ALL THINGS TESTIFY OF CHRIST THE CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH AND
ALL THAT IN THEM IS.
- Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season
thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to
please the eye and to gladden the heart;
- Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to
strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
Doctrine and Covenants, 59:18-19
As I begin to write on this wonderful subject my memory
and my heart fill with feelings that have come into my heart when I
have seen the beauties of the world. As I have seen a delicate Tiger
Lily or stood on a high ridge and viewed the vast expanse of the
Sierra Madre mountains. I have had the words come warmly into my full
heart, "Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is the great creator of all
things and he did it out of love for us". Many times I understood that
these revelations came to me as words put into my mind and heart by
the whisperings of the holy Ghost. I will attempt to write of just a
few of the occasions when my heart and mind were receptive to the
joyous feelings of revelation and the warm strengthening of my
conviction that I am a son of God and that Jesus is the only begotten
of the Father and by Him all things were made that were made.
My brother Claudius and I went on many hunts together
and would share our feelings and wonder about the beauty of the
mountains and the glory of the wildlife that live out their lives
filling the measure of their creation. Our desire to share all of this
with our families grew. We made plans for such a trip using the excuse
that we wanted to take Grandma fishing and include all of our
families. This however was Claudius and Nelle and family and Naoma and
I and our family. We wanted Grandma to go with us even though she
didn't like fish and didn't like to fish.
We talked it up within our families and included all of
the little children in the excitement of packing and getting ready for
the anticipated week long trip into the distant and remote canyons of
the Sierra Madre. Karl was our littlest and was a little over two
years, then Tracy was a very active four year old. Jenene was our
beautiful little curly headed six year old. Kiko at thirteen, Mary at
eleven Susie at nine and our Sammy at eight were getting big enough to
share in making the comfortable beds in our old Chevy pickup with a
heavy green shiny canvas stretched tight over the bows of the
"Redilas". Soon all was ready so that the kids could either lay in the
back on the nice bed or climb through the front bow into the basket
over the cab of the truck where they could ride in the wind on a board
seat placed there for that purpose.
Monday morning dawned bright and sunny and found us all
loading up the trucks. Excitement and anticipation was written on each
little face. I was excited that all of our children were going to go
with us . Naoma and I sat in the front seat of the truck. Our little
blonde Sammy would soon be sleeping comfortably in the back of the
truck in the shade of the canvas cover. We were not worried about Karl
because both Kiko and Tracy would take care of him. They were always
worried about the safety of the other kids. The rest of the kids would
be changing back and forth between the soft bed in the back and the
seat in the basket over the cab. They had padded the board seat with a
quilt and were riding comfortably over the cab in the open air.
Grandma was riding with Claudius and Nelle and their family.
We passed through Colonia Juarez and crossed the long
flat. Soon we were climbing up the old grade. Every thing was fresh
and green and the wild flowers were blooming on each side of the road.
The ground was still wet from the recent rain and in some places a
little trickle of water was running down the road. We stopped high up
on the grade to enjoy the view of the big valley below. Mary and Susie
were eager to show Grandma their mountain. They called eagerly to
Grandma pointing across the deep canyon to the mountain across the
way, "See grandma we named it the Taffy Candy Mountain". Grandma
giggled and said, "it surely looks like Taffy Candy".
The girls knew about Taffy Candy because they had often
helped Grandma make her famous pink white and green Taffy Candy at
Christmas time.
We traveled on over the top of the mountain and down
through the Park. Here Claudius stopped and as we all gathered around
he told us of the big Scout Jamboree that had been held there when he
was a scout. Over a thousand scouts assembled from New Mexico and
Texas for a week of Scout activities and camp in that beautiful park
like canyon with a clear stream of water running through it. He told
us of the giant pines and the belt high grass that grew there then
before the logging of forest.
When we came to Arch Flat we stopped and most of us
climbed up the Cliff dwelling that is on the east side of that
beautiful place. The children were excited to go into the little key
hole doors and look out of the little windows. It seemed to them like
their little doll house and they wondered at the smallness of the
rooms and the doors and windows.
