Resolved: More Adventure In 2007

For me, 2006 was a good year. Looking back, some of my most memorable experiences came while engaging in recreational activities with family and friends.

For 2007, I resolve to slow my pace a little and enjoy more and better recreational activities. Here are some of goals on my list:

Explore the San Juan arm of Lake Powell. I’ve poked into virtually every canyon on the lake, except those on the remote San Juan arm. I want to fish up there, hike up to the Navajo rock art gallery in Cha Canyon, slide down the waterfall in Wilson Creek Canyon, and generally explore the area.

Backpack Grand Gulch. This rugged canyon shelters amazing ancient Anasazi ruins and artifacts. I’ve explored some of it and I’m hungry to see more. In particular, I want to visit Perfect Kiva Ruin.

Horse pack into the Red Castle Lakes in the High Uintas. Photos suggest this is one of the most scenic alpine lake areas in America. There is also great trout fishing.

Speaking of fishing, I plan to go after the trophy lake trout in Flaming Gorge.

I’ll also hike a few slot canyons and maybe conquer a mountain peak.

Some may think my goals/resolutions are selfish, me-centered and frivolous. I disagree. I always take people with me on my adventures - my kids, friends and neighbors. Such outings provide a great opportunity to get to know people - to communicate and bond.

I dare say this world would be a better place if more fathers took kids fishing. There would be less gang violence and drug abuse if more kids spent more time hiking Zion’s slot canyons. There would be more peace in this world if more people felt the serenity that comes from connecting with nature.

So, I resolve to recreate...

- Dave Webb

Ring in the New at First Night in Salt Lake City

First Night is Salt Lake City City's New Years Eve community celebration. 2007 marks the 14th anniversary of this extravaganza of the arts, music, dance, and ritual in the heart of the Salt Lake City. It will be held at the Gallivan Plaza (200 South and Main Street).

This year's First Night features Asbury Park, New Jersey headliner deSol, a brotherhood of seven musicians creating "Rock & Roll with a Latin soul;" alt_rockers Elbo Finn from Portland, Oregon; the Sarakasi Acrobats - "The first truly authentic African circus," fire freaks Incendiary Circus, the Sustainability Salon's resolution ritual, the gypsy sounds of Bien Flamenco, and the red hot rhythms of Reggaeton, as well as many other art and music surprises.

Get Your 2007 Utah Calendar

Utah has a new official scenic calendar, showcasing 77 stunning photos – from national parks to mountain streams.

What’s new this year? "We've added people in the images this year to show visitors what activities are available in Utah," said Leigh von der Esch, the Utah Office of Tourism's managing director.

The calendar has traditionally shown Utah’s majestic landscapes. This year it shows people involved in adventure activities in those scenic landscapes.

This newspaper article provides more detail.
You can order the calendar from our bookstore.

Merry Christmas From Utah.com

We extend to you our warmest Christmas greetings and hope you find peace, joy and love during this special time of year.

Here are ideas about ways to spend the Christmas season in Utah.

Ski the powder. A storm is expected to drop snow tonight, and another may bring fresh powder Christmas Eve. The next few weeks will bring the best ski conditions of the year.

Golf in St George. There is no snow down in Utah’s Dixie. The greens are, well, green, and the sun shines most days. You’ll want to wear a jacket, but you may take it off during the afternoon.

See the lights at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City. You won’t find a more impressive Christmas light display anywhere. There is also a nativity scene and other displays telling about the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

The Cathedral of the Madeleine Carol Service, Christmas Eve, features chants, motets and carols of the holiday season.

Hike in the desert. Daytime temperatures often climb into the mid 40s, or even into the 50s, in southern Utah at this time of year, making it enjoyable to hike in the sunshine. In the desert the nights are silent, starry and bright.

Merry Christmas.

- Dave Webb

You Can Help Set Rules for OHV Use in Dixie National Forest

A series of public meetings has been scheduled to allow public participation as Dixie National Forest adopts a new Motorized Travel Plan.

The Forest Service announcement says: “The proposed action shows a system of routes that will be designated open to motorized use. With designation of a motorized travel system, cross-country travel (that is, travel off designated roads and trails) will generally be prohibited. The Forest will remain open to other forms of cross-country travel such as hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiles.”

Meetings will be held in January in St George, at various locations in southern Utah, and in Salt Lake City.

This Forest Service webpage has details about the proposal, meeting dates and locations.

St George Attracts Rave Reviews

Safest Place
The St George area is ranked one of the safest city in America in the third annual "Most Secure U.S. Places to Live" rankings from Farmers Insurance Group. The southwest Utah community took the top spot for towns with fewer than 150,000 residents.

Insurance Journal reports: “Top-ranked St. George, whose population of 110,515 places it among the small towns, offers a climate that features mild winters, low annual precipitation and clean air. St. George had the lowest crime rate of all 379 communities in the Farmers study and the lowest unemployment rate among the 138 small towns.”

Read the entire article.

Economic Winner
St George is called one of the new economic winners in an interesting article on www.american.com. Consider these excerpts:

“The geography of the U.S. economy is constantly shifting. Now, writes JOEL KOTKIN, the hinterlands are getting their revenge on the big cities of the East and West Coasts. Towns like Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and St. George, Utah, are the winners. The losers are ‘hip’ cities like Boston and San Francisco, which don’t seem to know it yet.”

“In this decade, for example, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Boston have suffered declines in population. The emigrants head either to the exurbs or to places in the Southwest or Florida, where they can live well for less money and find better jobs—including high-end business-service jobs (like consulting, accounting, and financial advising) that can locate anywhere and now tend to cluster in beautiful places to live like Fort Myers, Florida, and St. George, Utah.”

Read the entire article.

Snowstorm Dumps on Utah Resorts

A weekend storm dumped big snow over much of Utah, with the upper reaches of some ski resorts picking up more than two feet of new powder. Central Utah mountains and the Uintas received 12-15 inches.

Brighton now leads the snow derby, reporting a whopping 61-inchs at mid-mountain. Snowbird is close behind with 55 inches. See our snow report for more numbers.

This newspaper article gives details about the storm.

Ski conditions will be excellent this week and forecasters say we may get another storm over Christmas weekend.

We don’t have to dream about a white Christmas – we got it!

Snowbird Opens First North American Ski Tunnel

The new Peruvian Tunnel at Snowbird is open and running, carrying skiers and borders through a mountain to provide improved access to the intermediate runs in Mineral Basin.

It is the first ski tunnel in North America, and it is causing quite a stir. A conveyor in the tunnel carries skiers and boarders 600 feet, from Peruvian Gulch in Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Mineral Basin side, on a four-minute, one-way ride.

WMC-TV Memphis carried the story, and has a video clip on its website.

So did WBIR-TV in Knoxville, and a host of other news outlets.

Snowbird said this about the grand opening: "A new era in Little Cottonwood Canyon began today when Snowbird Chairman Dick Bass and President Bob Bonar shattered a bottle of champagne on the new Peruvian Express high-speed quad chairlift." (See their entire Peruvian Tunnel report.)
Snowbird’s website also has an extended video clip.

Ice Fishing Season Begins In Utah

Scofield Reservoir is frozen and offers good ice fishing for trout (rainbows, cutthroat and tiger trout). It is usually the first major water in Utah to freeze and thus ushers in the beginning of the ice fishing season.

