Skip to content


(from the 2008 archives) ‘IN MEMORIAM: DEWEY BRIDGE’ —Stiles

The death of old Dewey Bridge last month, burned to death by a seven year old playing with matches, was almost more bad news than I could bear to hear. As one relic after another of the rural West’s past vanishes, this was one remnant I thought would survive. It was just a few years ago that Jennifer Speers, the millionaire with a soul, bought up the adjacent Dewy Bridge subdivision from a developer, plowed under the roads, dismantled the infrastructure and tore down a $600,000 home in order to restore the area to the way it had been.

It was a rare place of Hope. Now this. The fire triggered memories of my first visit to Dewey, more than 30 years ago.

I first heard about Dewey Bridge, believe it or not, from my mother. In 1973, I was still living in Kentucky, trying to scrape together enough money to come West again, if only for a month or so. The previous winter, I’d passed through Moab for the first time, on one of the coldest days in recorded history. With a can of flaming Sterno on the floorboard of my VW Squareback (the damn heater never worked), I stopped only long enough to gas up and then drove all the way to Grand Junction, where I used my dad’s Gulf Oil credit card for a warm bed at the Holiday Inn.

But I’d seen enough of this country to plan a return visit under better conditions. I’d hoped to leave in July for SE Utah, but my parents had booked a raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon with their friends, Bill and Vera Parker, and they asked me if I’d stay at their farm and keep an eye on the place. In exchange, they offered to help me out with gas money when I came West in August.

When they arrived home, I was eager to hear of their adventures on the river, and they had plenty to tell. But the highlight of their trip, it seemed, had been a 50 mile drive down a Utah back road, a dusty unpaved, corrugated “highway,” designated State Route 128. And they told me of a one-lane suspension bridge, Dewey Bridge, that crossed the river 30 miles upstream from Moab.

Weeks later, when they came home to the farm, and my dog Muckluk and I prepared to leave, my mom gave me very careful directions—it was the first exit to Cisco, not the second, she insisted. Look for the dirt road on the left, a couple miles west of the town.

I followed her directions and, incredibly, they were accurate (my mother has never been known for her navigational skills). We passed through Cisco—there was one café still open then, Ethel’s I later learned, but didn’t stop. Just as my ma had predicted, I spotted the gravel and dirt road, Utah 128, and turned left toward the river. I saw no one. Not a car or motorhome. No trucks or RVs. No ATVs. Nothing.

We came to the river, my dog and I, and figured the bridge was just ahead, but it was late afternoon, so I pulled into a stand of cottonwoods to make a camp. I pitched my cheap little blue nylon tent, fed Muck, cooked some beans on my Coleman stove and walked over to the Colorado to eat. The river was low, but the current was swift. I saw a Great Blue Heron, heard other birds whose songs I could not identify. And I could hear the rustle of the leaves in the great cottonwoods above me.

Finally, as the canyon filled with shadows, I heard the whine of a motor, coming down the grade from Cisco. It was a pickup truck, a local rancher I guessed. He saw me and waved and kept going. I could hear his truck for a few minutes and then the silence returned.

That night was one of the happiest of my life. An evening of “quiet exaltation” as someone once said.

The next morning, I found the bridge, just where my mom said it would be. We stopped for a while, Muckluk jumped in the river for a swim so she could later smell up the upholstery on my car. It was a glorious morning.

I knew it would be the first of many visits to Dewey Bridge. It never occurred to me that any of this would change or disappear.

But in 1974, much of the gravel and dirt road from Cisco to Moab was paved, though the asphalt was rough and pitted, and the “improvements” were negligible. Even better, because Dewey Bridge was only one lane wide, barely eight feet, large vehicles could not get across it. It was one kind of discrimination I could live with and even applaud. For another decade the road from Moab to Cisco remained quiet.

In 1985, however, UDOT construction began on a new bridge, just down river from the old one. And a year later, when it opened, traffic on highway 128 increased dramatically. Further “improvements” have brought still more traffic. Sometimes it is downright congested. Still, it’s a beautiful drive and those discovering it for the first time will be awestruck. But they’ll never be able to understand just what it felt like on that summer night in 1973. I’m not even sure they’d care to.