We traveled on through Strawberry and took the left
fork to go through Hop Valley on to Garcia. The main road at that time
was well kept and we could travel easily along the graded road through
the beautiful Pine Forests. We came down into Pea Cock Canyon and
turned into some long beautiful meadows with a little clear cold
stream running through them. We stopped to rest and get a good cold
drink of water. Grandma got out and walked into the little meadow
where there was a single beautiful Tiger lily in full bloom among the
waxy star flowers. As she stood admiring these most rare and beautiful
flowers the children gathered around her silently watching to see what
Grandma was doing. She stood silent for a long moment then stooped and
plucked the graceful Lily and clutched it to her with tears in her
eyes. Probably remembering some time long ago when her Dear Husband
Claude shared these blooms with her. My heart was full of gratitude
for that occasion and the feelings it invoked.
We traveled on through La Mesa and on to Chuhuichipa.
We drove around the town letting the children see the old brick homes
and the Church house with it's bell in it's little tower on top of the
roof . We turned north and went the full length of the beautiful
Valley of the Mist. We traveled through El Norte where the Saw Mill
was sawing logs. On the west of the Saw Mill the pond was full of logs
waiting to be sawed.
We traveled on to North Valley where a few years before
I had attended a Rodeo given by D. S. Brown on his farm where he had
his home at that time. The road turned west skirting the fields and
house of the Old North Valley home. Soon we came to a little side road
where we turned off onto the road that crossed a big mesa covered with
dense Pine forest. We soon dropped into a beautiful high meadow. In
this meadow was a spring of water that ran across the road and down
into the Canyon. This meadow and stream is called La Radiola. Emilio
Burgos was camped in a little cabin on a little rise on the north side
of the Meadow. He had come out to get his cowboy and animals ready for
our use. We visited with him for awhile. He was pleased to see the
trucks full of children and family. He said that he would send the
Animals over in the morning. With the saddles we had there would be
enough for most of us to ride.
We decided to camp in the nearest campsite to the
Chuchupate Canyon where we intended to fish. We pulled off the road
into our campsite on the north side of the little cold clear stream in
the Canyon. We all got out grateful to stretch after the long day of
travel.
First we put up our two tarps and kitchen flys then I
built a fire to draw the kids together and make our camp seem like
home. We found a level spot for Grandma's tent and pitched it complete
with rain fly. We put in a four inch sleeping pad and made the bed
with sheets and a nice heavy quilt placing her pillow at the head.
Mary and Susie ran to bring Grandma to show her the tent and bed for
her.
I set up a tent for Mary, Susie and Jenene which they
could share easily. We were using our blue J. C. Penney three man
tents which we used for many years with great success.
After all of the tents were up and all had their own
place to sleep, we unloaded the food boxes and began to fix supper.
Dark came quickly in the canyon and after supper and prayer the
children were anxious to try out their beds in their snug tents. I
could hear the zip as they closed first the outer tent flap down the
middle then closing the bottom from each side. Then the zip, zip as
they closed the inside screen in the same way. Here we were with all
of our little family snugged down for the night, camped in this
beautiful place with the wonderful days before us. I don't remember
one word of complaint or criticism in all that long day of travel.
Naoma and I said goodnight to all and turned out the gas lantern,
crawled into our little tent and found our comfortable bed. My heart
was filled with gratitude for my wonderful wife and our children. I
thanked the Lord for our safe arrival and for Claudius and his family
to share with us this wonderful experience.