A few small waters freeze earlier and they have been offering good fishing. Huntington Reservoir, in particular, has very good action for nice tiger trout.

Strawberry Reservoir is Utah's most popular fishery and it has ice on some bays and a cap down near the dam, but open water over most of the reservoir. A few brave (foolish) anglers have been fishing that new ice and they report fair to good success.

Jordanelle has ice around the Provo River inlet and some early birds are fishing there. The rest of the reservoir has open water. It will provide good action for trout and perch as the ice firms up.

Pelican Lake is completely frozen and offers fair but spotty ice fishing for bluegill.

The next good cold snap should firm up the ice on Strawberry, Jordanelle, Otter Creek and most other popular Utah trout waters. Fish Lake usually does not freeze until around Christmas. Bear Lake and the upper end of Flaming Gorge sometimes freeze during January, but sometimes stay open. Lake Powell and the waters around St George do not freeze.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources provided the following news release about fishing Scofield:

Ice is on at Scofield Reservoir

The long-awaited ice-over has finally occurred at Scofield Reservoir, signaling some of the best fishing of the year! Last week, the thermometer plunged to record lows, transforming a skiff of shoreline ice into a rock-solid frozen mass.

Early season ice fishing is traditionally some of the best of the year. Last weekend, anglers yanked out a number of 14- to16-inch rainbows, mixed with some six- to eight-inch planters, as well as cutthroats and a few pan-sized tiger trout.

Fishing success is an elusive combination of where you fish, depth, technique and tackle. It changes from day to day and hour to hour. Skill and experience are as important here as in any other sport.

Scofield Success Secrets

Conservation officer and veteran angler Mike Milburn fishes in 10 to 20 feet of water at this time of year. He tends his ice rod faithfully, jigging it periodically. Mike uses a small silver attractor like a Kastmaster or Stinger from which he removes the hook. In its place, Mike ties on 10 to 12 inches of leader, and finishes the rig with a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce chartreuse jig head. The jig head is tipped with a piece of night crawler, mealworm, wax worm or small minnow. This set-up rarely fails Mike, who always has stories to share from his last angling adventure.

Aquatics Biologist Justin Hart volunteered to share some of his secrets as well. Justin likes to fish in 12 to 15 feet of water early in the season. When his tackle hits the bottom, Justin reels in a crank or two. He jigs the bait awhile and then raises it a foot or more at intervals, methodically sampling the entire water column. In terms of end tackle, Justin uses a 1/16-ounce spoon or Swedish Pimple tipped with a chunk of minnow about the size of a dime. He has also had good luck with a curly-tail grub or ice fly and a piece of night crawler or chunk of minnow meat.

Where To Go

For locating fish, Justin offers a few recommendations. The west side just out from Madsen Bay boat launch offers good fishing. Fishing around the island is another good bet year-round. The southeast side of the reservoir is ever-popular for good reason. Time of day is important too. If you can stand frigid temperatures, early morning is a good time to dip a line.

Come January 1, a new regulation change takes effect at Scofield. The trout limit jumps from four to eight fish, doubling angler opportunity. If you haven't ice fished Scofield, this is a great time to give it a try!

Miller Motorsports Park Named Motorsport Facility of the Year

Utah has long been associated with speed records, with the Bonneville Salt Flats hosting speedsters from around the world.

But professional auto racing didn't begin here in earnest until last spring, when the Miller Motorsport Park open near Tooele, west of Salt Lake City.

Now that facility has won the prestigious Motorsport Facility of the Year award from the Professional Motorsport World Expo at a gala event held in Cologne, Germany.

whowon.com ran this article about the award.

The park's 2007 schedule is described on motorsport.com:

"Miller Motorsports Park (MMP) today announced a 2007 schedule that is among the best in the United States and will include the return of popular racing series like the American LeMans, AMA Superbikes and Supermoto, and Grand Am, plus the addition of a NASCAR Grand National West Series and more."

Read the entire article.

Utah Ski Resorts to Use Helicopter-Based Avalanche Rescue System

New technology that will allow searchers to find and rescue avalanche victims more quickly will be tested at Utah's Snowbird Ski Resort Thursday.

firsttracksonline.com provides an interesting overview:

"A new helicopter-mounted avalanche transceiver technology will be unveiled for the first time in the United States Thursday in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. Members of Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, Air Med, Life Flight and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office will perform a helicopter transceiver search using long-range receivers near Snowbird."

Read the entire article.

"Learn To" Clinics Offered By Utah Winter Games

An extensive series of "learn to" clinics are being offered as a part of the Utah Winter Games. Some are set to begin during the next several days, and registration is still possible for many of the events.

The clinics are offered at low or no cost and are lead by top local athletes. There are clinics designed to appeal to all ages and experience levels, from youngsters to teens to adults, beginners to experienced enthusiasts. A sampling is shown below. See the complete clinic schedule.

12/09, White Pine Nordic Center Learn to Snowshoe
12/09, Park City Mountain Resort, Learn to Ride - Grommets, ages 7-10
12/09, Solitude Mountain Resort, Learn to Cross-Country Ski: Classical and Skate
12/09, Soldier Hollow, Learn to Cross-Country Ski: Classical and Skate
12/09, Soldier Hollow, Learn to Biathlon, Archery
12/09, Soldier Hollow, Learn to Archery Biathlon
12/09, Park City Mountain Resort, Learn to Telemark
12/10, Deer Valley Resort, Learn to Ski - First Timers
12/10, Park City Mountain Resort, Learn to Ride - Grommets - ages 7-10
12/10, White Pine Nordic Center, Learn to Cross-Country Ski
12/13,White Pine Touring Center, Backcountry Skills: Seminar

The Utah Winter Games also hosts competitions, with events suitable for all ages and skill levels. Competitions get underway in mid-December. See the competition schedule.

This news article gives an overview and history of the games.

Temple Square is Utah's Hottest Tourist Destination

The Christmas lights are on at Temple Square, there is snow on the ground and the mood is festive. There are multi-colored lights everywhere, illuminating nativity scenes, religious and historic displays, with the temple gleaming in the background. The sight is incredibly beautiful. This is perhaps the best time of year to visit Utah’s top tourist destination.

insidebayarea.com has a very good article explaining why Temple Square is such an attractive destination, and what people can expect when they visit. Here is an excerpt:

“You will, however, encounter some of the most polite, articulate hosts imaginable. And if Utah is known for its trademark "Greatest snow on Earth," the church's grounds could qualify for "the cleanest show on Earth." From the ornate gardens to the two visitor centers, three restaurants and even the restrooms, the campus is a testimony to a Mormon sense of meticulous cleanliness and order.”

Read the entire article.

King of the Mountain Ski Race Saturday at Snowbird

The prestigious Jeep King of the Mountain race series will begin Saturday (Dec 2) at Snowbird.

Here’s what skipressworld.com says about the competition:

"The heralded competition each year brings together a star studded line-up of Olympians, World Champions and National Champions competing for the richest cash payout in the industry on a stage before millions of television viewers on CBS Sports and spectators at top flight resorts nationwide."

The race starts at 11 am on Snowbird’s Big Emma. Finals will be at 2 pm, followed by a free concert by New Orlean's based band, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk.

The event will obviously impact skiing at the resort this weekend, but runs will still be open to the public. Come on up and watch the action, and take a couple runs yourself. You will see and possibly bump into some of the world’s best skiers.