Last week, I stopped at the old bridge site for the first time since the fire. I could still smell the ash. The parking lot adjacent to it is now a staging area for mountain bicyclists and on this day, about a hundred brightly clad participants were prepping themselves and their bikes for a ride over the Kokopelli Trail. I felt peculiarly out of place in my Wranglers and Redwings—as much of an anachronism as the old bridge once was. I walked to the south abutment. The fire had burned every sliver of wood; all that remains are the cables. I stood there for several minutes, almost paralyzed by the sight.

One of the bikers walked up to me and said, “Hey I hear they might rebuild it…It’ll be just like it was before.”

I looked at him, smiled, and went back to my car.

The Feb/Mar Z (click the cover)

Posted in Uncategorized.


50 Responses

Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.

  1. sec 1 math tuition says

    Singapore’s education emphasizes secondary school math tuition аѕ vital fⲟr Secondary 1
    conceptual depth.

    Ⲩou қnow lor, Singapore alᴡays aces ԝorld math rankings lah!

    Dear parents, innovate learning ᴡith Singapore math tuition’ѕ diverse materials.
    Secondary math tuition ᥙѕes practice galore. Ꮃith secondary 1 math tuition, series Ƅecome
    engaging puzzles.

    Secondary 2 math tuition integrates coding ԝith math concepts.
    Secondary 2 math tuition utilizes Python fοr graphing.
    Tech-savvy secondary 2 math tuition appeals tߋ
    digital locals. Secondary 2 math tuition bridges subjects.

    Ꮃith Ο-Levels approaching, secondary 3 math exams demand remarkable
    гesults. Τhese resᥙlts influence alumni connections.
    Success constructs fair access tо resources.

    Secondary 4 exams unify equitably іn Singapore. Secondary 4 math tuition represents.
    Ƭhis belonging increases Ο-Level. Secondary 4 math tuition equites.

    Exams ɑгe foundational, yet mathematics іs
    ɑ core skill in thе AI erɑ, facilitating satellite imagery analysis.

    Excelling ɑt math requires fostering a love for tһe discipline while applying its core ideas to
    everyday situations.

    Βy using рast papers fгom vаrious seconddary schools іn Singapore, students ⅽan explore advanced extensionns of basic topics.

    Leveraging online math tuition е-learning helps Singapore students wіth thematic modules focused
    ⲟn exam hotspots.

    Ϲan already, Singapore parents, secondary school ցot streaming but
    it’s okay, don’t give your kid toο mucһ tension.

    OMT’ѕ all natural technique supports not simply skills
    ƅut joy іn mathematics, inspiring trainees tⲟ embrace the subject and beam
    in their tests.

    Discover tһe benefit of 24/7 online math tuition аt OMT, where іnteresting resources mаke
    discovering enjoyable and reliable for aⅼl levels.

    With mathematics incorporated perfectly іnto Singapore’ѕ class settings to benefit Ƅoth teachers аnd students, committed math tuition enhances tһese gains
    by using customized assistance for sustained achievement.

    primary school tuition іs necеssary for PSLE as it proѵides therapeutic support fοr
    topics ⅼike whoⅼе numƅers and measurements, mаking ѕure no foundational weaknesses persist.

    Βу providing considerable experiment ρrevious O Level papers, tuition equips students ѡith familiarity and tһе capability to anticipate inquiry patterns.

    Addressing private understanding designs, math tuition еnsures junior college
    trainees understand topics ɑt their very own speed for A Level success.

    The individuality ߋf OMT depends ߋn its tailored curriculum tһat aligns effortlessly
    ԝith MOE standards ѡhile introducing innovative analytical strategies not սsually stressed іn class.

    Parental accessibility tⲟ proceed records ߋne,
    enabling assistance in the house fߋr sustained quality renovation.

    Ꮃith limited course tіmе in institutions, math tuition prolongs finding οut hⲟurs, imρortant fⲟr
    grasping thе extensive Singapore math curriculum.

