone Park without the heavy hand of the Park Service. It is truly a blessing to have this corner of Yellowstone Country available to tour on snowmobiles. Residents of the caldera enjoy hosting visitors who appreciate what we have been blessed with.

Remember to be safe while operating your machines. Watch out for traffic when crossing roads. Don’t allow your speed to exceed your control of the sled. We want you to return home safely, with great memories of your visit.

Tragedies in Pocatello Hit Close to Home

A week and a half ago, two Pocatello families that Sheri and I knew suffered tragic accidents. Colan Deatherage was Sheri’s pastor at the Pocatello Baptist Church. Colan was on a father and son’s outing near Pinedale, Wyoming when the throttle of the snowmobile he was driving stuck open, sending him into a tree. He leaves behind a wife and six children.

The same weekend, Bill Parrish, his wife and their two youngest children succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while they slept due to a malfunctioning water heater. They leave behind their two oldest children, who were both on LDS missions at the time of the accident. The victims were found by close relatives Brian Curtis and wife when they did not show up for a church and a family gathering. Brian had been my neighbor and one of my scouts when I was scoutmaster.

In times of tragedy, one struggles to find meaning in crisis. Many find comfort in the belief that difficulties are orchestrated as part of a grand plan. My attitude is a bit more cynical, that sometimes life just sucks and things aren’t always fair. Life’s test is to accept the cards that you are dealt and adapt while maintaining your faith. When one door closes, another door opens but the transition can hurt to the bone.

Please remember the Deatherage and Parrish families in your prayers. Their hearts are heavy with grief and they will struggle with their losses.

Yellowstone Country Safety * Sledding While Intoxicated *

Driving intoxicated on a snow machine is dangerous and unlawful. If you straighten out a corner and take out a tree, the tree will win!