Watch these websites for details: jeepsports.com, snowbird.com

Major Storm Thrills Skiers, May Snarl Traffic

A large storm now over Utah is expected to dump heavy snow in mountain areas, including our ski resorts. Northern Utah valleys will see rain changing to snow tonight. Snow is expected off and on through Wednesday.

The storm is good news for skiers and snowboarders because it will dramatically improve conditions at the resorts.

Snow accumulations in the valleys will cause some traffic headaches. A rash of automobile accidents often accompanies the first significant valley snowfall, as drivers get use to slick conditions. Rush hour traffic may be slow Tuesday and Wednesday along the I-15 corridor from Provo north through Salt Lake City and into the Ogden area.

This storm is large enough that it may cause problems on major interstate highways in mountain areas. I-80 may become treacherous over Parleys Summit, between Salt Lake City and Park City, and around Evanstan WY. Conditions may be difficult over any of our mountain passes and canyon areas.

Seasonal backcountry roads will now be impassible to automobiles until late next spring. That includes the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (Hwy 150) through the Uintas, Hwy 39 over Monte Cristo, and other similar roads.

Hwys 150 and 39 will become popular snowmobile routes later in the season, when Utah State Parks begins grooming them. Timing will depend on snow conditions; snowmobiling is usually good in these areas by Christmas.

We have weather reports for all areas in Utah.

See Utah's Winter Road Conditions report for details about routes you may want to travel.

Thanksgiving and Holiday Events

Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at Utah.com.

Most businesses across Utah will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Many a will be open for skiing, and gas stations, hotels/motels, restaurants and convenience stores will also be open. Emergency services will be available statewide, as they are every day of the year.

Stores will open early Friday morning, to accommodate people who are suddenly getting earnest about Christmas shopping.

Christmas light displays will be turned on Friday evening, including the spectacular display at Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City.

Three other areas in downtown Salt Lake City will have impressive light displays, part of the Downtown Alliance Lights On! event. The displays are at Macy’s at the Downtown Malls, the Gallivan Center and The Gateway.

Thanksgiving Point, located halfway between Salt Lake City and Provo, also features an impressive light display.

Football: BYU vs Utah Saturday

This is rivalry week in Utah, with the University of Utah hosting Brigham Young University. The game is always an exciting, hard-fought battle. This year it only counts for bragging rights, since BYU has already clinched the Mountain West Conference title and earned a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl.

Still, there will be plenty of stunts around Provo and Salt Lake City this week, and traffic will be a mess Saturday afternoon on streets leading up the hill to Rice-Eccles Stadium on the U of U campus in Salt Lake.

BYU (9-2, 7-0)
at Utah (7-4, 5-2)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
TV: CSTV and The Mtn.
Radio: 1160AM, 102.7FM, 700AM
The Desert Morning News, usually pro BYU, published this rivalry rundown.

Salt Lake Tribune, usually pro Utah, ran this look at BYU’s conference title and invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl.

This AP story in the Seattle Post Intelligencer describes BYU’s recent success.

Sunset Magazine Features Zion in the Off-Season

"A visit to Zion National Park during its off-season affords the chance to experience a classic national park under its best conditions. And free of crowds. Its majestic beauty is illuminated under dramatic autumn skies, and countless hidden canyons and passages are yours to explore alone."

That is from a new article in Sunset Magazine, entitled Quite Zion, which offers tips and info on how to "Escape the crowds and find the hidden beauty of southern Utah's incomparable canyons."

Read the entire article.

Utah Ski Opener Makes News

Several Utah resorts are now open, and more will open lifts to skiers and boarders this weekend. Conditions are good, with new snow on the ground and more in the forecast. Comments so far indicate skiers and resort operators are all happy.

The early opening has generated a favorable buzz in the media. Here are excerpts from three interesting reports:

Park City Mountain Resort Unveils Unique Family Programs to Improve the Guest Experience
Park City Mountain Resort announces its exclusive Kids Signature 5 Program that guarantees five children or less in each ski and snowboard lesson for those ages 6-14, even during the Resort's busiest times. Park City Mountain Resort's Kids Signature 5 Program will offer unparalleled personal attention, a choice of lunches in one of the on-mountain restaurants and increased self-confidence on the slopes.

Utah is talking tunnels
The Snowbird Resort blasted a 600-foot-long tunnel through a mountaintop at the summit of the Peruvian Chairlift this summer to give skiers and snowboaders easy access to intermediate slopes in Mineral Basin.

But that tube pales in comparison to the mammoth, $400 million tunnel project Utah is considering to improve access between the four Cottonwood Canyons ski resorts of Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird and the three Park City resorts of Deer Valley, Park City Mountain and The Canyons.

Snowbird, Alta charm the masses in Tribune ski poll
Salt Lake Tribune readers decidedly expressed their devotion to Little Cottonwood Canyon, overwhelmingly selecting Alta and Snowbird as the state's premium resorts for skiing or snowboarding.

Soldier Hollow - Forbes Traveler Top Ten

Note: Olympic Parks of Utah provided this information.

Forbes Traveler has named Soldier Hollow to the top ten cross country ski areas in North America. Other areas earning a spot in the top ten include the legendary sites of Royal Gorge, CA, Trapp Family Lodge, VT, Telemark Lodge, WI, Sun Valley, ID, and Devil’s Thumb, CO.

In compiling the “Top Ten list of North America’s best – and perhaps most gnarly – cross country ski resorts”, Forbes Traveler polled six members of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, including athletes Andy Newell, Torin Koos, Andrew Johnson, and Kris Freeman, coach Chris Grover, and team director Luke Bodensteiner.

According to Forbes Traveler, “the panel’s picks, which ranged from mom-and-pop ski hills in Vermont to mega-resorts and Olympic venues in the Rocky Mountains, represent a geographic spread of epic destinations”.

Soldier Hollow, the 2002 site of the Cross Country, Biathlon and Nordic Combined Olympic events, is managed by the Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation in partnership with Wasatch Mountain State Park. Several new easy and gentle trails have been added since the Olympic Winter Games, providing skiing terrain for all ability levels. The facility also includes snowshoeing, tubing, and, in the summer, Soldier Hollow hosts the Heber Valley PowWow and the Soldier Hollow Classic International Sheepdog Championships, the largest annual sheep herding event in the world.

Skiing Begins at Utah Resorts

Brighton will open for skiing at 9 am on Wed, Nov 15 - the first Utah resort to open for the season. It will offer skiing on beginner and intermediate runs from the Majestic and Explorer lifts. Lift tickets are discounted to $35 Wednesday through Friday, then discounted to $40 starting Saturday.

Here are resort opening dates (conditions permitting):

Alta Ski Area - Nov 18

Beaver Mountain - early to mid December

Brian Head Resort - Nov 22

Brighton - Nov 15

The Canyons Resort - Nov 18

Deer Valley Resort - Dec 2

Park City Mountain Resort - Nov 17

Powder Mountain - mid November

Snowbasin - Nov 23

Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort - Nov 18

Solitude Mountain Resort - Nov 17

Sundance - Dec 8

Wolf Mountain - Nov 24

USA Today: 'Resort Developers Discovering Utah's Attraction'

Today's USA Today carries an article describing luxury resorts being developed in Utah.