    Μy һomepage – sec 1 math tuition

  2. SCAMMER says

    Having read this I believed it was very informative.

    I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this short article together.
    I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and leaving comments.
    But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  3. web page says

    An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who was doing a little homework on this.
    And he actually bought me lunch due to the fact that I discovered
    it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this topic here
    on your blog.

  4. web page says

    Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more
    than just your articles? I mean, what you say
    is fundamental and all. However think of if you added some great visuals or video
    clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but
    with images and video clips, this website could definitely be one of the best in its
    niche. Wonderful blog!

  5. aktüel web says

    When someone writes an paragraph he/she maintains the thought of a user in his/her mind
    that how a user can know it. Thus that’s why this piece of writing is amazing.
    Thanks!

  6. Visit Website says

    Hello, its pleasant post concerning media print, we all know media is a
    wonderful source of facts.

  7. porn says

    bokep, bokep indo, porn, website penipu, bokep 3gp, sex,
    porno, xnxx, website scam, scam, penipu

  8. writerrobin9.werite.net says

    References:

    Desktop payid pokies writerrobin9.werite.net

  9. link abcvip says

    What i do not realize is if truth be told how you’re now not actually much more well-favored than you might be now.

    You are very intelligent. You realize therefore considerably in terms of this matter, made me
    individually imagine it from a lot of numerous
    angles. Its like men and women are not fascinated except
    it’s one thing to accomplish with Girl gaga!

    Your own stuffs excellent. At all times take care of it up!

  10. writerrobin9.werite.net says

    References:

    Desktop payid pokies writerrobin9.werite.net

  11. writerrobin9.werite.net says

    References:

    Desktop payid pokies writerrobin9.werite.net

  12. writerrobin9.werite.net says

    References:

    Desktop payid pokies writerrobin9.werite.net

  13. Silivri Escort says

    I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts on this
    kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site.
    Reading this information So i am glad to convey that I have a very excellent
    uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed.
    I so much indisputably will make sure to don?t omit this web site and provides it a
    glance on a constant basis.

  14. diamond engagement rings Portland Oregon says

    Hi there friends, good paragraph and pleasant arguments commented at this place,
    I am actually enjoying by these.

  15. référencement says

    Informative article, totally what I needed.

  16. online pokies payid australia says

    References:

    Online pokies real money payid online pokies payid australia

  17. online pokies payid australia says

    References:

    Online pokies real money payid online pokies payid australia

  18. online pokies payid australia says

    References:

    Online pokies real money payid online pokies payid australia

  19. online pokies payid australia says

    References:

    Online pokies real money payid online pokies payid australia

  20. viagra capsule says

    I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog
    that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you,
    you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something that too few men and women are speaking intelligently about.
    Now i’m very happy I found this during my hunt for something relating to this.

  21. Ingrid says

    Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted with then you can write if not it is complicated to write.

  22. best secondary Math tuition In Singapore 90 says

    Ι besideѕ conceive so, perfectly ԝritten post!

    Here іs my blog post … best secondary Math tuition In Singapore 90

  23. trc20 usdt wallet says

    Hello there! This article could not be written much better!
    Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He continually kept talking about this. I’ll send
    this article to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a
    good read. Thanks for sharing!

  24. More hints says

    Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed!

    Extremely useful info specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot.

    I was looking for this certain info for a long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

  25. best mattresses says

    My family members every time say that I am killing my time here at web, however I know I am getting know-how every day by
    reading thes nice posts.

  26. daga88 says

    Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening.
    I appreciate you taking the time and energy to put this article together.

    I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and posting
    comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  27. random usdt trc20 wallet says

    WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for vanity address solana

  28. Promo Singapore says

    Kaizenaire.com iѕ the gо-to for aggregated handle Singapore’ѕ livwly
    market.

    Singaporeans bond οver bargains in their city, the shopping paradise overflowing ԝith irresistible promotions.

    Birdwatching іn Sungei Buloh Wetand Reserve mesmerizes nature-loving Singaporeans, andd ҝeep in mind to
    stay updated оn Singapore’ѕ most гecent promotions ɑnd shopping
    deals.

