Author: Cordell

I describe in detail in my Maya Book an ATROCITY in Guatemala because of important people believing an ABSURDITY, pages 442-456, and in a sense followed Clint Eastwood’s advise from his movie,

THE OUTLAW JOSIE WALES, on page 555, part of what he said was: “Remember, when it looks bad like you’re not going to make it, then you have to get mean! I mean plumb mad dog mean! Because if you lose your head and give up, then you neither live nor win. You have to be a guerrilla fighter and take the fight to the enemy!” You’ll have to read my book to see how I became very honest and frank in telling the history–which some important people are supposed to study carefully……the full 569 pages–with lots of beautiful photos…… go to: https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

Now we have to mention the Atrocity going on in:

UKRAINE

….. in Provo, Utah (1952) there was fear of a Chinese invasion of the west coast & I remember vividly us guys from the neighborhood planning on heading into the mountains with our deer rifles and becoming guerrilla fighters–and we loaded up on extra ammo–cheap Army Surplus 30-06 cartridges– to be ready. Years later our dream happened in the movie RED DAWN!

TODAY THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COURAGEOUS FIGHT BY THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE…..THOUSANDS, INCLUDING GRANDMA, GETTING THEIR AK-47 & WILLING TO FIGHT and DIE RATHER THAN GIVE IN!

IN 1967 THAT WAS IN PART MY MOTIVATION TO GET OUT ON THE FRONT LINES IN GUATEMALA TO OPPOSE THE CUBAN/COMMUNIST EFFORT TO TURN THE COUNTRY INTO ANOTHER CUBA–YES, I ARMED MYSELF TOO, and OVER THE YEARS GOT BETTER WEAPONS, after having a DREAM, “seeing me fight off and win against the guerrillas with a Baby Browning .25 which kept jamming with me struggling each time to unjam, then to fight on to win–then the Army arrived to collect the bodies and an officer hearing about how I eliminated the attackers advised me to get rid of the Baby Browning and get larger caliber weapons of the “BEST BRANDS,” which I did including with David’s help, a sub-machine gun!”

BUT OUR MAIN EFFORT WAS TO WORK TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF POVERTY & IGNORANCE THAT HAD OPENED THE DOOR TO THE “GUERRILLA WAR!”

THE “ATROCITY” in Uktraine, now with me a bit older–has at least MOVED ME TO DONATE TO THE RED CROSS TO HELP WHICH I RECOMMEND ALL OF YOU DOING TOO! AND ALSO–for me–WORK HARDER TO GET IN SHAPE–for the High Uintas, and keep alive long enough to finish my reports with thousands of pictures from Guatemala, and/or to be a guerrilla fighter sneaking down the face of Mt. Timpanogos to make devastating hits on the enemy–I can at least be a good snipper!

SO I PERSIST DAILY WITH MY STAIRS AT THE AMPHITHEATER/JOGGING BEHIND MY WALKER, & ONCE A WEEK UP TO THE FOOT OF MT. TIMPANOGOS & GROVE CANYON you see in this shot a couple of miles from my Cabin-A.

AND, AS YOU SEE BELOW I’M ALSO WORKING ON KEEPING FROM GAINING BACK THE 30+ LBS. I’VE LOST DURING MY BACK-ORDEAL–GETTING MAD AT MYSELF FOR BUYING COOKIES & OTHERS SUCH STUFF and ALONGSIDE OF MY CABIN–BURYING IT IN MY GARDENING PLOT ALONG WITH ANYTHING THAT WILL DECOMPOSE–to produce for me my Guatemalan “Miracle weed-MACUY”—

AND, YOU CAN SEE I’M TAKING MY GOALS SERIOUSLY–NOW, BY ADDING A LITTLE WEIGHT–NOT ON MY BACK THAT WOULD HURT ME, RATHER WITH WAIST PACKS loaded with my picnic lunch, water, emergency stuff I always take–even on these simple hikes–THE WEIGHT YESTERDAY COMING TO 8 LBS.–most of it my professional NIKON CAMERA AND ITS GREAT (but heavy) 18mm. to 400mm. ZOOM LENS, but has me thinking for the High Uintas I might have to sadly sacrifice that and just go with my smart phone–at least to begin with, but as I get stronger I’m sure I’ll soon be lugging my Nikon again to get great photos of VISIONS OF NATURE to share with all of my friends.

ACTUALLY FOR BACKPACKING IN THE UINTAS I WILL HAVE MY 4.5 lb. SURVIVAL BACKPACK (shown on my tiny backpack last summer–scroll way down to see it), PLUS THESE COUPLE OF WAIST PACKS, PLUS A NEW LUMBAR/WAISTE PACK I’LL SHOW YOU LATER–THAT WILL MAKE POSSIBLE GOING FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY IN MY 87th YEAR.

I’M GRADUALLY INCREASING THE DISTANCE TOO–YESTERDAY HIKING ABOUT A MILE UP THE CANYON--FOR A TOTAL OF 2 MILES round trip! I’LL ADMIT IT TIRED ME OUT, BUT IN A MONTH I’VE AT LEAST TRIPLED MY DISTANCE, & HELPING TO MAKE THE CONSTANT BACK PAIN ENJOYABLE WAS THE CONSTANT EYE OUT FOR MORE “VISIONS OF NATURE” YOU’LL SEE BELOW WITH A NEW FLOWER BLOSSOMING. IT’S NOT MUCH, BUT I’M MAKING PROGRESS as is THE SPRING!

ANOTHER LITTLE TRICK, TO MAKE WHAT FOR ME IS PAINFUL PROGRESS, IS UNSELFISHLY WORKING ON HELPING TO KEEP OUR BEAUTIFUL OUTDOORS LITTER-FREE BY PICKING UP THE GARGAGE ALONG THE TRAIL, or along the STAIRWAYS!

“LEAVE NO TRACE!”

WOW! IS WHAT COMES TO MIND WITH THIS CONGLOMERATE BEAUTY–each of those different colored rocks was once a part of a layer created by the rivers washing different materials into the sea forming sedimentary layers, eventually uplifting them above the ocean, then turning each layer into stone, followed by another cataclysmic earth process breaking it all up into pieces and then the water in the bottom of creeks and rivers gradually wearing off their sharp edges turning them into rounded stones that then, in another earth creation process jumbled them together in yet another layer that turned it all into stone that was then broken up by more catastrophic earth movements followed by gigantic uplifts moving it all thousands of feet higher creating……for example the High Uinta Mountains, then with erosion processes–like glaciers, and rivers carving out canyons, and valleys, etc., etc. WOW!

My fascination with rocks & minerals began in 1954 as a freshman at BYU when for a year I was a Geology major—along with Ted Packard and Charlie Peterson–my original two High Uinta buddies–I ending that year with a graduate class in GEOMORPHOLOGY, I being the lone freshman along with 15 graduate students–and Dr. Rigby graded using the curve– and how grateful I was to get a C!

Later my first commercial project as a freelance photographer in the 1960’s was photographing all the rocks and minerals for Geology Professor, Dr. W. Kenneth Hamblin, who used them as the basis for his first book, now in its 9th edition–which photographs made him famous, and rich. Two of his books are available at Amazon and seen below:

Go to AMAZON for interesting details, like, “The Ninth Edition continues to offer a stunning and sophisticated art program that is virtually unmatched by any other geology text.” His textbooks for many years, originally and maybe still with my photographs, have been used by universities all over the globe.

Dr. Hamblin passed on in 2009 at the age of 81.

I might add, when he would bring me a new collection to be photographed, we would talk and once I asked him if he fished or hunted. His reply,

“Hobbies are only for people who don’t love their profession!”

MY SECOND–and last– SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AS A “FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER” was my 3rd exploratory trip to Guatemala in 1966, but first to the Izapa archaeological site in Southern Mexico with Garth Norman getting for him with night-photography the picture(s) he used to make himself famous–of the TREE OF LIFE STONE (see the MAYA MOUNTAINS BOOK). A few months later, with my entire Family, we made our 4th exploratory trip lasting 75 days, then gave away my 4″x5″ professional cameras, and prepared our move made the next year…..me becoming for the next 35 years what I have sometimes called, “A TROPICAL TRAMP,” other labeling me as a “RODEO CLOWN” and others a “MODERN AMMON!”