"A super-luxe influx of high-end resorts is springing up near Utah's accessible ski slopes and otherworldly red rock spires," the article says.

The article describes the St. Regis Resort and Residences at Deer Crest in Park City, an Amangiri resort being built in Big Water, near Lake Powell, and it says plans are underway for a $3.5 billion development with luxury homes, a Jack Nicklaus-commissioned golf course and other amenities at the old Elk Meadows ski area near Beaver.

Here are snippets from the article:

"I think that the transformation of the Park City area has clearly happened. It's a huge bargain compared to those other places, with much better access. You can get on a plane in the morning and be on the slopes by the afternoon."

"A luxury home that would cost $1.7 million in Park City would cost $2.7 million in Aspen."

"Nestled in the red rock desert near Lake Powell, the (Amangiri) resort will feature 34 luxury hotel rooms running $900 a night and 28 villas that will sell for around $6.5 million, all managed by the Singapore-based luxury brand Amanresorts."

"The resort, scheduled to open in spring 2008, is about 15 miles from the airport in Page, Ariz. It is a half-hour flight to the Grand Canyon, a short drive to red rock vistas in Utah's national parks and monuments, and a luxury houseboat will be available for guests to rent for floating around Lake Powell."

Read the entire article.

Mobile Travel Guide Recognizes Utah Hotels, Spa, Restaurant

Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City, and The Grand American Hotel, Salt Lake City, are 4-star winners in the newly released 07 Mobile Travel Guide. They are the only Utah lodging establishments to receive the high honor.

The spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge also received 4-stars. The spa “serves as a European sanctuary with healing wraps, deep massages, and fine pedicures,” the guide says.

The Riverhorse On Main was the only Utah restaurant to receive 4-stars. It is located in Park City. The guide says the restaurant has a bustling, happening scene, is sort of urban-modern, and has an Asian-influenced menu.

See the Travel Guide website for more info.

Heber's Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Fair

Heber’s annual Cowboy Poetry and Buckaroo Fair is underway, with major events scheduled through this weekend.

The festival began on Nov 7 and will conclude on Sunday, Nov 12. Music and poetry are offered every day.

Some highlight events include:
Concerts Friday, with a Buckaroo dance that evening
Concerts Saturday, open mike, and Claim Jumper Jam Session
Brunch with the Bar J Wranglers on Sunday, then Cowboy Church

See the festival website for details.

Downtown remains open as construction commences at City Creek Center

Preparatory work on the massive City Creek Center redevelopment project in downtown Salt Lake City will begin next week. Businesses located directly south of Temple Square will be affected during the coming weeks.

The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance on Monday commemorated the start of construction by proclaiming that downtown Salt Lake City remains open for business. The more than 100 restaurants, 575 ground floor businesses, 40 clubs and entertainment venues, and more than a dozen museums and cultural attractions will not be impacted by the construction of City Creek Center.

In addition, during the start of construction, all streets will remain open, parking and shopping at Crossroads Plaza and ZCMI Center will remain open, and holiday festivities such as Lights On!, Holiday Sing-Along, Messiah Sing-In, and First Night will continue unaffected.

This Salt Lake Tribune article describes the project.

See the Chamber press release and map of what’s open.

Voice of America explores Utah's Parks

Voice of America beams interesting news and features around the world, presenting America's viewpoint on a wide variety of subjects.

It recently aired a feature that describes travel to four of Utah’s National Parks: Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce and Zion.

"Millions of people from all over the world visit the state of Utah every year. One reason is the many national parks. These are areas of great natural beauty that are protected by the United States government..."

"These parks include huge colored rock formations, rivers, waterfalls, beautiful trees, other plants and many different kinds of wild animals..."

The report presents basic info that foreign travelers need to know to decide if they would like to come here.

You can read the complete report here, and also view photos of the parks. Or you can click on links to listen to it as a RealAudio file, or download it as an MP3.

Tips on Photographing Utah's Stunning Scenery

John Parkinson, an accomplished landscape/nature photographer, offers photography tips in this Deseret Morning News article.

A book by the photographer has just been published, presenting more than 100 of his favorite photos in stunning color. The book includes in-depth notes on how, when and where each image was made. The book pairs many of the photos with poems, some he has written and some by masters like Emily Bronte, Robert Service, William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth and Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

The book is titled Visual Verse: Art in Nature with Symbiotic Verse. Visit Parkinson’s website to learn more about it.

Parkinson is profiled in this Deseret Morning News article.

Utah Resorts Earn AAA 5-Diamond Award

Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City and the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City have again received AAA’s coveted 5-Diamond Award.

Stein Eriksen Lodge has now received the award for 5 consecutive years.

This is the third consecutive year for the Grand America to receive the honor.

AAA Utah spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough said "these properties enhance Utah's reputation as a world-class vacation destination . . . exemplifying the highest level of service in the industry."

The Salt Lake Tribune has more information.

Ski Magazines Tout Utah Resorts, Snow

Ski Utah provided this news release.

SALT LAKE CITY – Following two consecutive seasons of above average snowfall and three years of record-breaking skier day numbers, it is no surprise that Utah resorts are appearing in greater numbers in the polls of the various ski and snowboard magazines.

“It’s great to see that the ski and snowboard publications and their discerning readers are recognizing Utah for its abundant snowfall, unmatched accessibility, value and variety,” commented Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah. “We’re also pleased that word is getting out about some of the resorts that have been our best kept secrets.”

The polls of magazines such as Skiing, SKI, Transworld Snowboarding and Freeskier tend to be highly influential on riders and skiers each fall as they start planning their winter getaways.

Below are some highlights from the magazine polls and how Utah resorts fared in them:

Skiing magazine
- Four of Utah’s resorts placed in Skiing magazine’s Top 25 resorts list:
Alta/Snowbird (#2), Snowbasin (#10), Park City Mountain Resort (#11), Solitude #25

- Utah ranked #1 for Secret Powder Stashes (obvious choice - Alta/Snowbird, next up - Powder Mountain)

SKI magazine
- The Top 30 Readers Poll named seven resorts: Deer Valley (#2), Park City (#5), The Canyons (#15), Snowbird (#21), Solitude (#25), Alta (#28), Brighton (#29)

- In a list of Top Resorts for Snow, six of 6 of 10 resorts are located in Utah: Powder Mountain (#1), Alta (#2), Snowbird (#3), Brighton (#4), Solitude (#6), Deer Valley (#8)

- Top 10 for Best Access included seven Utah resorts: Park City (#2), Deer Valley (#3), The Canyons (#4), Snowbird (#5), Solitude (#6), Alta (#8), Brighton (#9)

- In the Value category, four of 10 resorts belonged to Utah: Powder Mountain (#1), Alta (#2), Brighton (#6), Solitude (#9)

- Top 10 for Overall Satisfaction included 4 Utah resorts: Alta (#1), Deer Valley (#4), Snowbird (#7), Powder Mountain(#8)

- Four Utah ski areas were recognized in the best Weather category: Deer Valley (#1), Brighton (#2), Solitude (#3), Alta (#5)

- Deer Valley once again clinched the #1 slot for Grooming.

- In the Service category, Deer Valley ranked #1 and Snowbasin #3.

