Bruce and the Peanuts Picnics

After his time in the army, Bruce went to dental school in San Francisco. He also had some adventures with friends from Institute and elsewhere.

In 1958, he visited Yosemite National Park.

Vernal Falls, Yosemite National Park, 1958.

That same summer, he visited Yellowstone National Park and the Tetons.

Yellowstone National Park, August 5, 1958.

Bear in Yellowstone, August 5, 1958.

Falls on Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park. August 5, 1958.

Sunset over Jackson Lake, August 5, 1958.

Teton Mountains, August 6, 1958.

In 1959, he went rafting down the Colorado River with a big group.

Rafting on the Colorado River, June 16, 1959.

This was back with the Glen Canyon Dam was still being built, and so Lake Powell had not yet been formed. So they were able to see some native American petroglyphs and Anasazi dwellings that are now underwater.

Petroglyphs along the Colorado River, June 1959. (These are now under water in Lake Powell).

Anasazi dwelling at Lake Canyon, June 1959.

They also hiked up to Hole-in-the-Rock, a place where the San Juan Expedition of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints lowered their wagons down the 1200-foot drop to get down to the river. Starting in 1879, they worked for months to widen the upper part with blasting powder, and chiseled anchor points by hand. On January 26, 1880, the 250 people finally lowered 83 wagons and 1000 livestock down the narrow passage. The passage was used for about another year until another less dicey route to the north became available at Hall's Crossing.

Hole-in-the-Rock passage, June 1959.

Group at the top of Hole-in-the-Rock, June 1959.

The group also visited Rainbow Bridge. These days, you take a boat to a dock nearby, and then do a short hike to get there. Back then, they had to get there by river raft and then go on a longer hike. They also used a rope to climb up so that they could then walk to the very top of the arch, which became prohibited a couple years later.

Rope up to the top of Rainbow Bridge, June 1959

Rainbow Bridge from the top, June 1959

In 1960, Bruce went on another Colorado River trip. This time, his little sister Jean and his friend (and Jean's future husband) Bob Wilson went along as well. Here they are painting all of their river hats yellow.

Bruce and Bob painting Pith Helmets, June 1960.

Each boat had a different Yogi Bear-themed cartoon character as their logo. 

Boo Boo Bears boat.

Bruce, Bob and Jean were on the Yogi Bear boat.

Jean and Bruce on the Colorado River, June 1960.

The Yogi Bear boat on the Colorado River, June 1960. Bob Wilson to the left of the flag; Jean to the right.
(Bruce's head cut off at the top).

The rigid yellow hats made excellent scoops for water fights, which felt great in the hot weather. Bob said that someone would sometimes hold up a hat to indicate that a water fight was about to ensue, so that people would have a moment to stow their camera gear in waterproof ammunition boxes.

Water fight! (Colorado River, June 1960)

They again visited the Anasazi dwelling.

Anasazi house in Lake Canyon, June 1960.

And here is the 1960 group at the top of Hole-in-the-Rock.

Group at the top of Hole-in-the-Rock, June 1960.

Some of the nooks and crannies of Lake Powell used to be deeper, narrow canyons that could be hiked.

Mystery Canyon, June 1960

My parents (Bob & Jean Wilson) have often talked about that Colorado River trip.

Entire River Rat Group, June 1960.

Bruce with his camera, June 1960

Peanuts Picnics

The Institute of Religion ("Institute") was held in Phoebe Hearst's mansion, with beautiful gardens next door (which were later replaced with a multipurpose room and a parking garage underneath).

One day, Bruce was at the Institute for a party, and he just couldn't keep clean. Everything that splashed seemed to end up on him, like he was "Pigpen" (from Charles Schultz's "Peanuts" cartoon). So Bruce started a series of 8 "Peanuts Picnics" between 1958 and 1962.

In February, 1958 they went on a snow trip for their first Peanuts Picnics.

Peanuts Picnic snow trip, February 1958.

Their Second Peanuts Picnic was that summer.

Second Peanuts Picnic, summer 1958.

In 1959 they went to McClure's Beach.

Peanuts Picnic at McClure's Beach, summer 1959.

And in 1960 they went to Eagle Lake in the Sierras (a small lake near Lake Tahoe).

Peanuts Picnic, Eagle Lake, 1960

In January of 1962, they went on another snow trip to "Melvin's Tall House".

Shoveling snow at Melvin's Tall House, January 1962.

One thing of note in the picture below is the presence of Beth Partridge (at the very top center, in a blue shirt).

Peanuts Picnic group in Melvin's Tall House, January 1962.

The last Peanuts Picnic was held in the summer of 1962 at Clear Lake, California. At that point, they seem to have served their purpose, as indicated in the picture below by Beth standing next to Bruce. (Bob & Jean were married by then and appear in the picture, too).

Last Peanut's Picnic, Clear Lake, 1962. (Beth next to Bruce in upper right.
Jean Merrill Wilson in the orange-flowered dress, with her husband Bob below her to the right).

In the next episode, Bruce and Beth tie the knot!