NOW TO THE HIGH UINTAS & MORE AREAS ACCESSIBLE FROM THE HIGHLINE TRAIL

OUR LAST AREA VISITED WAS ALLEN LAKE. From there you can go northwest to hit the trail or just bushwhack your way 1/2 mile north to get to the FOUR LAKES BASIN, first coming to Daynes Lake you see below but taken from half-way up to Cyclone Pass, with a lightning storm over distant Bald Mountain.

This hike to Bedground and Allen Lakes, then to the Four Lakes Basin and over Cyclone Pass, is all a side trip from the Highline Trail we will get back to in our next post, but first well climb Cyclone Pass (11,150 ft.) to pay a visit to two quite isolated lakes. First, from the pass we see Sea Lion Lake off to the southeast.

BELOW WE ZOOM IN ON SEA LION LAKE.

Remote THOMPSON LAKE, seen below, is our main objective, also entailing “boulder hopping” but I felt it worth the risk as there were some reports it could have “monarch” brook trout, which didn’t work out that way in 2003, but MIGHT TODAY!

From CYCLONE PASS we descend into the FOUR LAKES BASIN. We’ve seen already Daynes Lake, and below we see DEAN LAKE.

JEAN LAKE we see below is very near the trail from which this picture was taken. On the far right we see CYLONE PASS. On the far left we can see a sliver of DEAN LAKE, pictured above.

On the south side of Jean Lake we find the trail, and follow it around the point of the mountain and in 1.5 miles we come to the HIGHLINE TRAIL, and follow it northeast for 1/4 mile and come to Pigeon Milk Springs that produces ice cold, pure water, but with a glacial whitish hue–called, “glacial milk.” Our next post will take us up and over the mountain to the east. Information on this area, including topographical maps, is found on pages 164-168 of my HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS book.

For the latest & to download the final version of my book,

A 50 YEAR “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” AMONG MY PEOPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA,

go to: https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

I’ll see you again in a couple of days when we’ll follow the HIGHLINE TRAIL to the Rock Creek Drainage, and then on Wednesday–y luego en miercoles ver el primer reportaje de mis 50 ANOS ENTRE LOS MAYAS, que mayormente seran fotos–muchas fotos.

IN THE MEANTIME HELP IN UKRAINE @: RED CROSS AID TO UKRAINE

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My last post was a bit premature welcoming SPRING with the first wildflowers. Snow this week can have us focusing on what the cold won’t hurt–THE BEAUTIFUL ROCKS of our exercise area–the foothills of the Wasatch–the one below, nestled in new snow, is my FIRST VISION OF NATURE treasure and reward found this week….

….followed by a few others collected on my recent walks in the hills and along the creek–as I learn to hike again. In my freshman year at BYU in 1954 I was a geology major, planning on finding riches in the West Utah Desert and becoming rich. Geology fascinates me as it should all of us and the HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS is a geologic treasure as I show you in my BOOK. I am grateful to see and appreciate BEAUTY in the VISIONS OF NATURE–including these magnificent rocks.

WOW! says it all.

I’ll insert below a picture of my recent collection–THE BEST from the last month or so…..

Below Iwill insert a page from my BOOK, a magnificent collection of rocks from the HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS.

EVENTUALLY I’LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER TO CREATE A MAGNIFICENT VISION OF NATURE, such as I did creating with SCRUB OAK from the foothills an incredible frame you see below embracing a wonderful view of TRIANGLE MOUNTAIN & RECONNAISSANCE LAKE, off-trail in the Rock Creek drainage of the Uinta’s South Slope, a rival to RED CASTLE as “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR SCENE IN UTAH.“

He’s a “RODEO CLOWN” said an Animal Husbandry professor from BYU, visiting my Las Victorias Dairy in Guatemala.

The complete story is told in what simply we can call THE MAYA STORY . GO TO THE FOUNDATION WEBSITE TO GET THE link to download it free: https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/ . The visiting professor first asked, “Where are your alfalfa fields?” I replied, “Rather than use alfalfa, and silage, the staples of the U.S. dairy industry, we have our cows on high quality pastures of an African grass with 23% protein–similar to alfalfa, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!” I continued, “We took over a bankrupt dairy, eventually purifying our milking herd using artificial insemination to produce pure Jersey cows, and increased daily production per cow from 3.5 liters to 16.5 liters, the best in the country.”

Since we didn’t have alfalfa or use silage he began calling me a “RODEO CLOWN.” I loved it as……..

I LAUGHED ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK!

Two of our cows and a heifer defeated in a Livestock Show the Central American Grand Champion of the Jersey breed. We see them above shown to us by my three kids: Julie with the new Champion “MAJA,” David with 2nd place, “MILADY,” and Richard “Dito” with 3rd place, “WALESKA”

ALL THE DETAILS OF HOW I BECAME A “RODEO CLOWN” WITH THE CHAMPION JERSEY COWS OF ALL OF CENTRAL AMERICA, & FOR MANY YEARS SUPPORTED MY FAMILY as well as 39 fulltime employees and their families–-all the while that making possible me dedicating all we had to have projects that it was said,

“SAVED THOUSANDS & AIDED MANY TEN’S OF THOUSANDS OF MAYANS GET AN EDUCATION……as well as stimulate the organization of a WORLD-WIDE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE!”

Click on this link to READ & SEE THE DETAILS OF THE MAYA STORY https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

NOW ON TO MORE GLIMPSES OF THE HIGH UINTA WILDERNESS, seeing wonderful areas accessed from the HIGHLINE TRAIL: This week, two lakes with Arctic Grayling: CAROLYN & ALLEN LAKES

From our previous point along the Highline Trail, 4 miles from the trailhead at the junction with the Naturalist Basin trail, hike two more miles (and 1/2 mile before the junction with the Four Lakes Basin Trail) , look for a trail taking off through a meadow to the south and hike 200 yards to Carolyn Lake that has brook trout and hungry Arctic Grayling like you see below. Usually they are caught using artificial flies as they have small mouths, info on Page 164, with the topographical map on page 168.

From Carolyn Lake, backtrack to the Highline Trail and follow it 1/2 mile to a major junction where a trail takes off to the southeast. The trail leads to the Four Lakes Basin and from there continues all the way to the Grandaddy Basin. But, 1/2 mile down said trail, there is another junction with a little used trail–a shortcut– heading south that in about a mile hits the main trail to the Grandaddy Basin, and at that point is found small BEDGROUND LAKE, you see below, reputed to have very large brook trout and Grayling.

From Bedground pretty well due east towards the mountain and in about 3/4 mile you come to ALLEN LAKE where it has been said the “Utah State Grayling record will be caught.”

Let me say a word about Allen Lake before going on to the theme of “the record Grayling.” When I first visited Allen Lake I found the Forest Service sign that told the story of the lake and its name, but it wasn’t legible, so I scraped it producing what you see below:

The next time I visited the posts had rotted and the sign was on the ground, so I propped it up. Later some friends purposely went in there with tools and bolts to do a proper job putting up the sign in honor of Floyd R. Allen, Forest Ranger who was killed by lightning here in 1938.

The “unofficial Utah State record Arctic Grayling” was caught by my buddy Ted Packard in 1962, seen below, when we were taking a group of 22 Explorer Scouts on a two week backpack. We had all climbed King’s Peak and then come down over Trail Ryder Pass to Lake Attwood and were spin fishing using red & white Daredevil lures and all of a sudden began catching huge Artic Grayling–which we had never caught on lures before.

But they were large with big mouths. My largest was 18-1/2 inches long, seen on the right, then Ted caught the largest that measured 19 inches long that would have, and still would be a Utah State record–if we could have got it to civilization and had it properly weighed and measured. The present State record is 17-1/4 inches long caught at Big Dog Lake — South Slope Uintas in 1998. Mine would “also be a record” Grayling. Steve Clark, one of our Explorers is seen in the background also with his Grayling.

