Gathering of the Delts, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
June 12-18, 2018
The esteemed Commander of the Bicentennial
Commander-in-Chief's Guard, Rob,
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Rob, with scarlet sash, leads the 1976 version of the CinC Guard,
Murph is playing the fife, in the white jacket |
conferred with his beloved friend and classmate, Dick, during a visit together about a year ago. The topic of their conversation was a gathering of fellows with whom they shared four academically and socially intense years of their lives. These two scoundrels organized a terrific week hosted by Dick at his wife's family home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Rob planned the event recruiting from his fraternity brothers so that all the details were prepared superbly.
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| Murph, Ed, Jimbo, Rob, Pete |
Rob, Ed, Pete, Jim, Dick and Murph arrived on the 12th to prepare for the event. The preparation at this point was primarily securing adult beverages for the weekend, but did include the purchase of steaks, potatoes and other culinary requirements.
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| Ed, Squat, Pete, Jim, Dick |
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| Yep, that's Old Faithful, photo by Ed |
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| Rob, Ed, Jim at Yellowstone Lake |
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| Grand Tetons looming over the Snake River, photo by Cham |
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Randy, Chuck, Cham, Ed
enjoying their BBQ by the Snake River
photo by Rob |
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| Elk across the Snake River, photo by Chuck |
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| Rob, photo by Mayor |
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| Jackson Hole Ski Area beyond the horses |
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| Dick and trail guide |
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| On the trail |
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Dick, Mayor, Rog, Brad, Chuck, Bill, Randy, Gumby,
Ed, Rob, Stu, Murph with trail guides in front |
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| Afternoon happy hour on the deck at Jackson Hole, photo by Dick |
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| Rob serving refreshments, photo by Brad |
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Cham, Volm, Dick, waiter, Batch, Bakes,
Kep, Hutch at golf club dinner, photo by Rob |
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Jim, Bakes, Dick, Pete, Kep, Gumby, Cham, Ed, Harv, Volm, Stu, Brad, Bill,
Chuck, Rob, Murph, Rog, Hutch, Mayor, Batch, Randy pose at golf course |
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| Temperature at the top beginning the hike |
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| Bill, Murph, Harv, Rog Ed at the top, photo by Rog |
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| Ed, Harv, Rog on the trail |
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Ed confirms snowpack depth,
June 15th, photo by Rog |
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| Brad, Mayor at Yellowstone, photo by Chuck |
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| Lewis River Gorge, photo by Brad |
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| Bison herd in Yellowstone NP, photo by Brad |
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| Our lodging was set in natural beauty, photo by Kep |
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| Lake Creek where Stu and Pete went fishing, photo by Stu |
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| Golf course, photo by Ed |
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| Past Prez Bakes offers minutes and comments, photo by Lobozzo |
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Our venue and weather for the
evening were perfect, photo by Lobozzo |
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| Rob, Murph, Dick, photo by Lobozzo |
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| Rob presents mouth-painting to Dick, photo by Lobozzo |
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| Gumby, Hutch, Rob, Jim display their plates, photo by Lobozzo |
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| Dick grills superb steaks, photo by Lobozzo |
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Capt Batch's track in blue,
Capt Murph's in yellow |
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| Notice the snow "anchor" on the mountainside |
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| Murph, Bakes, Harv, Rob, Chuck, Pete, Kep, photo by Ed |
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| Bears, photo by Chuck |
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| Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, photo by Cham |
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Stu, Ed, Hutch, Dick, foreground
Mayor, Gumby, Murph, Brad, background, photo by Chuck |
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| Our trail guide shows how the ladies RIDE, photo by Chuck |
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| Kids prepare to wrangle sheep, photo by Dick |
