Day 065 – 7/28/11 Otter Creek to Antimony!

Distance = 7 Miles: People Met = 12

Horrors!  We actually backtracked two miles today, something that long distance backpackers avoid like the plague.  Antimony is the reason.  Pie Town, New Mexico was our gold standard for trail towns before this journey began.  Locke, California was the standard for this journey, but now there is Antimony.

We had a normal day of hiking planned, about 15 miles with full packs, not to see Ky again for another four days.  We had a foreshadowing of what was to come when it took an hour just to leave the campground.  Two campers talked to us with great interest in our journey, then Randy came out to go over our route.  Besides a park manager, Randy also owns a ranch that lies along the ADT route and knew the trails in the eastern portion of Dixie National Forest well.

Supportive Folks at Otter Creek SP

Five miles of road walking brought us into Antimony.  Our first stop was the Antimony Community Center, where Michelle took a great interest in us, as well as informing us about the purpose of the Community Center.  A grant enables the townsfolk of Antimony to telecommute through the Center.  Michelle lamented that the idea has not really taken hold yet, but the idea of removing commuting as an obstacle to community cohesion is great and one that I’ll promote.

Michelle and the Community Center

Michelle liked our suggested promotion of potlucks and informed us that the Mormon Church town holds such potlucks.  Moreover, on Thanksgiving they sponsor a feast for all, members and nonmembers.  That’s another good idea worth copying.

Antimony's Mormon Church

Thirty yards later a couple who had passed us bicycling were sitting on a porch and stopped us to find out our story.  They told us to fill our water at the Antimony Merc, a combination RV Park, gas station, cafe, store and local hangout.  We traveled thirty yards further and spent a good amount of time speaking to Gerry, a very gregarious transplant from Las Vegas who is the very busy focal point of the local hangout.  She gave us news of Barrett and Buster who came through just the morning before.  He is departing from the ADT to the south.  We eventually will depart from the north, so likely will not meet up with him again until Moab.

Very Busy Gerry Making Famous Antimony Burgers

People continually came in and out of the Merc, keeping Gerry on the go.  A local named Ken sat next to us and gave us more good information on what to expect in the Dixie National Forest.

Ken Sharing His Local Knowledge of the Dixie National Forest

As we approached the center of Antimony an elderly gentleman in a van passed us twice.  We waved to each other.  Our custom is waving to all motorists, and we noticed that Antimony motorists responded more enthusiastically than Circleville.  As we left the center he passed us again.  On the fourth pass he asked us what we were doing and we filled him in.  On the fifth pass he invited us to stay at his ranch, which happened to be the Rockin’ R Ranch, both a dude ranch and a working ranch.

Rockin' R Ranch

The man was Burns Black, the 88-year old patriarch of an extended Mormon family.  Pulmonary fibrosis confines him to an oxygen tank and his van traveling between his home and ranch to check up on things, the cause of him passing us so often.  We balked at his kind offer, as we already were headed out of Antimony and his ranch was two miles back.  Besides, we had miles to do that day on our intended leisurely trek through the Dixie National Forest.  After awhile we reconsidered and started hiking back to Antimony.  Mr. Black passed us again, called ahead to his ranch to make arrangements and we were all set.

Burns and Mona Black Entertaining Us at the Rockin' R Ranch

I’ll create a Facebook photo album of the Rockin’ R Ranch, and feature Antimony in the Utah edition of our newsletter.  By the way, I see that the newsletter gets bounced a few times; you might want to check your spam blockers.

Our stay at a dude ranch, cabin and meals on the house, put the extremely tasty icing on the Antimony cake!  Move over Pie Town and Locke, you’ve got company.