GET THE DIGITAL BOOK & BEGIN MAKING YOUR PLANS FOR GREAT ADVENTURE

FINDING SIGNS OF SPRING WITH THE 1st FLOWERS

NOW FOR ANOTHER GLIMPSE OF THE HIGH UINTA WILDERNESS with the 2nd area along the HIGHLINE TRAIL…..after last week hiking the side-trail down to WINDER, WYMAN & PACKARD LAKES. From Packard Lake you can go off-trail up towards Mt. Agassiz to get to the trail to the next area…..or do the long way following the trail back to the Highline Trail, then head east for 1.5 miles.

THE NATURALIST BASIN

The section on the WILDERNESS AREA begins in my book on page 154 and goes to page 409. The part on the Highline Trail in this section will describe the trail just to Deadhorse Pass and Lake, page 173. The description of the lakes in the Naturalist Basin is on pages 163-164. The topographical map, with trails and distances in the Basin is on page 167. The TRAIL TO THE NATURALIST BASIN is found 4 miles from the Trailhead. 1.1 miles along the trail that takes you north, is the FIRST IMPRESSIVE SIGHT: THE WATERFALL COMING OUT OF THE MORAT LAKES.

THE TRAIL TAKES YOU BETWEEN THE MORAT LAKES. Morat 2 is on the east and is a shallow lake. To the west is MORAT 1, THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE WE SEE ABOVE. From there you can continue to climb up along the wonderful waterfall we see below that comes out of BLUE LAKE.

GUARDED BY MT. AGASSIZ WE SEE BLUE LAKE, STILL WITH SOME ICE ON JULY 4th. FROM HERE YOU CAN MAKE A SWING UP EVEN HIGHER AND AROUND AND DOWN AND VISIT–and fish in other lakes in the Basin: LECONTE, SHALER, JORDAN & EVERMAN following the suggested route on the topographical map, then back to the Highline Trail. The loop to explore the Naturalist Basin is approximately 7 miles. ALL THE INFORMATION & TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR ADVENTURE ARE FOUND IN MY BOOK:

Next week we’ll visit the next wonderful areas accessible along the HIGHLINE TRAIL: CAROLYN LAKE & Arctic Grayling, then ALLEN LAKE–named for a Forest Ranger who gave his life there–and I’ll give you the details. About Allen Lake it was said “the record grayling would be caught there.”—I’ll show you THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN & WHERE IT DID!

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MY LIFE AMONG THE MAYA BOOK — along with 50+ years of adventure, as well as a lot of exciting history, it importantly demonstrates cases of VOLTAIRE’S statement about “absurdities” and “atrocities!”

A ONE PAGE STORY Click to download to help one understand the BOOK. It’s from the heart warming and insightful TV series:

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The back surgeon, “SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE….OR YOU’LL END UP IN A WHEELCHAIR!”

“The surgery could take 6 hours, followed by days in the Intensive Care Unit, and more in the hospital. I’ve never done it with an 86 year old person, and there could be complications. If you don’t do it, you’ll have to stop all your exaggerated COMEBACK efforts—stairs behind Fitness Center, higher stairs at the Amphitheater, long hikes with your walker, hikes up Grove Canyon — which for the first time in my life with a patient, has me wanting to hit you with a doubled up fist!” ––—showing me his HUGE DOUBLED UP FIST!

“But Doctor, without all my exercise program and goal of backpacking this summer, in just a couple of days I begin feeling awful!”

He then asked, “DO YOU WANT TO BE PARALYZED OR DEAD?”

I replied, “For me, best continue with my goal, and exercises and feel good….risking being DEAD!” He gave me a couple of days to let him know.

So I immediately called my HIGH UINTA FRIEND, a spine specialist who took his wife on their honeymoon backpacking to Red Castle, and last year using my HIGH UINTA BOOK as guide they did the 856 mile auto-loop tour of the Uinta Mountains, and HE RAVED ON, AND ON ABOUT THAT WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE! He gave me immediately an appointment, took X-rays, and we looked at my spine history giving me 3 copies of X-rays: Jan. 28, 2021=no misalignment so my falls weren’t guilty;

Oct. 2021=the X-ray above showing the dangerous misalignment that happened gradually during my exaggerated hikes during the summer hovering over my walker for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 miles and up to 13.2 miles, a half-marathon distance-–those hikes hovering over my walker for up to 6-7 hours apparently hurt my spine;

And the X-ray the day of my clinic visit—with spine misalignment looking the same, so my recent exercise program hasn’t hurt me so I could continue with MY GOAL….MY CHALLENGE!

So we concluded that it was best to not do the surgery, but carefully keep up with my COMEBACK PROGRAM, gradually increasing the repetitions and get X-rays every 3 months to make sure all continues SAFELY. I WAS SO HAPPY I ACTUALLY SHOUTED! THEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 DAYS WENT & DID MY STAIRS & SOON WAS FEELING A LITTLE BETTER!

THE “GRANDADDY OF ALL HIGH UINTA TRAILS” —

THE HIGHLINE TRAIL

AFTER HEADING EAST ON THE HIGHLINE TRAIL — the first lake you pass by–the trail passes by above the lake–is Scudder Lake, seen below, but it does not have fish–at least it didn’t have in 2014 when this wide-angle picture was taken.

The closest lake from the Trailhead, with a population of trout, is WILDER LAKE – From the Highline Trailhead you hike 2.5 miles and come to a sign pointing south to Wilder, Wyman and Packard Lakes. Information on these lakes and the hike is found on pages 162-163 of my book.

The next lake down this trail, a 1/4 to 1/2 mile, is WYMAN LAKE

One quarter of a mile down the trail from Wyman Lake you come to the largest lake of the three that has a nice population of eastern brook trout that tend to be larger than in the other lakes. It is Mt. Agassiz that we are seeing in the background.

While at Packard Lake, don’t fail to follow the outlet stream just 50 yards or so to view the Canyon of the Duchesne River I’ll insert a couple of pictures of.

We are here looking northeast. We’ll now swing around and look towards the south where downstream is found Defa’s Dude Ranch, and the road up Hades Canyon to the Grandview Trailhead–THE GATWAY TO THE GRANDADDIES.

OUR NEXT POST WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE HIGHLINE TRAIL TO THE NEXT TRAIL THAT WILL TAKE OFF TO THE NORTH TO VISIT THE NATURALIST BASIN.

WILD FLOWERS TO TRIGGER SPRING

From her on, once a week or so, I’ll begin inserting a WILD FLOWER of the over 317 varieties I have documented in my explorations — from the Foothills to KINGS PEAK.

This week, one of the first to blossom in the high country:

SPRING BEAUTY, Claytonia lanceolata

NOW JUST A WORD OR TWO ABOUT THE TWO BOOKS THAT TELL THE STORY OF MY LIFE–for which I’m most grateful, FIRST what some are calling

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS:

Click on this link to READ & SEE THE DETAILS OF THE MAYA STORY https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

Click to read:  A SHORT one page STORY  to help all, understand my intentions in writing my  HISTORY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA

THE BOOK, was recently updated with an enhanced

 50 YEAR GROWTH SNAPSHOT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LDS IN ALTA VERAPAZ p. 344. 

However,   now reading slowly to enjoy it, I found myself making small, but crucial corrections and tiny but powerful additions, so there is now a new “FINISHED VERSION SET IN STONE!”   SO ERASE ANYTHING PREVIOUS AND DOWNLOAD THE ONE NOW AVAILABLE Click on this link to READ & SEE THE DETAILS OF THE MAYA STORY https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE TO GET A QUICK IDEA ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE BOOK —with a whole bunch of movies I used to help understand–ABOUT MY MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA. There were some great times, but also sometimes scary moments, with narrow escapes from the Guerrillas, with shootouts on my plantation between the Army and the bad guys— my delivery van used afterwards to carry dead and wounded to Coban, and then interestingly once a narrow escape from the opposite side of the political spectrum–a Right-wing Death Squad that murdered 9 of the directors–including their entire families, of a cooperative I helped with in Comalapa among the Cakchiquel Indians! They considered cooperatives “communistic!” Then there was my fight with Gangbangers in Guatemala City, written about in COMBAT HANDGUNS magazine, etc., etc. for 50 years!

The MAYA book is downloadable FREE.