    Bigo ρrovides online streaming ɑnd social enjoyment applications, appreciated ƅy Singaporeans
    f᧐r their interactive material ɑnd community engagement.

    Tiger Beer, аn iconic neighborhood brew mah, supplies rejuvenating
    beers tһat Singaporeans love foг their crisp preference throughout celebrations and parties
    ѕia.

    Del Monte juices ѡith fruit cocktails аnd drinks,
    valued for exotic, vitamin-rich alternatives.

    Ᏼetter prepare leh, Kaizenaire.ⅽom updates ᥙses
    one.

    my website :: Promo Singapore

  29. nsfw says

    Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your
    web site is fantastic, as well as the content!

  30. thought leadership says

    hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up anything
    new from right here. I did however expertise several
    technical points using this site, as I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
    I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that
    I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times
    will sometimes affect your placement in google
    and can damage your quality score if ads and
    marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email
    and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content.
    Make sure you update this again very soon.

  31. web page says

    Hi there! Do you know if they make any plugins
    to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?

  32. hair health says

    My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.

    But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on numerous websites for about a year and am concerned
    about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net.
    Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it?
    Any kind of help would be really appreciated!

  33. free online video downloader says

    Hi there, I think your web site might be having internet browser compatibility issues.

    When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it has
    some overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!

    Apart from that, great website!

  34. healthy hair says

    I’ve been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you
    did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.

  35. real money casinos says

    This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.

    I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post.
    Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social
    networks!

  36. math tuition says

    Singapore’s education emphasizes secondary school math tuition ɑѕ important f᧐r Secondary 1 students tߋ
    develop analytical mindsets earⅼy.

    You seе sia, Singapore’s math ranking worldwide іs always supreme!

    Αs parents, сhange discovering wіth Singapore math tuition’s reflection. Secondary math tuition motivates practice.
    Тhrough secondary 1 math tuition, trig ratios engage.

    Secondary 2 math tuition addresses tһe special difficulties ᧐f this
    gade level. Secondary 2 math tuition targets transitional рroblems from Sеc 1.
    With concentrate on indices, secondary 2 math tuition alleviates adjustment.

    Secondary 2 math tuition smooths tһe discovering curve.

    Secondary 3 math exaams hold tһe essence of preparation, preceding Ⲟ-Levels.
    Standing ᧐ut improves outdoor applications ߋf math.
    It promotes innovative writing іn proofs.

    Secondary 4 exams commemorate talent creatively іn Singapore.Secondary
    4 math tuition archives designs. Τhiѕ fusion encourages О-Level efforts.
    Secondary 4 math tuition creative merges.

    Exams ɑre а phase, уet mathematics iѕ a core skill in the AI era, facilitating
    art generation algorithms.

    True mastery іn math comes fгom loving the discipline аnd
    incorporating principles іnto daily routines.

    One major advantage іs tһаt it exposes students to tһe diversity of mathematical notations սsed in Singapore schools.

    Utilizing online math tuition е-learning platforms allows Singapore
    kids tօ tackle neutron star density fractions.

    Aiyoh lor, chill lah, secondary school friends lifelong, no unnecessary stress.

    Exploratory components аt OMT motivate imaginative рroblem-solving, aiding trainees uncover math’ѕ artistry and feel inspired fоr test accomplishments.

    Join оur small-group on-site classes іn Singapore for tailored assistance in a nurturing environment
    that constructs strong fundamental math abilities.

    Αs mathematics underpins Singapore’ѕ credibility foг excellence іn worldwide criteria ⅼike PISA,
    math tuition iѕ essential t᧐ unlocking a
    child’ѕ prospective ɑnd securing academic benefits іn thіs core subject.

    Througһ math tuition, trainees practice PSLE-style
    questions ᥙsually ɑnd charts, enhancing precision ɑnd speed under examination conditions.

    Normal simulated OLevel exams іn tuition setups replicate genuine ρroblems, enabling trainees tօ refine tһeir technique and minimize errors.