- For best Lifts, Snowbasin came in at #1 and Deer Valley #5.
- Best Terrain/Variety: Alta (#6), Snowbird (#7)

- Best Terrain/Challenge: Snowbird (#2), Alta (#3)

- Best On Mountain Food: Deer Valley (#1), Snowbasin (#2)

- Best Service: Deer Valley (#1), Snowbasin (#3)

- Best Terrain Parks: Brighton (#7), Park City (#8)

Transworld Snowboarding
Park City Mountain Resort was awarded Terrain Park of the Year for 3rd consecutive time. This marks the first time a single resort has earned the top slot three years running.

Freeskier
- Alta/Snowbird ranked #3 in the Top 5 Rocky Mountain Resorts.

- The Best of the Rest list placed Snowbasin at #6.

- Park City Mountain Resort came in at #4 in the list of North America’s Greatest
Terrain Parks.

- Salt Lake City ranked #1 in the list of Best Rail Cities.

Outside Traveler Fall/Winter 2006/07
- Best Supersize Mountain: Honorable Mention – Park City and The Canyons

- Best Purist Mountain: Alta; Honorable Mention - Snowbasin

- Best Luxury Mountain: Deer Valley

- Best Side Country: Powder Mountain

Also noteworthy, the Dallas Morning News will name Wolf Mountain’s Soapbox Derby as the Wackiest Event on Snow in their annual ski section.

Southern Utah Ancient Rock Art

Ancient Native American cultures left impressive rock art in many areas in southern Utah. It is great fun to seek out the images, drive or hike to them, and view them, trying to understand what they meant to the creators.

Here are some of the better areas to view accessible rock art:
Nine Mile Canyon
Freemont Indian
Newspaper Rock
Horseshoe Canyon
Parowan Gap
Grand Gulch

The Salt Lake Tribune has this interesting new article about Utah rock art.

Storms Raise Lake Powell By 5 Feet In October

October storms have caused the surface elevation of Lake Powell to rise 5 feet, according to this article in the Grand Junction (Colorado) Sentinel.

Normally, the lake’s level drops slightly through the fall, and the lake doesn’t start to rise until snowmelt swells in the late spring. But October storms have dumped on southern Utah and western Colorado, and the resulting runoff eventually ends up in Powell.

This is the 50th anniversary of the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956, which authorized the building of Glen Canyon Dam. The Sentinel article says Lake Powell proved its usefulness during the recently ended drought. Water stored in the reservoir was released to keep Colorado River flows up, minimizing drought damage in the Southwest. Some environmentalists favor decommissioning the dam, but Bureau of Reclamation officials say that isn’t going to happen.

The National Park Service has issued this news release touting fall recreational opportunities at Lake Powell, which is located in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Forbes: Utah is Gorgeous and Generous

Utah is the most generous state in America, according to a new study published on Forbes website.

“Charitable giving among the affluent is strongest in the Midwest and South, according to a new study, with chart-topping Utah residents donating more than double the national average.”

“...volunteering rates largely mirror charitable giving. The RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service at the University of Texas-Austin tracks volunteerism rates by state. At the top of the list? Utah, where 46.5% of residents volunteer.”

The article included photo slideshows depicting the most charitable states, and also the least charitable. Utah’s image is a beautiful Lake Powell scene.

Gorgeous and generous, just two of the factors that make this a great place to live and visit.

Read the entire article.

Moab Folk Music Festival

The annual Moab Folk Music Festival will take place Nov 3-5.

The festival brings top regional and national performers to Moab, including some of the best folk singers and songwriters. Weather conditions are moderate at this time of year and the scenery is always outstanding.

Combine that with the outstanding recreational opportunities found in this area and it makes a great vacation or weekend getaway.

See the festival website for details.

Warren Miller Ski Movie Showcases Utah

This is year 57 for the Warren Miller ski productions, and this time the Utah Office of Tourism is a film sponsor. From October through December, the movie will have 400-plus screenings in more than 180 cities in 35 states.

Entitled OFF THE GRID, the latest production includes an 8-minute Utah ski segment featuring renowned, locally-based athletes Jeremy Nobis, Jamey Parks, Jamie Pierre, Julian Carr and Jenn Berg. A Utah commercial will air before each screening to provide additional exposure for the state’s ski industry.

This is from a news release about the film:

“Warren Miller Entertainment is the most recognized and respected name in the action sports film industry. It is only fitting for Utah, the home of The Greatest Snow on Earth®, to team up with them,” added Nathan Rafferty, Ski Utah’s president. “We’re pleased that the State recognizes the Warren Miller films as a viable outlet to promote Utah skiing. Utah’s sponsorship of this tour coupled with the epic snow footage in our segment provides unmatched exposure for our superior ski product to hundreds of thousands of skiers nation-wide.”

The local screening schedule:

Oct. 19: Park City, George S. and Delores Dore’ Eccles Center, 8 p.m.
Oct. 20: Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.
Oct. 21: Ogden, Peery’s Egyptian Theatre, 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Nov. 9 and 10: Logan, Kent Concert Hall at Utah State University, 8 p.m.

Read the complete news release.

Here’s what the Deseret Morning News said about the movie.

Utah Ski Resorts Plan November Openings

Ski Utah has released these tentative opening dates for Utah ski resorts. Many resorts are planning to open in mid-November, taking advantage of the cool, snowy weather that has already arrived in Utah. But it is still early to make predictions – much could change if Mother Nature turns fickle.

Alta - Nov. 16
Beaver Mountain - early to mid December
Brian Head - Nov. 17
Brighton - TBA
The Canyons - Nov. 18
Deer Valley - Dec. 2
Park City - Nov. 17
Powder Mountain - mid November
Snowbasin - Nov. 23
Snowbird - Nov. 18
Solitude - Nov. 17
Sundance - Dec. 9
Wolf Mountain - Nov. 24

Ski Magazine Readers Like Utah Snow

Ski Magazine surveys its readers annually and publishes “best of lists.” We’ve previously blogged that Deer Valley was named the #2 Resort in North America by the magazine’s readers. Park City was ranked #5.

The magazine has now released other tallies. In the ranking for Best Snow, Utah cleaned up:
1 - Powder Mountain, UT
2 - Alta, UT
3 - Snowbird, UT
4 - Brighton, UT
5 - Grand Targhee
6 - Solitude, UT
7 - Snowmass
8 - Deer Valley, UT
9 - Vail
10 - Steamboat

For Best Grooming, Deer Valley is #1.

For Ten Great Family Resorts, Deer Valley is #3 and Park City is #6.

Dates Set for Ski, Snowboard School

Interested people who sign up quickly can learn to ski for a very reasonable price at the Deseret Morning News/KSL Radio Ski School, to the held Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 at Alta Ski Resort. This is the 59th year the newspaper has offered this school.

Wannabe snowboarders can learn skills at the Des News/KSL Radio Snowboard School, to be held at Snowbird, also on Nov. 18, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. This is the 7th year for the snowboard program.

Space is limited so register now.

Read all the details.

Delicate Arch Trail Closed By Flooding

The access road and trail leading to Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park, is temporally closed because of flooding.

Arches is located on top of a mesa and normally gets very little rain or snow. But it got dumped on last weekend. Salt Wash, near the trailhead, turned into a raging torrent that actually stranded a group of hikers for a few hours. The water is subsiding now, but the flood washed out parts of the road, undercut a bridge and did other damage, leaving the area unsafe.

Repairs should be made quickly and access to Delicate Arch may be possible by this weekend.

Main roads in the park are open and safe. Backroads may have washed out spots.