Click on this link to READ & SEE THE DETAILS OF THE MAYA STORY https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

IT’S IMPORTANT TO SET GOALS…EVEN IF IN THE END YOU ONLY ACHIEVE 50-75% OF THEM. WITHOUT A GOAL TO WORK TOWARDS, LIKE “GETTING TO THE GRANDADDIES,” I LIKELY WOULDN’T BE MOTIVATED TO WORK OUT EVERY DAY TO GET STRONGER, AND LIKELY NOT EVEN BOTHER DRIVING TO THE TRAILHEAD. WITH MY GOAL SET, FOLLOWED BY WORKING TO ACHIEVE IT, I WILL BE STRONGER & FOR SURE GET HALF-WAY…..OR MAYBE ALL THE WAY & GET NEW PHOTOS OF THE INSPIRING CUTTHROAT TROUT SPAWNING IN THE CREEKS THAT FEED GRANDADDY LAKE & MUCH MORE TO INSPIRE ME TO SET A NEW GOAL!

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WHEN I’LL SHOW YOU GLIMPSES OF:

THE NATURALIST BASIN.

THE INSPIRING SIGHT AS YOU ENTER NATURALIST BASIN:

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I’M SHARING MY EXPERIENCE AS IT COULD BE OF HELP TO SOME OF YOU THAT LIKELY WILL HAVE CHALLENGES ALONG YOUR PATH — QUITE A FEW HAVE ASKED ME TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE…..BASICALLY OF…… “NEVER GIVING IN, NOR GIVING UP ……….EASILY!”

This winter my exercise devise has been the stairs below the American Fork Fitness Center, gradually doing more and more laps–up & down, until getting up to doing 32 laps with the goal of doing 40 a day by backpacking season.

Doing 40 laps would be equal to the elevation gain from the Grandview Trailhead up to Hades Pass that we call “THE GATEWAY TO THE GRANDADDIES.” I’ll insert below a wonderful photograph of Grandaddy Lake, the largest in the High Uinta Mountains. There are 26 alpine lakes in the Grandaddy Basin.

BUT I HAVE REALIZED THAT TO PREPARE ME FOR HIGH UINTA TRAILS–LIKE SOME STRETCHES OF THE HADES PASS TRAIL YOU SEE BELOW, THEY HAVE STEPS THAT ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THE ONES I’VE BEEN DOING SEEN ABOVE, SO I DO THOSE STAIRS TO WARM UP, AND THEN GO EACH DAY TO WHERE THE STEPS ARE AT LEAST 50% HIGHER….YOU’LL SEE AFTER “the rocky trail.” …

SO, I’M BACK TO THE AMERICAN FORK AMPHITHEATER JUST WEST OF THE LDS TEMPLE, WHICH PREVIOUS TO ALL THE PRESENT PROBLEMS I USED TO HELP KEEP ME IN SHAPE DURING THE OFF SEASON. THE STEPS HAVE HAND RAILS WHICH I NEED AS MY BALANCE ALSO VANISHED ALONG WITH MY ABILITY TO WALK.

AS I EXPLAINED IN THE PREVIOUS POST, THE ABOVE EXERCISES ARE DONE 5 DAYS A WEEK. FOR THE 6th DAY I GO EAST TO THE FOOT OF MT. TIMPANOGOS, AND USE THE GROVE CANYON TRAIL. AS SEEN BELOW–for last week–USING TREKKING POLES I HEADED UP THE TRAIL FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO WHERE THE TRAIL LEAVES THE ROAD & WILL ADD ON ABOUT 100 YARDS/WEEK.

EVERYTHING I’M DESCRIBING LIKELY SEEMS SORT OF “MICKEY MOUSE” FOR MOST OF YOU, BUT CONSIDERING THAT A YEAR AGO I COULDN’T EVEN WALK, & STILL HAVE THE DANGEROUS MISALIGNMENT OF MY SPINE WITH CONSTANT PAIN–but I think is gradually being reduced as I exercise more, I FEEL EXTREMELY BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I’M DOING–and I CAN ADD THAT IT FEELS WONDERFUL TO HAVE AGAIN DEVELOPING MUSCLES THAT ACTUALLY FEEL THE SORENESS & STIFFNESS THAT COMES AFTER A HEAVY WORKOUT!

NEXT I WILL GRADUATE TO THE HIGHER STEP UPS–SEEN BELOW AT THE Amphitheater, but with NO HAND RAILS, so will use my trekking poles, and hope to get strong enough with good balance to not need the poles–and then be ready for the HIGH UINTAS!

NOW…….AGAIN WE GO INTO THE HIGH UINTA WILDERNESS from the CHRISTMAS MEADOWS/STILLWATER TRAILHEAD ON THE NORTH SLOPE.

LAST WEEK WE WENT UP STILLWATER FORK OF THE BEAR RIVER and SAW KERMSUH, RYDER & McPHEETERS LAKES. BACK DOWN THE TRAIL, BEFORE THE KERMSUH TRAIL, or 2.4 miles up from the Trailhead, WE COME TO A SIGN POINTING TO THE EAST WITH A TRAIL THAT CLIMBS UP ALONG OSTLER FORK OF THE BEAR RIVER, OUT OF THE CANYON LEADING US TO THE AMETHYST BASIN. My book gives all the distances, and information, including topographical maps of the beautiful area with Ostler Peak on our right. Along the way you can go off-trail to visit Salamander Lake, then continue up into the high country with large Amethyst Lake at the end of the trail, but along way are also off-trail Ostler Lake, as well as Toomset Lake. I’ll insert photos of Ostler Lake with my daughter Mahana fishing and Ostler Peak in the background, and then Amethyst Lake with it’s turquoise colored waters.

From the north end of Ostler Lake, if you go off-trail down along the edge of the mountain you come to TOOMSET LAKE, seen below. It is small, but full of colorful brook trout.

At the head of the Amethyst Basin is found quite large and beautiful–with its turquoise colored waters–AMETHYST LAKE.

Below we are still in the Rock Creek Drainage on the South Slope of the Uintas, looking north over Brinkley Lake at the southern side of Ostler Peak.

All of the information on what wonderful areas are accessible from the Christmas Meadows/Stillwater Trailhead, including topographical maps with distances inserted, and updated information on the fishing in each lake, and much more, is found in my book seen printed below–but available online. Once you have it on your computer you can put it on a thumb-drive and have your favorite printer make for you a copy as seen below. Scrolling down you will find information on the printer I use. Or you can print yourself the pages you will need for your backpack, and take the print-out with you to guide you in your adventure.

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MY SECOND BOOK THAT DETAILS MY 68 YEAR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE MAYA — WITH OVER 1,000 COLOR PHOTOS

THE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS A DILEMMA THAT ALL SEEKERS OF TRUTH SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN….CLARIFYIED with VOLTAIRE’S COMMENT……scroll down to the beginning of the last post to see what he said….

Click on this link to READ & SEE THE DETAILS OF THE MAYA STORY https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

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THE HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS A DILEMMA THAT ALL SEEKERS OF TRUTH SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN….CLARIFYIED with VOLTAIRE’S COMMENT (get the book and see for yourself the details):

“THOSE WHO CAN MAKE YOU BELIEVE ABSURDITIES, CAN GET YOU TO COMMIT ATROCITIES!”

Click to download: A FIFTY YEAR “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” AMONG MY PEOPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA

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NOW TO THE HIGH UINTA WILDERNESS

This wonderful area is on the North Slope, accessed from the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, north and down from Hayden Pass/entrance to the Highline Trailhead. All the information is found in my HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS BOOK, pages 179-187. On my FACEBOOK PAGE I inserted pictures of Kermsuh and McPheeters Lakes–you can see going to: https://www.facebook.com/cordell.andersen . Below I’ll insert a beautiful picture of Ryder Lake mistakenly not included in my book as it is a breathtaking panorama. Climbing up from Ryder Lake to the right is above timberline McPheeters Lake, I’ll include below McPheeters, by the way it produces larger cutthroat trout than Ryder (which itself produces larger than normal trout).

In Middle Basin there are also several smaller lakes with fish, information in my UINTA BOOK, including topographical maps, and all the information you might need to have a great experience in West Basin, with Kermsuh Lake, and then in this Middle Basin–which I have to add, as I was reminded on FACEBOOK by my HIGH UINTA FRIEND, MIKE PACKARD, is accessible by real adventurers like him, by climbing that saddle to the right center from the Highline Trail area. Don’t attempt it unless you are a confirmed expert mountain climber!