The next morning as I sensed the first light creep into
our tent I got up quietly and dressed quickly. I took my 3006 Rifle
from behind the truck seat and walked away to the west up the steep
canyon. As I climbed higher the light increased until it was quite
light even in the narrow canyon where I was climbing. I neared the top
walking slowly and watching carefully all around. I heard a snorting
whistle of a big White Tailed Buck Deer. Suddenly he appeared about 50
yards away and stopped in the full light of the morning. He was
looking all around trying to locate me in the shadow of the canyon
below. I quickly aimed and shot. He disappeared for a few seconds then
reappeared in the same place as before. I quickly aimed and shot again
and again he disappeared. I walked cautiously up to where I had seen
him and there lay two big bucks about ten feet from each other. They
were beauties. Their coat was a dark gray almost blue at this time of
year and they each had a full rack of four point horns that were even
and shiny. I cleaned them and hung them in a tree near the trail. When
I got back down to camp Claudius was up fixing breakfast and the
cowboy had arrived with the riding animals. Naoma was up and I asked
her to go with me help me bring in the Deer. We saddled up two mules
and climbed up the steep trail to where I had hung the Deer in the
tree. Naoma was surprised to see two Deer instead of the one she had
expected. I got them tied one behind Naoma's saddle and one behind
mine. The mules were accustomed to carrying Deer and did not give us
any trouble getting them tied on. We were soon back to camp and I hung
the Deer high in the deep shade of a big tree. Claudius sliced up some
of the liver from one of the Deer and smothered it in onions for
breakfast. I think Naoma and I and Claudius were the only ones that
had liver and onions for breakfast.
After all had eaten and the dishes were washed and the
camp was put up we started the business of getting everyone on a horse
or a mule to go down the rugged canyon to where we could fish below
the falls. We got Grandma on a pretty little pinto mule that was
quiet, calm and willing. Grandma was grateful for this pretty little
docile surefooted animal to ride. We were sure she would enjoy her
ride with this little mule. That little mule knew she was carrying
precious cargo and she went along at an easy gate without urging. She
was careful to guard against getting to close to trees and protected
Grandma's knees.
I asked the Cowboy to choose the tamest and the best
mule he had and one that could not be frightened by noise or flapping
clothing. One that would be steady at all times no matter what the
rider did. He finally came forward with a brown mule that filled all
of the requirements. As we got Aunt Nelle mounted on that mule the
canyon rang with shrieks of terror and moans of protest accompanied
with laughter as only Aunt Nelle can laugh. I was reminded of Uncle
Loren, her father, as he yelled and carried on at the ball games.
When all were mounted we proceeded down the rugged
canyon trail. Claudius and the cowboy were in the lead with Aunt Nelle
close behind. I brought up the rear following Naoma. I will never
forget the loud shrieks and the booming OOOOOH'S as aunt Nelle
encountered terrifying and for her impassable places in the trail To
this day I don't really know how much of her noise was from terror or
how much was just putting on a show but I suspect that it was a bit of
both.
The fishing was good in the beautiful little canyon
down below the falls. I spent time helping our children to learn to
fish. Naoma was content to take care of little Karl and watch the
proceedings. Kiko was not interested in fishing so he rode his mule
down the canyon as far as he could go and back around observing the
efforts of the fishermen. About noon all seemed to get tired of
fishing and Naoma passed out left over sandwiches from the day before.
We sat in the cool of the canyon and listened to the rush of falling
water of the falls. I explained to the children that this creek ran
down the steep solid rock chute at the end of the canyon and tumbled
into the Chuhuichupa River where it joined the waters of the big river
and ran clear to the coast into the Obregon Dam in Sonora.
We enjoyed the ride up the beautiful canyon back to
camp. The whoops and shrieks were less on the way back but Ant Nell
vowed that we would never get her to do it again.
Back at camp we unsaddled the animals and the cowboy
took them back to La Radiola for the night. I thanked the cowboy and
told him that he had made it possible to have an unforgettable day
here in the mountains. He said he would be back in the morning with
the animals and that we were very welcome to use them all we wanted
to.
Before he left I lowered one of the Deer and skinned it
out before an interested audience of girls and boys. I cut of a leg of
venison and gave it to the cowboy for his camp. I cut out the
Tenderloins and proceeded to slice them up . I carefully dipped each
piece in flour and salt and placed it on the grill to fry. By the time
I was finished Susie and Roberta were the only interested watchers.
They were sitting near the fire watching my every move. When I
finished with the Venison I began a commentary. "Now we will get the
fish that we have soaking in salt water and put them on the grill and
fry them in plenty of butter so they will taste just right." Susie
commented, "Grandma doesn't like fish". I told her that when I was a
little boy Grandma would go ahead and fry the fish I brought home even
though she hated the smell of fish. I told them that Grandma could
have all of the venison that she wanted to eat and didn't need to even
see or come close to the fish. While I was doing the Venison and the
fish Claudius came and fixed the potatoes and gravy and baked hot
Bisquits in the Dutch Oven and supper was ready. After the Blessing on
the food everyone ate hungrily and commented on the good food. There
is nothing like riding in the mountains all day to make the food taste
good.
