This particularpost details a saga that has evolved over 45 years. The memory may be weak but the tale will be told such as it is. Approximately 45 years ago my cousins, Scott and Lowell, led me down the primrose path as usual and we went on a hike to the east of the Crow Creek ranch owned by my Dad and my Uncle Farrel Tolman. It was one of the few days we had off without hay to put up so we had to do something to keep occupied. As we walked we reached the top of the mountain immediately to the east of the ranch house. We were up close and personal with an icon that had greeted us for as long as we could remember when traveling up the long dusty road to the ranch - an old wizened snag of a pine tree perched almost directly on top of the balding mountain peak looking over the ranch house. One thing led to another and we decided to see if we could push that ugly old snag over. After all it was doing no good that we could see. It was obvious from the scarcity of other vegetation around there that it never should have tried growing there anyway. We did our deed and returned to the ranch house later. I am sure that we were told by our parents that we really needn't have done that and I am also fairly certain that Uncle Farrel would have uttered words to the effect that this wasn't the smartest thing we had ever done punctuated by one of his "hells bells" sayings.
We thought that was the last we would hear about it. Never so fortunate! About 20 or so years later we were provided copies of an article of approximately 1/2 newspaper page written for the Salt Lake Tribune (no less) by our cousin Risa Tolman Ashment. It was very well written but evoked feelings of guilt that needed to be assuaged. As part of the 2009 reunion we planned on doing something to restore the sanctity of that spot for Risa. She even named two of us in the article but we think Scott bought her off and he wasn't mentioned.
The original plan was go go up on Saturday July 4, 2009 as a family but thinking about a full day of reunion and other activities on the 4th I conned by brothers Kelly and Craig to go up on the Tuesday before to take care of business. This is no small hike to the top of that mountain! We had a nice horse ride and enjoyed every minute until I topped the peak from the east and looked down to behold that someone had beat us to it and left the offering below! I knew at that moment that to a certain extent I had been had somehow!
Betrayal of the baldy snag, remembered by that surly nag; 40years to be avenged, and this is how you make amends?
HELLS BELLS! TAG YOU'RE IT!
After a long conversation about the audacity of some relatives I gave due penitence and set out to complete the task at had with two able brothers.
Flying high for all to see the baldy mountain is now dressed in a new snag although it will never be the equal of the original. All who visit this SOR (Shrine of Risa's) are invited to add to the memorial. It brings back good memories whatever the form it takes. 
We noticed after we had completed our good works that evolution had attached itself to the surprise we encountered!
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