NOW A WORD OR TWO ABOUT MY PREPARATION TO MAKE ANOTHER COMBEBACK IN MY 87th YEAR IN 2022–Never promised to be easy!

I persist working on learning to walk with my baby steps, along with hiking, and climbing, 5 days a week with my NO COST EXERCISE UNIT seen below and one a week in the foothills using my previously hated trekking poles–as I can’t risk a fall that could kill me due to my misaligned spine.

I’m working on building muscles again in my legs, and developing again balance, I do the pushup thing daily, gradually increasing the repetitions, along with using my two 8 lb. barbells while watching TV–BYU ladies in a great comeback just beating Gonzaga— to build my upper body.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES

I can’t have much weight on my back anymore, so am working on extreme lightweight equipment changes, 5>>10 lbs. on my shoulders/back, and the rest in a couple of waist packs.

All of that above must sound like a joke for all of you, but considering I couldn’t even walk for a time last year, and the life-threatening misalign ment of my spine–IT IS MONUMENTAL!……For my 2,000+ miles of backpacking/exploring in the Uintas to do my book, I did work on “lightweight backpacking” but I should have done better–like I’m now forced to do–and if I had of done so, I likely could have avoided wearing out my back/spine and still be doing long backpacks, rather than the “mickey mouse” ones I’m now preparing for!

AFTER 5 DAYS ON THE STAIRS……MY WEEKLY HIKE INTO THE MOUNTAINS

No vegetation sprouting, much less flowers, but rather a fascinating FOSSIL found along the trail. Always keep your eyes wide open for the wonderful VISIONS OF NATURE all around us. Doing so will make even a difficult hike, AN INSPIRING PLEASURE!

I got to where the trail leaves the road to begin switchbacking up the canyon. Each week I’ll add about 100 yards–which doesn’t sound like much, but by the time backpacking opens up in the Uintas, it will almost equal getting to Hades Pass “the Gateway to the Grandaddies!“

I’LL KEEP YOU INFORMED…..IN THE MEANTIME GET MY BOOK & BEGIN PREPARING FOR A GREAT INSPIRATIONAL BACKPACKING/EXPLORING & FISHING/PHOTOGRAPHING SEASON!

DOWNLOAD OF THE BOOK FREE.

I’ll comment on my 70 years dedicated to that cause further along.

NOW TO THINGS RELATED TO MY BELOVED…..

A PERSONAL NOTE……I’m still doing my darndest to NOT GIVE UP and learning to walk again, but…..

………….….. I don’t have my mommy or special loving friend to help me, but THAT’S NO EXCUSE!

Posted on Friday or Saturday (1/14-15/22): OH, & BY THE WAY, AS I’M DOING SO I HAVE the omicron variant of the virus, WITH MY EFFECTIVE PROTECTION, IT IS NOT SLOWING ME DOWN MUCH AT ALL….EVEN IN MY 86th YEAR….see DETAILS below:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Now…a few days after the above announcement….I am over what I assumed was omicron, it only lasting 4 or 5 days being much less than the average cold–in fact it was like a cold, but with a strange twist–a stuffed up nose and even stranger nasal drip like I’ve never had until now–so I assumed it was omicron as Googling it, that kind of thing is the first symptom they list, and during it I didn’t have to change my daily life, nor miss my exercise going up and down the stairs, but did reduce my laps to 10/day for the 14th thru the 16th, but today the 17th, will be back up to increasing to 26 laps my routine! That’s what resulted from having purposely exposed myself to–as I considered myself in good health–and had Covid-19 back in June 2020 that I got through fine in my 85th year intentionally acquiring natural immunity, and maintaining my healthy life even with my back surgeries and complications. SEE THE DETAILS BELOW.

WE SEE BELOW MY CHEAP EXERCISE DEVISE — as close to hiking in the UINTAS as possible close to home, getting ready for the 2022 HIGH UINTAS BACKPACKING SEASON & I PROMISE YOU I WILL DO SOME BACKPACKING! The following stairs below the American Fork Fitness Center, is where daily I’m going up and down to keep my legs awake, and build the muscle I need!

UP & DOWN is ONE LAP…..today, January 19th, up to 30 laps, and adding one more each day as long as my exercise devise is FREE OF ICE. It’s looking south so snow and ice melts quickly. NOTE: That equals over 700 feet of elevation gain–a comparison is that from the Grandview Trailhead to Hades Pass from where you drop into the Grandaddies, it is around 1,000 feet of elevation gain. I will continue to increase 1 lap each time, but every other day– the other day I will go with my walker a mile or so, and intermittingly jog always with the walker, and gradually increase the distance. If I can get the lower back pain to reduce, I eventually will do that without the walker, and the STAIRS without touching the hand rail, and in the Spring begin doing the foothills with the goal of doing some BACKPACKING IN THE HIGH UINTAS THIS SUMMER!

It has a hand rail I need, as I can’t afford to take a fall–that could paralyze or kill me– as you might remember the dangerous misalignment of my spine.

Hey all you HIGH UINTA FRIENDS, now you’ve got to help me find a

Uinta trail WITH A HAND RAIL!

I’ll go inside the Center, when forced to by the weather, but it will have to be bad–as doing my exercise outside, no matter how cold–will help me most GET STRONGER ……….or KILL ME! Of course STRONGER IS WHAT I’M AFTER and I will happily risk the other as

I’m NOT GIVING UP…..EASILY!

From now until BACKPACKING SEASON I’LL BE GRADUALLY INCREASING MY LAPS OF THE STAIRS UNTIL I REACH THE 1,000 foot ELEVATION GAIN in one day FROM THE GRANDVIEW TRAILHEAD to HADES PASS and BACK DOWN & THEN BEGIN GRADUALLY CARRYING LIGHT LOADS–only 5 lbs. or so on my back, but with several waist packs that shouldn’t affect my dangerous back situation!

The omicron variant CHALLENGE!

The treatment I outline in my HIGH UINTA BOOK for colds/flu or any “unwellness,” page 635, is basically what you see below, but using the WELLNESS FORMULA’S suggestion “if needing added support” plus adding DEFENSE PLUS (a formula a bit different than Wellness, but added gives a more complete and powerful boost to your immune system), along with Zinc.

THE MAIN LESSON FROM MY INITIAL EXPERIENCE & HAVING THE VARIANT, IS: GET IN GOOD HEALTH, EXERCISE AND BE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE, and OVERCOME & AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE THOSE PESKY PROBLEM CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE DEATH!

THIS SHOULD BE ABOVE ALL WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS–GET IN SHAPE, GET RID OF THOSE DEATHLY CONDITIONS–EAT HEALTHY including NUTRITIOUS WEEDS–dandelions, purslane & MACUY–the Guatemalan weed that saved the Mayans!

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REMEMBER MY HIGH UINTA BOOK MAKES FOR GREAT WINTER-TIME READING & PLANNING FOR THE NEXT BACKPACKING or AUTO-LOOP TOUR SEASONS OF THE UINTA MOUNTAINS

…….and APPENDIX 5, pages 616-649

“THE ANTI-AGING CHALLENGE: Why, What & How”

It is worth much more than its weight in GOLD!

MANY THINK THAT IT MAKES A GREAT GIFT

–by purchasing the download link, or a thumb drive, and passing it on to your friends. Too late for Christmas, but all during 2022 there are birthdays, Valentines Day, Mother & Father Days, and then Christmas 2022. Scroll down to get information…….WHAT THE HECK HERE IS HOW YOU GET IT:

Send me $20, cash or check, to Cordell Andersen, 444 Elm St., American Fork, Utah 84003, including your email address, and I’ll email you the link to get the book on your computer. If you want a printed copy of the two volume set, put the book on a thumb drive and take to your favorite printer, mine is: COPYTEC, 185 West 200 South, Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062, Tel. 801-785-3680.

If you just want to print the Anti-Aging Challenge section, specify the page numbers and they can do that. THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

This was done by several, one whose note is inserted below–with her permission:

What I’ve abbreviated as THE MAYA BOOK is NOW FINISHED & available.

