By Shannon Lukens.
The Yule Log has just been found. It was found at the Fly Gulch Schoolhouse in the back of Strawberry Park Elementary School Thursday afternoon.
“Hi, I’m Josh Fowler and I’m Abbey Iberg. We found the Yule Log! We found it! 2024, baby! Yeah!”
Abbey Iberg and Josh Fowler have been looking for the Yule Log for three years. They said when they saw it, they screamed.
“We’ve been looking for the Yule Log for a few years now. And here it is. We did it. This is the first year we have even become remotely close. The first year, we hiked to the top of Howelsen because we thought it was under the old ski jump. We then checked our phones and it had been found at Rabbit Ears Motel. So we have been pretty wrong the past couple of times. So I am honestly shocked that we found it. I’m glad we were right this time. Yeah, we were right!”
Iberg says, “It is awesome to finally be able to string the clues together because they’re really hard.”
Iberg says they were tipped off by the clue referencing Remington who was growing strawberries in Strawberry Park in the early 20th century. They walked around downtown this morning, and then went to work. Then they studied the clues and did research on the clues and realized that they were leading to Strawberry Park. They walked the few public trails around Strawberry Park after checking around the Perry-Mansfield areas and they found the log. It was leaning up against the old Fly Gulch Schoolhouse.
“We were almost about to turn around and then Josh said, ‘That’s not it, is it?’ And I looked and it was leaning against the side of the building.”
Iberg is 27 years old and she is a voice and piano teacher in Steamboat Springs. Fowler is 34 years old and he does freelance IT work in Steamboat Springs.
As this year’s winners, they will receive a $150 Steamboat Chamber Gift Card. F.M. Light & Sons also sponsored the Yule Log Hunt this year.
The Yule Log Hunt has been a traditional holiday event in the Steamboat Springs community for over 45 years. The Tread of Pioneers Museum coordinates the hunt and writes the historic clues, adding, “The three-foot long, 25-pound log is hidden within the city limits of Steamboat Springs. It is distinctively marked with the words ‘Yule Log’ (in RED letters) and at least a portion of it will be visible from its hiding place. The log will not be on private property, inside of buildings, or in areas that charge fees to enter.”
Steamboat Radio News did receive a few calls Thursday afternoon, and there were multiple comments on the Tread of Pioneers Facebook page, questioning whether the Yule Log was technically in Steamboat Springs city limits, as the rules state it will be when hidden. Candice Bannister with the Tread of Pioneers Museum replied, “Taking a closer look at the City map, it looks like the Fly Gulch School at Strawberry Park Elementary is just slightly outside the City limits map boundary. However, it is a local Steamboat Springs school within the City of Steamboat Springs (and along a popular walking trail), so this is just a slight oversight and technicality. Those successfully following the hunt reported the recent clues were all in Strawberry Park, so this very public trail and public school was clear for them. We will be more careful about clarifying the definition of ‘City of Steamboat Springs’ vs. specific City limits boundary in the future.”
Bannister added: “We hope everyone will remember that the spirit of this hunt and holiday tradition is to spread joy and community-wide fun, while celebrating local heritage. The museum hopes people are inspired to engage in our wonderful local history, enjoy the journey and clues, and celebrate the winners.”