The Photo above is of Gold Lake looking East from the top of the West ridge. The trail to Gold Valley is West. This main trail down into Gold Valley is also rough and a four wheel drive is a must.

The following was sent to me 3/13/00 by our Grandaughter Melody. It was writen by Erma Bombeck after she found out she was dying from cancer. Thank You Melody                                                  Thank You Erma

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth   would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it               melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained,   or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried         much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the           fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his   youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer        day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about         grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more     while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was pratical,                  wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished        every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was   the only chance in life to assisst God in  miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later.       Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love   you's" More "I'm sorry's." ...But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute..look     at it and really see it... live it...and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you,        who has more, or who's doing what. Instead, let's cherish the                     relationships we have with those who DO love us. Let's think about           what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally,                  physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually. Life is too short to let it       pass you by. We only have one shot at this and then it's gone. I hope you   all have a blessed day.           In Memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.               And also In Memory of Everyone else that lost the fight.

This story by Erma Bombeck should be read by everyone everywhere. Even children old enough to understand it. It really saddened me that another has lost their battle with this dreaded word, "CANCER." The greatest thing to happen to Mother Earth is to find a complete cure for all the differant forms of cancer. It is heart wrenching watching someone being taken this way. My family and I watched a loving person taken in this manner, my wife Carol. It is imposible to try and forget. It cannot be done. The memory is always there. Those of you who read this and have lost someone to cancer know what I mean.                                                                         Please excuse me while I cry.

Melody, Thank You from the bottom of my heart for sending this story to me. It is perfect for Grams pages.                                                                                       ~ Gramps

"Heavens Treasure"

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This page was last updated on: March 7, 2006