Get more information at: GUATEMALAN FOUNDATION

During my actual 70 years dedicated to the “MAYA CAUSE” that started with an NDE when I was 16 years old, until now–in spite of “friendly fire–or criticism” saying the whole effort was imagined by them to be a scam for me to build a business empire and get rich, I never charged a dime for all that effort, and supported myself and family WITH MY WORK as described in the book–so I’m not about to start making a profit off of that effort--with DOWNLOAD OF THE BOOK FREE. I just hope and pray that there will be one or two honest individuals of influence who will study carefully the history, and then DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.

The 557 page book detailing my adventurous life in the Mountains of the Maya, entitled, A FIFTY YEAR “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” AMONG MY PEOPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA, is now finished with many new exciting additions and episodes, including on the 2nd page a Table of Contents listing the page numbers for the “33 MEMORABLE EFFORTS, EVENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS” along with over 1,200 color photographs from “THE LAND WHERE COLOR WAS INVENTED.”

The TABLE OF CONTENTS can be seen below, but the entire book can only be seen by downloading it to your computer by clicking on the above title, and is FREE.

Here’s a movie-montage of crucial movies I learned from  during that half century of experience giving us all needed perspective and helped us survive through what I once called a 

“fascinating history of human conflict & triumph” 

OPPS!  I forgot what from my “simple man” and “pioneer” perspective was and is really important…

TABLE OF CONTENTS
This is the life-long history of Cordell M. Andersen & families, including the incredible help of many friends through the Guatemalan Foundation, all updated & reorganized in more accurate chronological order, and with a General TABLE OF CONTENTS with page numbers – finished in December 2021 with exciting additions that enhance understanding, and new….…..candid “rest of the story” details, especially in
Part 1: The VISION QUEST, &
Part 4: The FINAL REVIEW of the “VISION QUEST” FULFILLMENT AMONG THE MAYA in
GUATEMALA
Part 1: 0-22 years THE VISION QUEST: A Checkered Faith & Works Journey
Pages 3-79 – 77 color photos
Part 2: 22-31 years THE MYSTERIOUS CAUSE and PREPARATION TO ACT
Nine Years Finding the Faith to Make the..….Journey to the Land of the Mayas
Pages 81-121 – 87 color photos
Part 3: 31-38 years THE 1967 RISKY PIONEER JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA
Pages 123-173 – – 91 color photos
Part 4: 31-81 years THE FINAL REVIEW of the “VISION QUEST” MAYA FULFILLMENT
Pages 175-550 – 861 color photos
33 MEMORABLE EFFORTS, EVENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS (“items”)

1. Traveling movie, Cine Chapinlandia..………………………………………………………………………… …p. 192
2. Poultry Farm—Granja y Tienda la Cabana, 1st in North Central Guatemala……………p. 197
3. Valparaiso Plantation—Ancient Fortified City………………………………… …………………..……p. 200
4. Education & Philosophy & Principles of the Good Life (Method)………………….…… ….p. 229
5. Bible-like “Miracle of Elvira”………………………………………………………………………………..………p. 235
6. Creation of Unique Methods of Teaching Cleanliness & Nutrition…………….……………p. 239
7. Organization of The Foundation for Indian Development………………..…………….……..…p. 247
8. The CID, Center for Indian Development “Oasis of hope & justice for poor”…………p. 248
9. Students 1st LDS fulltime missionaries for 3 Mayan language groups…………..….. ..p. 249
10. Carl Jacob and strawberry production introduced into Guatemala…………..…….…..p. 251
11. Las Victorias Dairy, largest in Northern Guatemala………………………………………….…… .p. 251
12. Early LDS history in Alta Verapaz, story human conflict & triumph………………………p. 263
13. BYU Lamanite Generation “miracle” and losing “Pepita”………………..………………..……p. 297
14. The GREAT EARTHQUAKE, CID #2 Las Mercedes, Communism in Guatemala….p. 304
15. Organization of LDS A.V. District history, extreme unrighteousness again……….…p. 306
16. “Greatest missionary adventure of my life” in the Polochic area………….………….……p. 329
17. BYU Distinguished Service Award, Church Historian comments, work manuals…p. 348
18. International ( Adoption) Baby Smuggling Scandal and those responsible……..….p. 351
19. Helping LDS missionary work in the Quito/Ecuador Mission, strange reversal ….p. 355
20. From 1980 on removed LDS image from work, multiplied Mayans helped…… .…p. 359
21. Greatest Soccer Tournament of my life—The Lamanite Youth champions…………p. 361
22. Establishment of the Valparaiso Community, aided potable water, electricity …p. 363
23. 1981-1982 became AYUDA representative, reorganized Patzicia Credit Co-o…p. 366
24. Supported Cunen projects for 10 years……………………………………………………………..…..p. 367
25. Spirit of Cine Chapinlandia showing TEN COMMANDMENTS to 10,000 peoplep. 368
26. For 32 years built and managed Andersen College in Patzicia for needy children.p. 369
27. Constructed Ariel & Ines Andersen Chuluc School, paid teacher for 30 years …p. .371
28. “Rest of story” from 1971-2002 told, life at THE FARM OF THE HOLY MAN…… ..p. 372
29. “Biggest mistake—A Great Success!” & “rest of story” 2002-20, FAREWELLS..p. 469
30. Museum of the Holy Man………………………………………….…………………………………………….…p. 505
31. Partnership with Garth Norman, Tree of Life—Izapa Project then to Valparaiso .p. 507
32. Last “goodbye,” a funny story, coincidental meeting my Indian Queen, again…. p. 532
33. The greatest blessing /accomplishment, “MY 15 DUNDERHEAD KIDS” …….……..p. 535

CONCLUSIONS—SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE & MY HOPE—
THANKS TO ALL
Last page of BOOK: Theodore Roosevelt’s famous statement,

“HE WHO DARES“

If you aren’t familiar with that great statement, you’ll have to go to the BOOK and scroll down to the last page.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP, nor GIVE IN…..EASILY!

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FOR A COMPLETE HISTORY OF WHAT THE PROJECT HAS TAKEN…from BACK SURGERIES TO NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK, LEARNING WITH BABY STEPS…ALL THE WAY TO DOING A HALF MARATHON, HIKING IN THE UINTAS AGAIN & HOW TO GET THE BOOKS, SCROLL DOWN–but first SOMETHING FREE!

To download to your computer this FREE 27 PAGE BOOKLET, click on that link & familiarize yourself with the 730 page BOOK-described by some as THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS, described further along in this post.

TODAY, November 17th the 15th surgery was done–since 2003, when the UINTAS PROJECT BEGAN: “NOSE TERMINATE REDUCTION SURGERY.” BELOW IS SEEN A PICTURE OF ONE OF MY ENLARGED NASAL TERMINATES, making breathing difficult, and secreting mucus that would cause congestion and coughing and of course making hiking in the Uintas more difficult.

Next we see that nostril with the terminate REDUCED, making breathing easier and reducing secretions of mucus.

Of course both terminates were reduced that will give me a few more years of better breathing.

TWO OTHER SURGERIES DURING THE LAST MONTH: EYE CATARACT REMOVAL & LENS REPLACEMENT. The incredible surgeries are still in recovery–with bags under my eyes, etc., but for normal eye sight I don’t need glasses anymore, can see crystal clear with normal vibrant colors, can now use dark glasses as both eyes are the same, and only will need glasses for reading small print.

CONCERNING THE LIFE & DEATH PROBLEM OF SPINE MISALIGNMENT, SEEN AGAIN BELOW IN THE X-RAY:

Yesterday, November 16th, my spine surgeon, after taking x-rays, concluded no worsening of my condition since the previous visit 1 month ago…….I have been very careful during that month to avoid any fall or movement that could cause more misalignment and paralyze, or kill me. He described the surgery he could do to correct the condition: “IT WOULD BE A SURGERY MUCH MORE COMPLICATED AND SERIOUS THAN ANYTHING YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. I WOULDN’T DO IT, NOR WOULD YOU WANT IT, UNLESS YOU WERE IN SO MUCH PAIN AND DANGER THAT YOU DIDN’T WANT TO LIVE ANY LONGER!” So, I’ll carefully persist in carefully working out, on cold days at the American Fork Fitness Center to get stronger– learning to use the apparatuses and still work towards…….

