Sic 'Im'

The dugway runs at a steep grade as it climbs up out of Quail Canyon toward the summit. About 2/3 of the way to the top I pulled the old jeep off to the right side of the wheel tracks and stopped. Nearby and on the lower side of the road grew a large Quimento Bush about 10 or 12 feet tall and loaded with ripe blue berries that hung in clusters, sort of on the same order as Elderberries, but being somewhat larger in size. They have a delicious sweet-tart taste and the juice leaves a dark blue stain on fingers and lips. We all pitched in picking an stuuffing those clusters into our mouths and it wasn't very long until our faces and hands had stain patches all over. Early in May this bush puts out a profusion of small yellow blossoms that are good to eat, along with the new leaf growth that is green with reddish tinged edges. Both are tender, having a slightly tart taste known as "squaw silage." The old mature leaves are rough and stickery, having sharp points on the edges. Animals will browse only the blossoms and tender leaves. The berries will develop when the late spring rains occur and this happens only at 5 to 10 year intervals.

We'd been there about an hour when Anthony Atkin came by and wanted to know if we was having jeep problems, but from the looks of us it was plain to see that other reasons had stopped our upward travel. After some more picking and stuffing we loaded up and drove to the top then followed some wheel tracks off through the cedars and sagebrush to a likely looking spot where we made camp for the night.

Early July was nice camping weather in these desert mountains, making for warm days and cool nights. The old jeep was equipped with a grub box cupboard mounted on the back with a fold down table and water can on one side and fuel tank on the other so that we could camp most anyplace night time found us.

After supper the four of us rolled out our sleeping bags and went to bed. Along in the night I heard our old dog, Jeff, barking up a loud racket. By now the moon had come up big and bright. I thought it must be a coyote that Jeff was barking at and being sleepy and feeling lazy I tells Jeff to "sic him." He went in for the attack with a snarl and then emitted several yelps of pain. This brought Cathy, Linda and Clay out of bed promptly. That Ol' Jeff dog was dear to their hearts and they were always there to protect him. After examining him they said he's got porcupine quills all over in his mouth and nose. So then I get out of bed. Lucky we had a flash light and pair of pliers. The next hour or so Cathy and I spent yanking quills. One would hold him and the other pulled them out and then we'd trade jobs. All this time I was wishing and regretting that I failed to get up to check things out before I gave that order to "sic him." `Twas one of my many lessons, learned and rued the hard way.