Fort Pearce---Finally

So you've looked at this picture and you're not necessarily impressed and perhaps you're saying, "What's the big deal about Fort Pearce?" Let me tell you. This post could also be called Fourth Time's a Charm. Yes, you're correct. It took us four tries to make it there.

Background in a nutshell. Fort Pearce is about 12 miles from Washington City, Utah. Washington City is just north of St. George. Fort Pearce was an outpost to protect a water source during times of trouble in pioneer times. Water is the most valuable resource in the desert. As Michael and I enjoy historical sites and ruins we determined to go there. Here's our Fort Pearce chronology:

During our first winter (Jan-March 2009) we picked a warm day and drove out there. We ran into mud that was treacherous when we were about halfway there. We turned around and said we'd try another time when everything was dried out.

During our second winter (Jan-April 2010) we didn't go out that way.

Third winter (Jan-April 2011) we waited until February for a dry day to make our second attempt. We ran into this huge sand drift over the road and opted not to try to cross it since we couldn't tell how far or how deep it was. So much for that try.

March 2011 we called the Bureau of Land Management and found out that there was a back way from Hurricane to Fort Pearce. We drove the way we were directed but never found the Fort. We turned back when we came to a fork in the road that the BLM guy didn't mention and we didn't want to get hopelessly lost. The adage "Third Time's a Charm" didn't work this time.

Finally-April 2011 Warm, beautiful day, mud dried up, sand drift passable AND we made it! We nearly had the place to ourselves. While the site may not be overly impressive, it made me think of the men who served there away from their families. We also did some bird watching and I scouted around a found a bullet casing on a ledge below the fort ruins mixed with some rocks and stones . It may not be a real old one, but it was cool to find it.

The desert was starting to bloom. Isn't this a beautiful photo?

So I see this as a lesson in determination. Fourth time's a charm.

We also went out to see the dinosaur tracks which are just a few miles from the ruins of the fort. They were something!


Keep on keeping on whatever you're trying to do. You can do it!

NS