The next two days were enjoyed riding around the
country. We took them all to ride over the beautiful Chuchupate Mesa
and showed them where the trail goes down into the Toro Ranch. We even
got a view of the Chuhuichupa River basin. In the hazy distance we
could see into the North where the River turns in front of Bull Peak
and runs to the west. As we took in this vast scene again my heart was
full and I commented aloud, "What a magnificent creation the world
is".
After Anthony was born Naoma said that now it was time
for the family to go on a camping trip into the Sierra Madre because
she had been confined carrying the Baby a long time. Easter week
vacation came along and we invited my Cousin Leland Robinson and his
family to go with us on a camping trip and to call a few Turkeys. They
decided that only he and Marge would go so they packed their camp in
their truck We made all of the preparations and loaded all of the camp
outfit and all of the saddles and Aparejos.
We traveled together up the Tinaja wash and climbed out
the Cuesta de Los Botes up onto the Norte. We crossed the Llanos Altos
and traveled along the continental divide and dropped into El
Gavilancito. As we passed the Villa Ranches we stopped to say hello to
Chapo Villa. We passed the Whetten Ranch on the Gavilan and the old
airstrip on the mesa. We passed through Los Chales and El Perdido and
started the climb up onto the high ridge between Gavilan River, as it
runs south, and the Hole on the West. About half way up the steep
climb they dug out a place on the steep side hill. Big enough for a
big truck to turn around in and go on up the hill. This loop is rather
confusing because you turn around then there are two roads side by
side and if you are not careful you take the wrong one and start back
down. I know three cases when this happened and they went back until
they recognized where they had been before and realized that they were
going back the way they came.
It was a relief to finally climb out of that steep
winding hillside onto the high level ridge road. Here we felt like we
were on the top of the world. The road goes along this high ridge all
of the way to where it turns to cross the Sonora line and drop into
Tres Rios. In places we stopped to show our families where you could
sit in the truck and look down into the Gavilan on the east and turn
and look down into the vast Hole Country on the west. At this place
the ridge was just wide enough for the road to go on safely. It
dropped off steeply on both sides of the narrow ridge at this
point.
Soon we came to the big Pine Tree with a big cross cut
into it's side and turned off the road to the left into our Temporary
camp. Emilio Burgos' Cowboy was there to meet us as was prearranged.
The next two hours were spent in saddling all of the mounts and
packing up the mules for the decent down the rugged steep trail to the
Gavilan River below.
Leland and Marge decided that they would stay on top
and hunt Turkey along the high mesa near the Sonora line. They would
go down the next day to camp with us on the river.
Naoma got on her mule and I handed her our little
Anthony who was only 5 weeks old at that time. She carefully slung him
in a big Reboso and tied it around her shoulders. We all mounted up
and followed the steep trail to the gate that closes the trail at the
Campo Santo. The Campo Santo is an Ancient Burial Ground that is a
level place on the very steep side hill. The level place is about an
Acre in extent and is beautifully landscaped with the mounds of rock
side by side marking the graves of the ancients.
We passed through the gate and began to descend the
steep switch back trail. Naoma being used to riding these beauriful
trails took everything in her stride or I should say in the stride of
the mule and enjoyed the ride down. Soon we leveled off and went down
the long ridge into the river. We passed the old abandoned Burgos
Ranch house and went down river and found a perfect camping spot
facing a nice swimming hole with a nice sandy beach.
We set up our camp at the foot of a low cliff at the
bottom of the steep mountain. It made a snug area in the shade of the
big trees that were spaced about right to tie our kitchen flys above
the main camp area. We then set up the tents and made up the beds
unrolling the covered foam pads so that they would have time to fluff
out before night. The boys and girls rolled in big rocks to sit on
around the fire. The girls took turns holding Anthony, even little
Claudia took her turn holding her little brother while sitting in
front of the fire watching supper being prepared. Kiko and the Cowboy
cut a pole and tied it between two trees to hold the saddles and the
Aparejos.