At this writing, Delicate Arch is the only attraction listed as inaccessible on the Arches National Park website.

This Salt Lake Tribune article has more detail.

Free Events Preview Utah Ski Season

Utah ski resorts usually begin to open around Thanksgiving. This year we are getting cool temperatures and lots of early mountain snow. Who knows, you may be able to ski at some of the resorts in early November. Here are some of the events being scheduled in anticipation of the season.

Free Tram Rides at Snowbird

Snowbird will offer free tram rides in exchange for a can of food donated to the Utah Food Bank during its Customer Appreciation Days, Oct 14-15 and Oct 21-22.

“One can of food equals one free Tram ride during Customer Appreciation Days. In lieu of food, a donation may be made for a Tram ride. All food donations benefit the Utah Food Bank and monetary donations benefit the Wasatch Adaptive Sports program.”

Snowbird’s ZipRider, Alpine Slide and Bungy Trampoline will also be open, but are not offered as part of the food exchange deal.

Ski Utah has the press release.

Rockin the Powder Party

Ski Utah will host a free “Rockin’ the Powder” season kickoff party on Nov. 11 from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

“Rockin’ the Powder is geared for powder hounds of all ages and will feature live music by 80s cover band, the Metal Gods and music spun by DJ Knucklz. Other offerings will include the Ski Utah Photo of the Year contest, ski and snowboard videos, gear demos, beer garden, food vendors, giveaways from all Utah resorts, local celebrity pro athlete poster signings, best ’80s ski outfit contest, and more.”

First Tracks online ski magazine has this report.

Toddlers on Skis - Safe and Fun

Newsweek (Oct 16 issue) has a great article about new opportunities to get young kids on ski, in a way that is safe and enjoyable.

“Toddlers used to have to sit on the sidelines—or home with Grandma—while their parents had all the fun. But in the past few years, resorts and equipment makers have made it easier for even the littlest kids to get in on the action.”

The article describes programs at both Snowbird and Alta that are geared for young kids.

“Last year, after repeated requests from parents, Utah's Alta ski area (alta.com) started a pre-ski program, in which a mascot in a bear costume shows kids ages 2 and up how to put on their boots and grab their poles. Then, instructors take them out to flat, snowy ground where the kids learn to shuffle on the snow. "We get children excited about the idea of learning how to ski," says Joan Nichol, director of the Alta Children's Center.”

Read the entire article.

Fall Hunting Seasons Look Promising

Major hunting seasons are starting now, and conditions look good for most species.

Key season dates are:
Bull Elk: Oct 7-19
Deer: Oct 21-29
Duck: Oct 7-Jan 20
Geese: Oct 7-Oct 19 and Oct 28-Jan 28
Pheasant: Nov 4-19

These are general season dates and there are plenty of exceptions. Always check the current proclamation for information about the area and species you want to hunt.

Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources has these reports:
Elk tags still available
Plenty of bull elk in the backcountry
Ducks should stay in Utah longer this season

Deseret Morning News has these articles:
Utah's big elk
Utah hunter sets new record
Duck-hunting season should be a whopper
Utah elk herds are on the increase
Trophy elk take about 10 years to mature

Plan Will Add Vitality to Downtown Salt Lake City

A $1 billion overhaul of downtown Salt Lake City was announced yesterday. It will affect 20 acres and three city blocks, between West Temple Street and 200 East. The work will create new commercial, residential and retail space, but will require the demolition of some longtime landmarks.

The LDS Church owns the property, which is just south of Temple Square. Work will begin about Nov. 1 and should be completed in 2011. Existing properties affected include the Inn at Temple Square, Key Bank Tower, the Deseret Building and the Crossroads and ZCMI shopping malls.

There will be traffic disruption at times during demolition and construction.

The work will create an attractive and vital downtown area with parks and open space. It will be pedestrian-friendly and will be easily accessible via mass transit.

Nordstrom and Macy's plan department stores to anchor the project, which will be called City Creek Center.

Reaction to the announcement has been very positive. City officials, developers and consumer advocates understand it will inflict growing pains, but will be a tremendous step forward for Salt Lake City.

Here’s what the LA Times has to say about the project.

The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News had extensive reports.

Moab Hosts Fall Bike Races

Mountain and road bikers will converge on Moab during the next two weekends, to participate in two major races. The town will be busy and crowded, with lots of fun activities for race participants and casual tourists alike. This is a fun time to visit Moab.

The Moab Century Tour will take place Oct 6-8. This annual road cycling event offers mountains, canyons and the Colorado River – some of Moab’s best scenery. Riders can choose from three routes: 45 miles, 65 miles and 92 miles. Ride begins in Moab and climbs over the La Sal loop road. Over "The Big Nasty" ( 3000 feet in 7 miles) throught the base of the mountains down into the spires and canyons of Moab and then along the mighty Colorado River.
Supported Ride. Fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundaion

The annual 24 Hours of Moab team relay bike race will be Oct 14-15. This is an extremely popular 24 hour mountain bike race set in our spectacular red rock desert. Sections of this course follow an old jeep trail while others challenge some wild downhill regiments. The course climbs 1,100 feet per lap and crosses some deep sand.

Utah.com Begins Website Improvements

If you are familiar with Utah.com, you’ll notice it has a completely different look today.

We have changed the design and structure of pages to accomplish these goals:
1. Easier to navigate and find key pages
2. Fresh, interesting look
3. Support the Utah Office of Tourism branding
4. Incorporate more multimedia content

We believe Internet multimedia will become more and more important during the next few years and we plan to stay ahead of the curve. We’ve been watching user stats to determine patterns, so we can balance file sizes against connection speeds. We want to make the core of utah.com available to all viewers, regardless of connection speed, and also offer a robust multimedia section that will work best at high speeds.

Over the next few months we’ll add more new photos, more photo tours, more Flash presentations and more video clips.

Raptor Watch: See Eagles, Other Birds

(Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources provided this news release.)

View Migrating Birds of Prey

Orem -- You can view and learn more about eagles, hawks and other
migrating birds of prey on Sept. 30, during Utah's annual Raptor Watch
Day.

Viewing on Sept. 30 will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orem
Overlook along Squaw Peak Road, east of Orem. Squaw Peak Road can be
reached from the Provo Canyon Road. To reach the Provo Canyon Road,
exit I-15 at Exit 275 and travel eastbound on 800 N. in Orem.

Raptor Watch Day is hosted annually by the Division of Wildlife
Resources.

"Fall colors will flirt with the eye, the temperature at our high
elevation watch site should be crisp and, with any luck, clear skies
will offer up-close glimpses of harriers, vultures, eagles, hawks and
falcons as they continue their annual fall migration to the south,"
says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR.

"Experts will be available to help people identify passing birds of
prey and to answer any questions they might have about raptor
migration," Walters says. "This year's Raptor Watch Day should be
one of the best opportunities of the year to spend some time relaxing
and watching raptors."

For more information, call Walters at (801) 538-4771.

Grand Staircase Yields More New Dinosaurs

A dig in Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument has produced fossils from two here-to unknown dinosaurs. The Salt Lake Tribune has this extensive article about the find. Here are a few quotes:

"It's been a dream summer for paleontologists," said Alan Titus, paleontologist for the 1.9 million-acre monument in southern Utah.