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| Bucking bronco, photo by Rog |
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| Calf roping, photo by Chuck |
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| Volm, Brad, Cham, Gumby, Hutch wave "so long" to Jackson Hole |
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| Gumby, Bakes, Classes of '73, '74 |
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| Cham, Volm, Kep, Bill, Class of '75 |
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| Rog, Rob, Dick, Ed, Hutch, Murph, Bill, Class of '76 |
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| Mayor, Randy, Batch, Pete, Jim, Hutch, Class of '77 |
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| Harv, Stu, Chuck, Class of '78 |
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| Brad, Class of '79 |
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| Sleeping Squaw, photo by Ed |
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| Delts gather for happy hour viewing the alpine glow across the Tetons, photo by Ed |
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| Sunset pic of Jackson Hole Ski Summit, photo by Ed |
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| Tram crossing Corbet's Couloir, photo by Ed |
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| Delts enjoying the view from Dick's wife's family home, photo by Ed |
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| Jackson Lake mountain view from boat, photo by Chuck |
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| Deer, photo by Chuck |
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| Capt Murph, photo by Chuck |
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| Elk, photo by Stu |
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| Horses, photo by Stu |
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| Harv, Bill and Bill's special ride, photo by Rog |
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| Dick's wife's family home, photo by Rog |
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| Cabins on Dick's wife's family home, photo by Rog |
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| Hutch, Capt Batch, Jim, Randy, photo by Brad |
The preparatory items were quickly obtained so the fun began. On the 13th, Rob, Ed, Pete, Jim, and Murph drove north along the Snake River through Grand Teton National Park to visit
Yellowstone National Park.
Most of those attending arrived while the above-mentioned folks were exploring Yellowstone.
So the scene was staged at a campfire on the banks of the
Snake River in
Jackson Hole. A local caterer brought barbecue and other delicious fixins for the gathered Delts to feast upon as they shared reminices and stories of events long past and of recent occurence.
Horseback riding was the main event during the next day, June 14th. Dick, Mayor, Rog, Brad, Chuckles, Bill, Randy, Gumby, Ed, Rob, Stu, and Murph clambered on their respective horses and were guided around the fields and hillsides of Jackson Hole.
That afternoon the horseback riders were met by the rest of the group at a local watering hole to quaff adult beverages and enjoy the scenery of the snow-capped mountains above them.
Our evening repast was hosted by the local golf club so the entire crew, Randy, Pete, Bakes, Brad, Batch, Mayor, Chuckles, Cham, Jimbo, Bill, Hutch, Dan, Squat, Murph, Gumby, Stu, Dick, Harvo, Volm, Ed and Rog, enjoyed a superb meal overlooking a beautiful verdant golf course.
The next day different folks enjoyed a variety of activities including hiking, fishing, gold panning, golfing and a trip to nearby Yellowstone.
The event planned for the evening of June 15th included Past President Bakes reading from a selection of chapter minutes collected and prepared by Randy. The stories and myths dredged up from the past sparked many memories, much laughter and inspired noteworthy recollections shared with the group.
Rob presented Dick with a beautiful
mouth-painted framed composition of a prancing horse in thanks for Dick sharing his wife's family home for the week.
Dick presented Scarlet Plates to Gumby, Hutch, Rob and Jimbo in recognition of their significant efforts in making the Gathering the grand success it truly was. Gumby and Chuckles recognized each other for their serious efforts in leading the support of our younger brothers when they struggled with the worst of situations only a few years past.
The evening culminated with huge steaks grilled by Dick with gigantic potatoes drowning in melted butter and smothered in sour cream.
Most of the brothers in attendance clambered into vehicles on Saturday for a short drive to Jackson Lake where Captains Murph and Batch drove rented pontoon boats and traversed the southern reaches of the Lake enjoying beautiful mountain vistas, blue skies and sparkling water.
Before heading back to Jackson Hole, a mama black bear and her cubs were seen outside the lakeside lodge, which made for a terrific ending to the afternoon.
Saturday night is
RODEO in Jackson! Everybody found different places in town to enjoy dinner, including the memorable "
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar," then reconvened at the Rodeo for a perfect ending to the cowboy week in Wyoming.
Sunday and Monday were departure days as, one-by-one, everyone found a plane that would return them to their homes.