MEETING YOU ON A HIGH UINTA TRAIL IN 2022 IN MY 87th YEAR!

NOW I’LL REPEAT THE INFORMATION ON THE TWO BOOKS THAT TELL THE STORY OF HOW MY LIFE WAS SAVED & MADE PRODUCTIVE WITH A COUPLE OF

“IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS!”

IT’S THE ONLY HIGH UINTA BOOK WITH: BEAUTIFUL COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS–1,600 of them; THE FASCINATING HISTORY–like about the first explorers to see the Uintas; the story of my American hero, Jedediah Smith and his team–the first to trap on the North Slope, and the mountain I’ve named in his honor; “The Tie hackers,” unsung American heroes & their Ghost towns, including the story of “The liveliest if not the most wicked town in America” and President Eisenhower’s hero, “the Bare Knuckle Marshal,” who tried to pacify it; the UNBELIEVABLE LEGENDS, and the stories of gold in the Uintas, & more; plus 120 TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS with trails, and distances covering every Trailhead area including updated information on the lakes to guide you in planning your adventures; and critically THE SURVIVAL STORIES that have already saved many lives, INCLUDING MY LAST BACKPACK WHEN 80 YEARS OLD TO GET TO THE LAKE THAT HAS MY NAME, “LITTLE ANDY LAKE,” in the eastern shadow of Kings Peak, and the highest lake in Utah at 12,302 feet.

To get the BOOK: Send a check for $20 or a $20 bill, to Cordell Andersen, 444 Elm St., American Fork, Utah 84003, along with your email and I’ll email you the link to download the 730 Page eBook to your computer. With that, if you want, as 50+ Uinta lovers have, take it on a thumb drive to your favorite printer to get a printed copy. Scroll down to learn about my printer whose the best.

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THE UPDATED 567 page STORY OF MY LIFE AMONG THE MAYA, downloadable FREE, entitled: (the title is the link to download)

A FIFTY YEAR “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” AMONG MY PEOPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA

It has many hundreds of color photos from what they say is:

“THE LAND WHERE COLOR WAS INVENTED!”

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We see below a sort of one picture depiction of the HIGH UINTAS PROJECT & publishing of the book. It started in summer 2003–then 2,000+ miles of backpacking /exploration later, the book was published online in 2017 on my 81st birthday. Then came the last 12 months–2020-2021– going through near death, to not being able to walk…..and my effort to NOT GIVE UP!

By November 2020–with 10 surgeries, two radiation treatments for cancer, and worn out joints and body parts–were all catching up with me, necessitating on November 13, 2020 the 3rd back surgery with more titanium appliances trying to keep my spine aligned properly, shown above. That began a YEAR OF STRUGGLE DEPICTED IN THE MONTAGE OF PHOTOS. The November surgery backfired and I couldn’t walk, nor stand up to take a shower, and my right leg literally died, leading to emergency surgery in Dec. which helped but not being able to exercise–the muscle disappeared and leg looked like a holocausts victim, but I couldn’t give in, and in my desperation wasn’t cautious enough……so in January I took 3 FALLS RESULTING IN A FRACTURE IN MY SPINE FORCING ME TO BE CAREFUL AND OVER SEVERAL MONTHS THE CRACKS IN MY VERTEBRAE HEALED, BUT……EVOLVED THE BEGINNING OF A DANGEROUS MISALIGNMENT OF MY SPINE…….

THE PRESENT CHALLENGE IS SEEN BELOW IN AN X-RAY THAT SHOWS A DANGEROUS MISALIGNMENT.

The lower vertebrae’s are misaligned with the upper ones and at an angle are pushing up on the inside corner of the upper ones. If it slipped a bit more it could cut the spinal chord!

My spine specialist and spine surgeon agree that another fall, such as I had back in January–or for sure the “FLYING FALL” I took in the Uintas on May 11, 2020 (scroll way down to learn about it), could paralyze me, or kill me–SO I HAVE TO WORK AT STRENGTHENING MYSELF AND GETTING STRONGER–CAREFULLY!

More surgeries? I was first told by the surgeon it could take from 4 to 5 surgeries to correct everything, and in my 86th year that didn’t sound very inviting–the Dr. himself saying, “I WISH YOU WERE 65 RATHER THAN 85!” but added, “You are amazing and in better health at 85 than most of us are at 65!” ………. so I’m carefully working on strengthening myself, as depicted in the montage and as reported in previous posts you can see by scrolling down–even using my WALKER for long distance walks………

……….my last one DOING A HALF MARATHON WITH MY WALKER AND BEATING THE KENYANS!–almost losing when TWO BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADIES TRIED TO DO A “LOVE KIDNAPPING!”

WHAT? YOU DON’T BELIEVE ME? SCROLL DOWN AND GET THE “rest of the story” in my last posts. You will notice that I’m doing my darndest to laugh at me getting OLD!

I will only go for another surgery if necessary to save my life.

IN THE MEANTIME GET MY BOOK SO YOU’LL HAVE SOME FASCINATING READING WITH YOUR KIDS, OR GRANDKIDS DURING THE LONG UPCOMING WINTER! YOU’LL BE GETTING THE ONLY BOOK IN EXISTENCE ON THE UINTAS WITH COLOR PHOTOS, THE INCREDIBLE HISTORY, FASCINATING LEGENDS, & SURVIVAL STORIES THAT HAVE ALREADY SAVED MANY LIVES!

………..and I must add, the BOOK has an EXCLUSVIE 89 page guide to doing a 856 MILE AUTO LOOP TOUR OF THE UINTA MOUNTAINS that show our UINTAS to be equal to or BETTER THAN MOST NATIONAL PARKS. My spine doctor, Dr. Allan Colledge, bought a print book and with his wife did the tour using the book as their guide in 2020, and when I afterwards went to him for one of my emergencies–HE IGNORED MY REASON FOR SEEING HIM, AND……

…HE RATHER WENT ON AND ON PRAISING THE GUIDE AND THEIR TOUR of our wonderful HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS!

The good doctor finally got through with the Uintas and inquired why I had come to see him….eventually leading to two more surgeries and a very challenging year–NOW OF COURSE PERHAPS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF MY PROJECT!

Above we see the print version of the 730 page, two volume book. For $20 you can purchase a link to download the book to your computer. Send in the mail (if you don’t have checks anymore, just send a $20 bill–we aren’t in Guatemala, so you can trust the mailman), or drop by my place with $20 at 444 Elm St., American Fork, Utah. I live in the funky little white trailer parked at my son Jesse’s home behind my son Nephi’s luxurious mobile home. Give me your email, and I’ll send or give you the link so you can download it. If you send a check, make it to

Cordell Andersen.

Once you have it on your computer, if you want a printed copy as seen above, you can put it on a thumb drive and take to your favorite printer. If you are in the Utah Valley area, my printer, COPYTEC does an excellent job with perfect color reproduction and the best paper. Their address is: 185 West 200 South, Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062, Tel. 801-785-3680. Online: www.copyteconline.com.

In the beginning I had one printed for me at OFFICE MAX that cost me $173.50 and then I found COPYTEC and was able to offer a printed book for $140, but prices have gone up a lot so the last one I had printed cost $170 and I lost money. MORE THAN 50 paid the big bucks to get the printed version–and LOVE IT!

I’m not quite as mobile as before, so now, best get it done yourself. NOTE: If you go to OFFICE MAX make sure and tell them to lighten up the photos as the one done for me had them too dark and I had to give that copy away to a friend!

MORE SURGERIES FOR “LITTLE ANDY”

My motto over many years has been “NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE IN….EASILY!”

Now, on November 8th I’ve had two eye surgeries to get rid of cataracts and do lens replacement on my both eyes–that now are almost like knew — 20/20. On November 17th will have surgery–to reduce my nasal terminates so I can breath normally again for the first time in years and be able to better handle the High Uinta altitudes.

That will bring my surgeries to 15 since I began my HIGH UINTAS PROJECT…..with the 2,000+ miles of backpacking gradually wearing out some body parts, the unsalvageable ones removed, and others rebuilt with titanium. SO SOON I WILL BE A NEW MAN…….SO DON’T BE SURPRISED IF YOU RUN INTO AN OLD GUY IN HIS 87th YEAR ON SOME HIGH UINTA TRAIL IN 2022!