“A 6-foot-long skull of one of the creatures, found intact, belongs to a beast similar to members of the ceratoid family, but has some distinctly unique features.”

“About a week before that discovery, the same group found the full skeleton of another ceratop-like dinosaur, including a partial skull, that also defies known species.”

“Fossilized skin impressions also were found, which can help tell about the anatomy of an animal more than bones alone.”

This is the National Monument’s 10-year anniversary. It was the subject of controversy when created, but has evolved into an important science laboratory and tourist playground.

New West takes this detailed look at the monument and its evolution.

Deer Valley Is #2, Park City #5

Ski Magazine has released the results of its latest reader survey, which ranks Deer Valley the number 2 ski resort in North America. The magazine describes the best features of each resort, shows photos, and includes these comments:

“Deer Valley is built on the singular concept of service: You get yourself to Utah, and Deer Valley will take care of the rest.”

Park City ranks number 5.

“Bring your airline boarding pass to the ticket window for free arrival-day skiing. Kids under 6 always ski free.”

Read the entire article.

Kokanee Salmon and the Strawberry Festival

The annual Strawberry Festival will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Forest Service visitors’ center near Strawberry Reservoir. A similar event, Kokanee Salmon Day, will be held on Saturday at Sheep Creek, a tributary of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

Spawning kokanee salmon are the key attraction at both events. The landlocked salmon turn a bright red and migrate up streams where they spawn and then die. The fish are highly visible in streams and it is fascinating to watch them go through this annual ritual.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) biologists will be on site at both locations to answer questions and help people view the fish. Participants may also be able to see deer, elk and other wildlife in that area.

At Strawberry, the DWR and U.S. Forest Service have built a viewing area along the Strawberry River. There are interpretive signs and a boardwalk along the river to view spawning pairs of fish. Other activities will also be offered at the visitors’ center.

Besides watching the kokanee at Sheep Creek, viewers usually see bighorn sheep from the viewing site. Visitors often report seeing elk, moose, mule deer and bald eagles in the area. DWR has this report about the Sheep Creek Event.

Deseret News has this detailed article about kokanee, and about the Strawberry Festival. DWR also has this report.

Challenge the Corn Maze at Hee Haw Farms

Hee Haw Farms’ unique Fall/Halloween activities kick off on Sept 22, and run until Oct 31. The farm, located in Pleasant Grove, offers:

-- Large corn maze
-- Haunted barnyard with interesting animals
-- Hay rides
-- Food
-- Lots of other activities

Chalise Smith provided this description:

"Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, Haunted Hayride and lot of farmin’ fun activities at Hee Haw Farms.

"Come on down to Hee Haw Farms for the 6th year of wacky fun in the farmyard enjoying countrified activities and puzzling challenges. There’s nothing run-of-the-mill about this farm where goats climb towers and tractors make ice-cream. This year’s corn maze features Leroy the Pig with huge, corny twists and turns.

"Hair-raising at Hee Haw Farms begins on Sept 29 through Oct 31, with a Haunted Hayride and Corn Evil Corridor. Haunting will occur on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. Visit www.heehawfarms.com for group sales, coupons and ticket information."

Snow on the Mountains

The first snow of the season hit northern Utah last weekend. I know that for a fact because I was camping with a bunch of Boy Scouts, up near the top of Hobble Creek Canyon east of Springville.

It rained hard most of the night, but we were warm and dry in tents. Sometime during the night the rain changed to snow and there was a skiff on the ground when we awoke.

The ski resorts picked up more. Ski Utah reports 6 inches at the base at Snowbird, and 12 inches on Hidden Peak.

Ski Utah shows snow on the mountains in a nice slide show on their home page. First Tracks has this report about the snow event.

It will all melt quickly. Even the snow on Hidden Peak will probably melt, as mild fall temperatures return to the area.

But that didn’t stop snowboard enthusiasts from carrying boards to the top of hills and riding down. It was a great early-season bonus that excited skiers and snowboarders. The season is coming... quickly.

Now’s the time to book your Utah ski trips. Resort lodging is already filling up for holiday weekends. Better act now.

- Dave Webb

Zions Subway & Video Clips

A group from utah.com hiked the famous Subway in Zion Park over Labor Day. It was a great adventure hike, one of my all-time favorites.

This video clip shows the adventure.

You’ve got to swim several long pools of cold water as you make your way through the Subway. The water is cold, even on the hottest summer day. Temperatures in the Zion/St George area are still warm enough for wet hikes, but that season will end draw to a close within a few weeks. Then we will turn our attention to the dry, desert hikes which are more pleasant during cooler weather.

I think my latest clip is significantly better than my early work. I’ve found ways to increase the quality of the video while keeping file sizes relatively small. And I made my brother-in-law do the voice over, so it sounds better.

Now that I have better tools, I’ll go back and redo some of my clips, like these:

Zions Narrows

Zions Angels Landing

Arches Delicate Arch

Arches Devils Garden

Lake Powell Houseboat

Spooky Gulch

The Wave of Coyote Buttes

My goal is to have clips showing many of Utah’s best destinations and adventures. It’s a fun hobby. During the next few months I hope to do more clips, including these:

Monument Valley

Hovenweep

Highway 12

Goblin Valley

Grand Gulch

Temple Square

Over time, I’ll do a bunch more.

I appreciate feedback. Tell me if you know ways I can make them better, or if there are spots/activities you’d like to see.

- Dave Webb

Weatherman Says Snow!

A storm now moving over Utah is expected to drop snow in high mountain areas this weekend. Park City could get a dusting, but snow is not expected to accumulate there. A little may stick on the ground in the Uintas and other extremely high locations. Rain will probably fall in many valleys.

Heavy rain, high wind and lightning could affect travel in isolated spots.

Our website features specific weather reports for many Utah destinations. Go to this page and then click anywhere on the map. You can also get current reports by clicking the weather link on our destinations pages.

We are probably a couple months away from significant snow at the ski resorts. Still, it will be exciting to see the first flakes of the new season flutter down.

Forecasters say an El Nino flow has developed in the tropical Pacific. ABC News has this report. In past years such a flow has resulted in heavy winter snowfall over Utah’s mountains, with relatively mild temperatures.

This could be another great ski season.

Crossroads of the West Gun Show

The Crossroads of the West Gun Show will be held Sept 16 & 17 (this Saturday and Sunday) in Sandy at the South Towne Expo Center.

This is a large consumer show featuring guns, bows, knives and other kinds of weaponry. It attracts collectors, target shooters, hunters, self-defense advocates and many others, from all around the Western US.

This is a chance to learn about, see, handle and buy many types of products related to weaponry and self defense.

Exhibited guns not allowed to be loaded at the show. All purchases must be in compliance with federal, state and local laws.

Crossroads of the West GunShows, a Utah company, has expanded and now offers similar shows in Reno, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco and many other cities.

More information.

Fall Colors Along Nebo Loop

Trees are starting to color up in the high country of northern Utah.

I drove the Nebo Loop National Scenic Byway this morning, taking the long way home from a business meeting, and enjoyed seeing the early stages of the annual extravaganza of color that occurs every fall.

Here and there an aspen branch glowed sunny yellow, even while all the other leaves on the same tree were deep green. A few trees and shrubs were almost completely red, standing out against their still-green siblings, and against the never-changing pine trees.

