Day 59 - Change of plans

During the night, a pacific storm rolled into the mountain valleys and when we woke up it was pouring rain. We decided to look for a church for services in the afternoon and the closest one was in Cedar City, 59 miles away and over the mountains. We packed up and left for Cedar City about 9:00AM. Come to find out there were only 4 churches within 100 miles of where we were. Anyhow we drove the scenic Highway UT-14 toward Cedar City. At the beginning of the highway was a sign advising snow chains between Oct and April (today was Sept 27). We proceded to start up the mountain. When we got near the midpoint on the highway all hell broke loose. The temperature had dropped to 34 F and it started to pour. Then it turned to sleet. Then it turned to hail. Then the road was completely covered with slush. Then the truck in front of us went off the road and blew a tire. Then flashing lights up ahead and we stopped to see what was happening. The State Trooper advised us that we should not continue because there were boulders in the roadway and we should wait for the Utah DOT to clear them. We pulled over down the road a ways and waited. We noticed several cars continuing down the road, so we proceeded also. About 2 miles down the road there were several cars and campers waiting in the roadway. The heavy rain had left part of the roadway covered in mud and rocks. We shut of the engine and waited. About 5 minutes later we noticed that the trafic started to move again. We started down the road and discovered 3 young men in a camper had taken out their shovels and started to clear the road of mud and rock. As we approached them the water was still crossing the roadway and carrying with it more mud and rock. The 3 young men kept trying to keep it clear. When we finally reached them we thanked them for their help and crossed the raging water on the road. We then traveled the rest of the way down the mountain. When we got to Cedar City it appeared that the weather was not going to break for the evening so we decided to take a break from camping and spend a night in a motel there in Cedar City. Tomorrow, if it all clears up we head back over the mountain and visit Bryce Canyon National Park. That is if the road is open.

2 inches of slush (34 F)

State Trooper and Car off the road

Cars backed up and standing still

3 young men doing a really good deed.

Mud we had to cross to get down the road.