Source: 2013 Q4 Beartracks, Marvin Haught

Definition: Rendezvous – a meeting at an agreed time and place.
Time – September 27. Place- Kanab, Utah.
– “You meet the nicest Bearhawkers flying an RV! (Robert (Skip) & Cate on the way to the fly in)
Remember the definition above, and that you don’t necessarily have to be flying a Bearhawk to spend some quality time with those that do! The inaugural “Bearhawker Rendezvous” was held in Kanab, UT on September 27-29 of 2013. By the definition above and early American tradition, a Rendezvous is by intention a somewhat unstructured event, and is defined by being a “meeting of individuals”. If you know Bearhawkers, they tend to be VERY individual! If you like flying, fellowship, good food, and an interesting location surrounded by challenging places to fly and explore.
Kanab, Utah is just that sort of place. Centered between the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park and the Escalante Staircase, there are thousands of sites, geological formations, abandoned and remote runways, parks, and historic places within a day’s travel in any direction. Fly in attendance for this first event was small in quantity but large in quality, with Smokey Bearhawk and his caretakers, the Fagans attending along with Scott Williamson and Kevin Deutscher in Scott’s Bearhawk. And of course, Skip and Cathy Page as stated above.

The Rendezvous was planned and hosted by Lynn Riggs at his boyhood home in Kanab, Utah, where most of the attendees stayed, although some of the more “adventuresome” of the group stayed at Lynn’s ranch about 13 miles from town and up in the mountains. Put Lynn in a cowboy hat and boots, and you would have the reincarnation of the “Marlboro Man” – deliberate, soft spoken and affable. Friday was arrival for most of the group at the Riggs home, which is a historic dwelling constructed by Lynn’s grandfather from locally made brick and quarried stone. The stately home has been meticulously restored by Lynn and his wife Dianne, who operate the home as a vacation rental along with another home,” Muriel’s Place” just down the street. Accommodations were very comfortable, as the group settled in for a wonderful evening of food and fellowship.

Saturday’s activities centered around a fly out to take in the local scenery as well as reconnoiter the ranch location from the air. During that fly out, Randy Sonnier, a newcomer to the Bearhawk circle, received his initiation into the Bearhawk community with a ride in the Fagan’s “Smokey Bearhawk”. The infection was complete, as he was observed to have a grin on his face the rest of the day, and has since been unable to refrain from talking incessantly about “Smokey”.

In the afternoon, everyone gathered in town at the Riggs homestead for transportation to the cabin at the ranch, where the evening meal was to be prepared. Upon arrival at the gate to the ranch, the party got started! Transportation to the ranch was an adventure in itself as the last 3 miles or so required a four wheel drive vehicle. Everyone car pooled to the end of the pavement, where all piled in the back of Lynn’s venerable
Chevy ranch truck to be chauffeured by the author over the sand and rocks to the cabin site. Surprisingly, there was very little negative comment as to the skill of the driver or the quality of the ride! The ride back to the cars around midnight was invigorating, to say the least as there was frost in the air!
Upon arrival at the cabin, the majority of the group elected to make the trek to the cliff dwelling site, taking advantage of a beautiful fall day and cool temperatures. The scenery was spectacular and the cliff dwellings in surprisingly good condition, considering their age, as the roofs of the dwellings, made of intricately woven bark and brush and then sealed with a coating of clay, were still in place as an example of the structural detail.
As evening fell, the crew gathered around a very welcome fire to partake of cowboy cooking from antique Dutch ovens found in the Riggs basement. The day cooled due to a cold front moving in, so Skip Page and Marvin Haught built a nice fire in the fire ring while cooking a pot of improvised “Cowboy meatballs with veggies” and a second oven of apple dumplings!
Left overs were not a problem! There was debate as to the appetite of the crowd being the result of a rigorous
hike or the skill of the cooks! Everyone attending agreed to meet again next year, with a focus on flights out to explore various local airstrips. Tentative plans were discussed to initially meet at the Kanab airport, then fly out to a remote airstrip selected as a base of operations for camping and day flights to explore the area. Make plans to join us for the next Bearhawk Rendezvous, September 11-14, 2014!