AMERICAN FORK — The screaming ghost of Buzzy Lane looking for his head is one northern Utah tale that makes interesting telling at the Timpanogos Cave National Monument weekend evening programs.
Perhaps the most poignant are two legends about the great heart stalactite in the cave. One was made up decades ago by a Brigham Young University professor to promote the cave and the other may be an actual Indian legend of two lovers who die tragically.
U.S. Forest Service Ranger Ken Kyburz put together a presentation on the lore after researching and photographing the areas where the legends are based.
Kyburz starts out telling the story of the last grizzly killed in Utah, then moves on to the strange legend of the ghost of Santaquin Canyon who in life was decapitated in a practical joke gone awry. Inexplicable howls in the canyon at night are said to be emitted from the ghost of Buzzy Lane.
Sheepherder Frank Clark of Malad, Idaho, shot and killed the grizzly, dubbed Old Ephraim, who stood 9-foot-11 tall on his hind legs, on Aug. 21, 1923. Clark herded sheep in the Cache Valley from 1911-45. While only three people ever reported seeing the bear, his footprints were distinctive because he had just three toes on one of his feet.
Kyburz also recounts the legend of the Bear Lake Monster, which several people claim they have seen as far back as 1868. The tale is also an Indian legend and is used to promote tourism. According to local lore, the monster is 90 feet long and can swim at a speed of 60 mph.
"He can walk short distances on land and roars," Kyburz said.
He also talked about "living legend" Arlo Shelley, a ranger who worked at the monument for 57 years. Shelley probably hiked the trail to the cave 7,000 times, logging 56,000 miles over his career.
Each evening program is repeated about three times during the summer. They run from May to September from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The remaining programs are:
Friday, Aug. 10 — "Mmm, Food Cookin'! Dutch Oven Style," with ranger Geri Larsen.
Saturday, Aug. 11 — "Wildfire — A Real Hot Topic," with ranger and firefighter Jeremy Jeppson.
Monday, Aug. 13 — "All That Glitters is Gold ... and Silver," with guest speaker Jerry Springer.
Friday, Aug. 17 — "Little Critters of the Wasatch," with ranger Karina Puikkonen.
Saturday, Aug. 18 — "Mining Games," with ranger Bryce Shelley.
Monday, Aug. 20 — "Legends, Ghosts, Folklore and More!" with Kyburz.
Friday, Aug. 24 — "Mmm, Food Cookin'! Dutch Oven Style," with ranger Geri Larsen.
Saturday, Aug. 25 — "There's Gold in Them Thar Hills! Or is There?" with Ranger Sue Bromley.
Monday, Aug. 27 — "They're Taking Over the World!" with ranger Cami Litchford.
Friday, Aug. 31 — "C'mon Everybody — Let's Go Fishing!" with ranger Brad Woolstenhulme.
Saturday, Sept. 1 — "A Walk in the Woods," with ranger Jody Kyburz.
Monday, Sept. 3 — "Living Legends: History and Mining in American Fork Canyon," with ranger Jay Allen.
E-mail: rodger@desnews.com