Early March in Utah

At the beginning of the month, I left Boise and drove to a resort town in southern Utah by the name of Brian Head. Never heard of it? Neither had I! But fate intervened, and I had access to a timeshare there for about 5 days. The resort is at 10,000 feet - and the x-country skiing was great, especially around the Cedar Breaks National Monument and the Ashdown Gorge Wilderness area. I have to admit to having some respiratory symptoms (altitude sickness?) the first day - but it was blizzarding anyway, and I stayed in to study.

I also reviewed and organized my data (again) in preparation for my trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake. After being at the library for two long days of research, I understand why it has such a stellar reputation for their genealogical collection! The staff was very friendly and helpful. I walked each day from my hotel to Temple Square - and I'd like to say I did a lot of sight-seeing, but that wasn't the case this trip. I actually kept my nose to the grindstone, and there was a payoff. I finally retrieved copies of the naturalization papers I'd been seeking. I can also recommend two very fine (and relatively cheap) restaurants near downtown SLC!

I am returning to Missoula to file my taxes before my last extended trip of the year - to North Dakota. I have my letters of introduction all written, and I'm more than ready to tackle the most promising materials of the year...

February in Boise, ID

Once I returned to Missoula from my family vacation in Australia, I checked out another armload of background reading materials from the Mansfield library, and hit the road (again).

Since winter time driving conditions prevailed, I kept to the Interstates and stayed one night in Dillon, where I was treated to a special tour of the Beaverhead County Museum. Of particular interest was the bird exhibit (and the Lewis and Clark diorama by Rudy Autio).

My final destination was Boise, ID. I stayed with a former colleague and great friend from my teaching days at Hellgate Elementary school, which seems a lifetime ago! I fell into a nice rhythm of exploration, exercise, and scholarship. My background readings on western women pioneers is almost complete, and I've begun to research the phenomenon of eastern (and foreign) money financing western ranching enterprises.

I am committed to not taking so long to post my next adventures. I know... promises, promises!