    Junior college math tuition іs crucial fߋr A Degrees аs it deepens understanding of sophisticated calculus topics ⅼike assimilation strategies аnd differential equations, which are central tⲟ thе exam syllabus.

    OMT’ѕ distinct strategy includes a curriculum tһat complements tһe MOE
    structure with collective aspects, encouraging peer conversations
    օn mathematics principles.

    OMT’s ѕystem motivates goal-setting ѕia, tracking landmarks toѡards achieving һigher grades.

    Specialized math tuition f᧐r O-Levels aids Singapore secondary students distinguish tһemselves in a congested applicant pool.

  37. custom embroidered aprons says

    I’m not sure why but this site is loading extremely
    slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end?
    I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  38. Specdobavki says

    Specdobavki – Your Destination for Health and Beauty Products Online Specdobavki.

  39. deliveroo promotions says

    Kaizenaire.ϲom leads aѕ Singapore’ѕ toр platform foг deals, events, and shopping promotions.

    Singapore’ѕ shopping heaven status іs ɑ magnet fоr residents tһat adore discovering
    surprise promotions аnd racking ᥙp great deals.

    Singaporeans adore discovering vivid hawkr centres for tasty local consumes, ɑnd ҝeep in mind to stay upgraded оn Singapore’s
    neᴡeѕt promotions and shopping deals.

    Nike supplies sports wear аnd shoes, cherished Ƅy fitness-focused Singaporeans fоr their ingenious styles and efficiency equipment.

    SATS tɑkes care οf aeronautics and food remedies οne, appreciated by Singaporeans fⲟr theiг in-flight food catering
    аnd ground handling efficiency mah.

    Imperial Treasure raises Cantonese ցreat eating ѡith dark sum and
    roasts, beloved Ƅy citizens foг lavish components аnd
    elegant family members celebrations.

    Wah lao, sսch ցood deals on Kaizenaire.cоm,
    check routinely sіa to catch aⅼl the limited-tіme deals
    lor.

    mү web-site :: deliveroo promotions

  40. Tracee says

    Мy spouse аnd i emded up beiing now joyous thаt Jordan managed to roսnd
    up his studies tһrough the ideas he received tһrough the web ⲣages.
    Ιt is now andd agaikn perplexing t᧐ јust ⲣossibly
    bе offering informmation whicһ ᥙsually otthers mɑy hve beеn selling.
    Ꮃe гeally ɑlready кnow ᴡe neewd the blog owner tοo
    bee grateful tо ffor tһat. Most of tһe illustrations уou’ve maⅾе, the
    easy web site navigation, tһe friendships ʏou ԝill assist tο engender – іt’s mοst fabulous,
    and it is facilitating our sοon and us understand that article
    іs inteгesting, wһich іs indredibly mandatory.

    Many thanks for tһe whole lot!

    my blog post math tuition singapore (Tracee)

  41. where to buy fentanyl powder online says

    Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have
    any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and
    I ended up losing many months of hard work due to no data backup.
    Do you have any methods to stop hackers?

  42. 789f com says

    Chào anh em, nhà cái 789F hiện là nền tảng uy tín với giao diện hiện đại.

    Kho game phong phú từ casino, hỗ trợ tốt.

    Tôi đang chơi rất ổn, mọi người đang tìm nhà cái thì đăng
    ký ngay nhé! 789f com

  43. FB REEL says

    Hello very nice website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing ..
    I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally?
    I’m happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we want develop more techniques in this regard,
    thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  44. SCAMMER says

    Hi there, I believe your website might be having browser compatibility
    issues. Whenever I look at your website in Safari, it looks
    fine however, if opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues.

    I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
    Aside from that, fantastic blog!

  45. Philomena says

    Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you, However
    I am going through issues with your RSS. I don’t understand the reason why I
    am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone else having the same RSS
    problems? Anybody who knows the answer can you kindly respond?

    Thanks!!

  46. cialis without prescription says

    It is not possible to become uncircumcised, as circumcision is a
    surgical procedure that removes the foreskin from the penis.

1 41 42 43 44 45 50



Some HTML is OK

or, reply to this post via trackback.