Fires break out in Daniels, Diamond Fork canyons

A fire broke out yesterday very close to the ranch.  Jared spoke with firefighters up the canyon this morning and they told him it was started by someone using a chain saw.  This is quite dangerous for the area and everyone has been evacuated and no one is being allowing in right now.  There are several people trying to push cattle out from above the property.  Keep the ranch in your prayers and we can all just wait and hope that none of our property is hit.  If the crews can keep the fire from going over a ridge then the ranch should be safe.  If the fire crosses over that ridge though the entire area of Wanrodes will be at risk.

This is an article from KSL.com http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=21777299&nid=148&title=fires-break-out-in-daniels-diamond-fork-canyons

A fire broke out Sunday afternoon in Diamond Fork Canyon near Spanish Fork.

The fire is about eight miles up the canyon and had reached about 300 acres by Sunday night. It was reported at 1 p.m.

No structures are threatened, but mandatory evacuations are in place for Diamond Fork Canyon and the Balsam Campground in Hobble Creek Canyon.

The evacuations are in place as precautions in case the fire heads toward Hobble Creek Canyon.

Multiple ground crews and one helicopter are on scene. There is no estimate on containment.

Whiskey Springs Fire

Crews that had been battling a blaze near Jordanelle State Park were shifted Sunday afternoon to a new wildfire burning in Daniels Canyon.

The human-caused Whiskey Springs Fire started just before 1 p.m. Sunday in Daniels Canyon. Helicopters that had been on standby for the Fox Bay Fire near Jordanelle State Park are attacking the blaze from the air, and more air support is on its way, said Janet Carson, Wasatch County Fire spokeswoman.

"We have flames shooting 60 feet in the air," Carson said, adding that an air attack may be the only way to fight the fire because of the steep terrain.

"It's in an area that goes straight up the hill," she said, "and it's moving quite rapidly."

Carson said the fire was started by human negligence, and those responsible reported the fire to officials.

Stay with ksl.com, KSL TV and KSL Newsradio for more information as it is made available.

Plowing and Signs

Saturday, Jared, Valerie, Tricia, Morgan, Kerri, Dustin, Libby & Toby all went to The Ranch to start plowing the big field East of the Cottonwoods.  We were also able to remove a wire gate and just made it a strait part of the fence.  This is the part of the fence right by the old road and was leading to the big field and by Peter's Bees.  We planted a post right in the middle of that part of the fence line so no one can drive through it now.  We did this to try to keep out unwanted trespassers or visitors and to protect the fields which will be used to farm again.

We also saw Peter up there with some of his kids.  He let us all try some of his fresh honey which was absolutely amazing.  He was also teaching one of his daughters to drive as they were leaving on the dirt roads.

This is a picture of the new fence and not a sign we put up to Keep people out.  Several other signs were put up around the property.

Comment on this post if you first drove or learned to drive while at the ranch.

Valerie has become quite the pro on the tractor.  She mows the fields better than anyone.

Tire swings & Dancers on the West Fence

This past Saturday Jared, Tucker, Kerri, Dustin, Libby, & Toby went to the ranch to work and to have fun.  First we installed 2 new tire swings.  They are just for small children, the ropes are not strong enough to hold anyone over 80 lbs.  There is a tire for 3 kids to sit on together and then another vertical one for just one kid to use.  It was a lot of fun and a little bit of work to get it done.  We had to drill holes in the tires to drain water and also to attach the rope.  It was quite the work getting the rope over the tree limb as well.  After multiple throws from Jared, Tucker, and Dustin we finnally got the ropes attached to the tree so the kids can now play on the new swings.  They are located in the cottonwoods just at the bottom of the 'Flat Iron'.

After we finished the swings we finally went up to try to work on the West Fence again.  We were able to get about 1/3 of the dancers cut and installed on that fence line.  There is still a lot of work to do but we were able to get a lot of what we needed to do done.  It was a great Saturday up there, no rain either.

We also appreciate everyone not having any fires up there.  The state has removed it's ban on fires in the area.  The area up there does look green and nice but it is still pretty dry.  We are asking everyone to still refrain from any fires up there!!!  Thank you!!!

Rainy Saturday 7/28/12

Jared, Tucker, Dallas (Tucker's friend), Dustin, Libby, and Toby went to the ranch 2 Saturdays ago.  We were able to do a lot of weeding around the potatoes and get them all cleaned up.  We borrowed a tool from Doug Weight which we hooked up to the tractor and then pulled along the potatoes.  It would mound up the dirt around each plant in the row so the potatoes can have more space to grow and come in thicker.  We were able to see how well some of the potatoes were growing and we even took a couple home for our Sunday dinner.  It was really nice to see some of the fruits of our labors.  Jared then took the tractor and plow over to the big field by the cottonwoods and started to work there.  Toby took a nap in the truck while Libby played in the trees and explored some of the area at the bottom of the flat iron.  Tucker, Dallas, and Dustin then went to shoot targets with a 9 mm and a .38 Special.  After realizing time was running out for shooting due to bad weather coming they started shooting clay pigeons.  After a 2 year hiatus from shooting, Tucker was not very good.  He missed most of his shots but vows to come back and do better next time.  Dallas and Dustin agreed to a tie though.  Right as they decided to finish and clean up the rain started.  We hurried and hid under the trees in the cottonwoods at the bottom of the flat iron.  We stayed pretty dry for about 30 minutes and then it really started coming down.  We decided to try to at least get down to the cabin where we could stay dry.  Kerri and Valerie were supposed to come meet up there with lunch.  We saw them right at the cabin as we were coming down.  The road was wet and muddy.  We got all the way down the hill though and past the cabin and then realized the ground was too wet to go any further.  The rain had let up a little but we still needed to let the ground get a little more dry so we stopped and ate lunch right on the side of the road.  The ground was then dry enough for us all to drive right out of there.  It was an amazing Saturday and it was a lot of fun to see where all of the rain goes on the road and to just be there during a storm.

Nice eye patch with that tree leaf Tucker!!!