April 1-2 Boise to Salt Lake City

We left Boise (elevation 2,700 feet) at about 11 am on a clear, warm morning. Our trip took us over Rattlesnake Pass (5,300 feet). There was fresh snow on the ground but not on the roadway. Our home for the next two nights is Hill Air Force Base (4,400 feet), which overlooks the Great Salt Lake. The base is home to a squadron of F-22 Raptor fighter jets, which keep the runways quite active. Streak and Charlie are clearly unnerved by the sound and vibration. It was about 10 degrees cooler than Boise and a bit windy, so we had to layer up upon arrival.

When pulling into the base, we had to cross several speed bumps. Hank took the bumps too fast. The foot of the jack on the tongue of the trailer bottomed out, resulting in some damage and lost parts. We were able to use it, but we will have to replace it today at a cost of $50 and an hour of Hank's time. The area is ringed by snow-capped mountains, which looked spectacular at sunset.


We drove 30 minutes to Temple Square, where Angie was excited to visit the Family History Library, which is the biggest geneology library in the world. When we parked and entered the square we noticed crowds of construction workers and onlookers staring at the scaffolding around the Temple, which has been under renovation for the past four years. Then we noticed a stage of dignitaries and television cameras. We learned that we had arrived just before they were to reinstall the brilliant golden statue of the angel Moroni on top of the tallest spire. I mistakenly thought that the trumpet-wielding figure we see on Morman temples was Gabriel. Moroni was the angel that Joseph Smith said led him to the golden plates which were the source of the Book of Mormon. We waited about 20 minutes to see them lift the statue into place before we proceeded to the library.