This was to be Kiko's last trip before going on his
mission and he wanted to spend it on a good mule riding around the
country and enjoying the beauties of the mountains. That night around
the campfire my heart filled with gratitude to see all of our family
together in this beautiful camp with stars hanging low in the clear
sky. I was so proud of Naoma my wife who carried her little 5 weeks
old baby in a shawl, tied to her shoulders, down that steep rugged
trail as though it were nothing. All of our family were gathered
around waiting for family prayer and I realized that I had not heard
one word of complaint from anyone except baby Anthony did cry a
little.
I announced that I was going Turkey hunting early in
the morning and Mary said that it was her turn to go with me. Kiko was
interested in getting his mule and exploring the country where he had
not been.
At first light Mary and I were walking down the wide
river canyon stopping occasionally to call and listen for and
answering Gobble. We were walking along quietly and suddenly a booming
gobble sounded just ahead of us. We looked quickly around for some
cover and found none close. Near us was a big rock protruding out of
the ground. It was about 3 feet high and four feet wide and got a
little wider at the other end about 15 feet away. We squatted down
behind this rock at a disadvantage because we could not see what the
Turkey was doing. I got the Twelve Gage Shot Gun ready and handed it
to Mary. I gave a few appealing chirps on my wing bone but no answer
came. I could hear the big Gobbler strutting not to far away. After
what seem a long time we were shaken with loud booming Gobble that
sounded like he was just on the other side of that big rock. Mary
handed me the big long tom Shot Gun indicating for me to shoot. I
stood up quickly and without aiming fired with the end of the barrel
nearly touching the Turkey's head on the other side of the rock. He
was flopping around on the ground and occasionally jumping into the
air when his feet contacted the ground. Just like a Turkey with it's
head shot off. Mary pinned him down until the struggles ceased. We
went back to camp content knowing that we would have fried Turkey
breast for a few meals.
After breakfast and cleaning up the kitchen the sun
began to be warm and the cold clear water of the pool began to look
good. We spent the next few hours playing around in and out of the
water. Naoma got out the camera and captured some of our play on film.
Mary decided she was going to duck her younger brother Sam under the
water. A chase ensued. A short struggle and Mary ended up under the
water only to come up and continue the chase.
Later that afternoon Leland and Marge came struggling
into camp. Their steps were weaving and Leland's eyes were crossed and
he trembled visibly as he stumbled in to camp. He collapsed under the
weight of the Turkeys he was carrying. Marge was laughing at his
antics so we saw that it was alright for us to laugh also. Leland was
a master of Pantomime and was famous for his comedy acts with LaSelle
Taylor in every Alumni program of the Academy. All they had to do was
come on stage in their costumes and their actions and facial
expressions would have the audience roaring with laughter. They did
this as a tradition every program until they left Dublan and moved to
the USA.
While Leland and Marge were resting and having a cold
drink of water they told us of their hunt that morning. They left
their camp at the trucks very early and went along the high ridge west
of the river. They had great success and continued on killing Turkeys
until finally they had six, more than they could carry. They thought
it would be much easier to come downhill to our camp than to try to
carry their loads all the way back to the trucks. While they were
talking we prepared them a good meal. They decided that they needed to
get back home to their family and that they had had plenty of hunting
for one trip. They left us one of their turkeys and saddled up and
went back up with their turkeys tied onto their saddles. The cowboy
went with them to bring the animals back down.
We spent the next few wonderful days enjoying each
other and our special camp on the Gavilan River below the Old Bugos
Ranch.
It seems that I got carried away in my memory of those
wonderful trips into the Sierra Madre mountains but I am using this
account to show how our love grew for each other and for the beautiful
creations of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Everything in this great world of ours testifies of the
great Creator Jesus Christ and his love for us. After experiences like
these who can doubt the love of God for his children for he created it
all for us to please the eye and gladden the heart.
- Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season
thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to
please the eye and to gladden the heart;
- Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to
strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.