MY 2nd BOOK:

A FIFTY YEAR “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” AMONG MY PEOPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA

Most of my life was spent among the Maya in Guatemala–which 567 page history has over 400 color photographs of “THE LAND WHERE COLOR WAS INVENTED” …………I”ll insert just one photo from the book that shows the ANNUAL INDIAN FOLKLORE FESTIVAL that the experts have said is:

THE MOST COLORFUL INDIGENOUS EVENT IN THE HEMISPHERE!

The book has also now been completed, and can be downloaded to your computer or electronic device for FREE by clicking on the link below:

A FIFTY  YEAR “IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” AMONG MY PEOPLE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF THE MAYA

More information can be found on the following website, as well as an online version–but not as complete as the one downloadable, at: https://www.guatemalanfoundation.org/

THE NEWEST VERSION (printable download) has WISDOM from Albert Einstein, Tom Selleck in his movie AN INNOCENT MAN, from Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) in his movie CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER , and from the Amazon Series, THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

MY LIFE IS BASICALLY TOLD IN THESE TWO BOOKS. On giving a lecture at the Utah Valley Historical Society in Provo, Utah in December 2019, one friend’s reaction was:

“WHAT A LIFE, WHAT A COUPLE OF BOOKS!“

I have to agree that I was undeservedly blessed with my TWO LIVES: The ONE AMONG MY BELOVED MAYA, and my ONE IN THE HIGH UINTAS, for both of which lives I will be eternally grateful!

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From last season–2020 not being able to hike, much less backpack, then following two back surgeries that didn’t work too good with me degenerating to NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO WALK ANYMORE–WHICH SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME–scaring me into pushing myself to the point of learning to walk all over again with BABY STEPS!

I then graduated to walking more and more to keep my good left leg alive and force my dead right leg to wake up and build again muscle–all with the wonderful walker my friend Paul gave me, stretching out my walks from American Fork all the way to Lone Peak High School in Highland!

Then, as reported in the previous post I stretched my walking to successfully doing the half-marathon distance (13.2 miles) with my walker–all the way to Alpine and back. NOTE: You will notice that there is now muscle AGAIN in my right basically dead leg, so all the walking has worked!

I then decided there was need of NEW PROGRESS, A NEW CHALLENGE–actually doing some kind of hike in the High Uintas to end the season. So, I humbled myself and got a pair of previously hated TREKKING POLES–before I always had more important things to do with my hands, like always having my camera at ready get that once in a life-time shot, carrying my fishing rod, or munchies, etc.

I headed for the High Uintas, up the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway–now finally back to driving with my right leg, and intending to find a 1/4 mile hike to some lake, and return for a 1/2 mile goal. I referred to my BOOK to find the right hike.

SOUNDS PRETTY WIMPY, RIGHT? But graduating from NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK all the way to A SEMI-STEEP, ROCKY TRAIL with only trekking poles–would be A VERY BIG DEAL FOR FOR THIS 85 YEAR OLD & HIS BABY STEPS! Around the bend from the Hayden Peak Overlook, a 1/2 mile from the Mirror Lake turn-off, I found what I was looking for at the FEHR LAKE TRAILHEAD–it was twice the distance I was looking for, but would have to do.

I have always advised everyone to go prepared even on a short day-hike-–which is what Carole Wetherton and daughter Kim were doing from the Crystal Lake Trailhead on September 13, 2003. They disappeared and were never found that fall in a massive search. Their bones were found in 2004. They had not gone prepared for any trouble–no rain gear, not warm enough clothing, had matches–but not waterproof ones so what they had were useless as it rained and then snowed, etc.

That tragic case is described on pages 347-348 of my BOOK. Other “SURVIVAL STORIES” are told in the book, as well as my “Survival stories” and why I’m still alive, when others in like experiences died.

So, as seen above, I actually had on my back what I call my “BABY SURVIVAL PACK” that weighs 4.4 lbs. with which I could safely spend a night or two in the wilderness, if needed.

NOTE: I have strict instructions from my doctors to NOT BACKPACK ANYMORE–but, 4.4 lbs. is basically nothing–yet….

…..NOW QUALIFIES ME AGAIN AS “A BACKPACKER!”

This was my first experience with trekking poles, and just a short while down the trail I stopped to adjust the length properly. Soon I noted that on smooth stretches that were level, or just slightly uphill, it was best for me to not even use the trekking poles–but they were critical for the downhill stretches. My lower back pain was the most bothersome part of the experience, and I’ll admit I had to rest a few times.

Eventually I came to a quite long, steep downhill section with the lake now in view, but as seen below there were a couple of quite large steps down that my experience to that point had showed me was dangerous for my condition.

I’ll insert a close-up below of the steps down, even though the picture doesn’t really show how high they were–from 12-15″ each–two high for my BABY STEPS! I couldn’t see a safe way to detour around this tiny stretch, but I’m sure I could have if it had of been a matter of life and death–but as ridiculously small as this effort was, I couldn’t take excessive risks.

So, I got closer to the lake using the zoom on my smart phone, you see below.

I then headed back to the Trailhead, and like I mentioned for my condition & BABY STEPS, uphill was much easier for me than downhill–which was dangerous. On semi-level ground I didn’t use the poles at all, and moved along faster, even with baby steps. BUT I MADE IT BACK TO THE CAR & CAN NOW BRAG A LITTLE ABOUT DOING SOME “BACKPACKING IN 2021” but I frankly have to confess IT WAS TOUGH FOR ME, which for any normal person would be embarrassing to admit, but for me it WAS PURE TRIUMPH & A GREAT NEW BEGINNING!

But, once again for full disclosure: It hurt me some and driving home was painful–so I’ve gotto back off just a little and do less each time, but do it twice a day doing laps following the trails around the American Fork Amphitheater, even doing medium steps leading with my right “dead leg” which is coming back and isn’t completely dead anymore!

OBVIOUSLY I HAVE THE HOPE OF KEEPING IN SHAPE and GETTING STRONGER DURING THE WINTER–mostly at the American Fork Fitness Center, and I must FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE CONSTANT LOWER BACK PAIN–(and have set up an appointment with Dr. Allan Colledge who is a real High Uinta Friend who has been life saving in the past),

GETTING STRONGER….NOW in the Fall, & in Spring 2022, will have me add to my DAILY WALKS, at least every other day, hikes with trekking poles in the Amphitheater, foothills, and canyons–like GROVE CANYON, ROCK CANYON, etc. I have found that to keep my legs awake requires daily exercise WALKS & TREKS!

I’m even alternating walking with a sort of semi-jog with my walker with sights on……best not admit it or you’d be even more sure I’m crazy…..after all I have been also called a……..

“Modern Don Quijote!”!

KEEPING AWAKE BOTH OF MY LEGS, I’M HOPEFUL DOING IN 2022 AN OVERNIGHTER & I EXPECT SEVERAL OF THEM, EACH A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE!

SOME OF YOU JUSTIFIABLY WILL LAUGH AT THIS “OLD BACKPACKER,” BUT FOR ME, CONSIDERING I COULDN’T EVEN WALK TOO LONG AGO & SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH BOTH LEGS GOING NUMB–I PERSONALLY AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE LORD FOR PUSHING AND HELPING ME TO …..”NOT GIVE IN….EASILY!”

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 GET THE BOOK…..It’s not just for backpackers, but for parents and grandparents who can share the history, legends & LIFE SAVING survival stories with your children, and grandchildren, and inspire them to appreciate the wonderful High Uinta Mountains–as good or better then most National Parks!

Send your check in my name for $19.95  along with your email address to:

Cordell Andersen, 444 Elm St., American Fork, Utah 84003

I will then email you a link to download the two volume book. You are thereafter welcome to share the link with others, but I would appreciate you forwarding to me half of whatever you get for it–maybe it can be a business for you MAKING YOU A MILLIONAIRE–AND ME TOO–FINALLY!  It’s a treasure of updated information, history, legends, hundreds of color photographs, 120 topographical maps with trails and distances marked, and what is needed to 

MAKE MORE ENJOYABLE & SAFE OUR WONDERFUL UINTAS.

I’m not kidding—IT HAS SAVED LIVES!