A BIG job

The view from the top of Patriarch Hill last Fall

Years ago you could see the monument from the top of Patriarch Hill.  Over the years the trees and brush have grown up and filled in the meadow areas on top.   It was decided that it would be wonderful to be able to again see the monument from Patriarch Hill.  The project was given to Mike.  It was a big job.  For a few weeks  Jake, a young adult, was hired to help.  Jake was a hard worker and a great help.  Some days Elder Vernon or Elder Starley went on top with Mike and twice I (Janie) helped.  Mike worked several weeks all by himself using hand tools, because he could not take the chainsaw unless someone else went with him.  (It's the rule.)

This is Jake

By August the meadow on top was cleared.  Then Mike and Levoy  (Charchenko and Starley) cut down a few very large trees in the forest near the meadow (on top) and you could see the top triangle shaped part of the monument.  Next, using helium balloons, binoculars and their cell phones they were able to pin point the trees near the monument that needed to be cut.

Cutting down the first tree

In this picture on the right you can see eight pine trees 100 to 125 feet tall.  There is a little tiny orange dot to the left of the tractor.  That is Mike cutting down the first tree.  They cut down a few trees and it looked like this next picture (below).

Still had a few more trees to cut down

Elder Starley, Elder Charchenko, & Elder Vernon

It was an amazing day when the trees came down and the monument shone through.  It was a miracle the way Mike climbed up and down the steep hill carrying a chain saw as he cut down tree after tree with Elder Vernon being the spotter to let him know when the tree started to move, and Elder Starley in the tractor ready to push it over and direct where it would fall.   Elder Starley designed and built what they call the "pusher" that fit on the front of the fork lift.  It was designed so Mike could cut the tree nearly through, then scramble out of the way and let the tractor push the tree over.  Now some of you know that about 10 years ago Mike got Vertigo.  It makes it so he can't look up without getting dizzy, and it has affected his equilibrium.  When we hike through the woods, he will sometimes take my arm for balance or put his hand on my shoulder especially if the trail is steep or narrow.  This equilibrium difficulty has caused him to fall a few times this summer when he was clearing brush on the top of the mountain.  Now remember he is 68 years old now and yet he works every day like he is in his 30's .  I want to tell you that Angels helped Elder Charchenko climb up and down that steep hill ALL DAY LONG,  over rocks and brush to cut down more than a dozen trees.  It looks great now.  The picture below was taken with a zoom camera and then enlarged, so it's not as close as it looks, but it looks beautiful.

We love you all.  Can you believe it's almost September?

The view from the top of Patriarch Hill now

We did it!