It looks like the colors will peak in northern Utah mountain areas about the first week of October. Northern Utah valleys and the southern Utah high country will follow a couple weeks later. November will be the key month for show colors at lower elevations in southern Utah.

Utah’s scenic byways and backways are excellent routes for people who want to auto tour to see the colors. This special page describes our best fall drives.

I stopped for a few minutes at the Devil’s Kitchen Geologic Interest area, near the top of the Nebo Loop (at an elevation of about 9,000 feet). It’s a very impressive site, with formations that are somewhat similar to those at Bryce Canyon, only on a smaller scale.

I think I’ll go back in a couple weeks, when the colors are peaking, and time my drive to catch the late afternoon light. The area will be incredibly photogenic at that time.

- Dave Webb

Why Smart Skiers Are Racing to Utah

Vicky Lowry describes Salt Lake and Park City area ski resorts in this article on MSN Travel.

Vicky’s by-line indicates her forte is food & wine, and she spends much of the article describing great places to lodge and dine near the resorts.

She says the restaurant scene “has been thriving since the 2002 Winter Olympics.”

MSN teases the article with this nugget: “Salt Lake City is a direct flight from almost every big US city—and the skiing nearby is phenomenal.”

Read the complete article.

MSN Features Bryce, Arches, North Rim

See Bryce on Horseback

“Bryce Canyon is a park that's perfectly suited to horseback tours. Let the horses do all the hard work, while you take in the scenic views.”

So says Beth J. Harpaz in a new article on MSN Travel.

“Our lead guide, J.B. Kessler, cracked jokes in between pointing out landmarks and describing the history of the place. ‘I'll be sending each and every one of you home with a souvenir,’ he announced cheerfully at one point. ‘Every time you sit down, you'll remember this trip.’"

(We have a short video clip showing a horseback ride in the Bryce area.)

Read the complete article.

Crowd-Free National Parks

MSN Travel also has an article describing 10 favorite crowd-free national parks.

Arches National Park tops the list: “Arches National Park, one of a quintet of stunning Utah national parks, may not attract the same number of visitors as the state's more-accessible Zion or Bryce Canyon parks, but its surreal terrain of towering sandstone arches makes this Southern Utah wilderness wonderland one sensory experience not to be missed.”

Grand Canyon North Rim is listed at number 7: “Those who do go the extra mile (or 215 in this case) will be rewarded with serenity, a complete absence of McDonald's and bowling alleys, and an unblocked view of one of Mother Nature's most stupendous creations.”

Capitol Reef National Park should be on the list, in our opinion. It is never crowded. It is located off the beaten path, and it includes a large backcountry area where it is easy to wander in solitude. A visit is well worth the required time and travel.

State Fair Runs Through Sept 17

The Utah State Fair opens tomorrow at 3 pm at the Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Opening opening day admission is only $2. After tomorrow, admission will be $8 for adults; $6 for seniors 62 and over and young people ages 6-12. Children 5 and under get in free.

This is a traditional fair with all kinds of displays ranging from farm animals to quilts to marmalade. There will be bronze sculptures and oil paintings and photographic portraits, along with places to see and buy new products, get consumer information and learn about emergency preparedness.

Of course there will be entertainment. The carnival will be open daily and there will also be a rodeo, dancers and a full slate of musical events (including some big-name national performers).

See the fair’s website for detailed information.


This Deseret Morning News article gives a “fair overview.”

Moab Music Festival Is Underway

“Each year musicians and music lovers alike, from across the country and around the world, travel to the Moab Music Festival to perform and to listen to musical masterpieces, old and new, set among some of nature's most spectacular landscape masterpieces... the red rock canyonlands.”

That quote is from the festival website, where you can get detailed information about this popular series of events, which continue through Sept 16.

“Known for its distinctive programming, the award-winning Moab Music Festival offers concerts of classical chamber music, traditional music, vocal music, works of living composers and jazz performed by acclaimed artists from around the country. Performances take place in indoor and outdoor venues ranging from historic Star Hall in Moab to the banks of the Colorado River.”

What’s New at the Ski Resorts

Ski Utah has released its new annual report outlining what is new at Utah ski resorts. Read the full report here.

Utah resorts have chalked up 3 record-breaking years in a row, meaning there have been more skiers ever year as we are “discovered” by more ski enthusiasts. The resorts are investing heavily to keep that trend going, making sure the infrastructure is in place to accommodate more skiers and still preserve a quality experience.

The most dramatic improvement is the new ski tunnel at Snowbird, which will improve access to more intermediate terrain. The European-style tunnel is a first in North American. Read about it here.

Many resorts are adding new lifts and opening up more terrain. And some are adding snowmaking equipment to insure adequate early-season conditions.

If Mother Nature cooperates, this will be another record season.

Cabela’s Pulls in the Crowds

Almost 5 million people visited the Cabela’s sporting goods store in Lehi during its first year of operation, according to an interesting story in today’s Salt Lake Tribune.

The huge retail outlet apparently ranks second only to Temple Square in number of visitors. Mormon Temple Square is expected to draw 5-7 million visitors this year.

“Cabela's number also approaches the sum total of nearly 5.3 million visitors to southern Utah's five national parks - Zion being the biggest individual attraction at 2.7 million visits last year,” the article states.

“The Travel Industry Association defines a tourist as someone who travels 50 miles or more (one way) to a destination or stays overnight in the vicinity, she noted. And although there is no way of knowing what percentage of Cabela's visitors came from out-of-state, it seems logical to assume most were from the Wasatch Front.”

“Nevertheless, von der Esch said, "they are contributing to the economy.”

Here’s the full article. (Be advised, links to Tribune articles often break after a few weeks).

New Utah Travel Guide Available

Utah’s new travel guide is now available on-line and at state travel Welcome Centers. The full color, 144-page guide is designed to help people learn about our travel destinations, recreational opportunities, lodging providers and guide services.

It’s all there – the national parks, state parks, campgrounds, forests and lakes – along with a fold-out road map and information about recreation in ever area of the state.

You can request a free copy by filling out the form on this page, or you can pick one up at a Utah travel Welcome Center.

Oktoberfest Begins This Weekend

Snowbird Resort kicks off its annual Oktoberfest this weekend. Events will be held every weekend through Oct 8.

70,000 visitors, Oktoberfest has grown to become one of Utah’s largest festivals. It includes Oktoberfest Halle featuring the tastes of Bavaria with entertainment from local and national German bands and yodelers. Kinderland offers fun for children of all ages; Der Marktplatz will allow shoppers to browse through a variety of crafters booths.

Music, food, fun. See the festival website for details.

Salt Lake Braces For Bush Visit, Rallies

President Bush will be in Salt Lake City Aug 30-31 to speak at an American Legion convention, and also at a Senator Orrin Hatch fundraiser.

Five different groups have applied for permits to hold rallies on Aug 30, at locations around downtown, Pioneer Park and Liberty Park.

The largest is expected to attract about 5,000 to Washington Square in downtown Salt Lake City. National anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson will speak to that group.

A pro-Bush group will rally at the square later in the day. Another group will gather at Liberty Park to promote peace while also supporting our troops. And a group will rally for immigration law reform.

Utah is considered one of the “reddest of red” states, yet Salt Lake City often supports Democrats (and elected a liberal Democrat as mayor).

Rallies and protests here are usually tame. Still, the Salt Lake Police Department has scheduled extra shifts to handle any problems.

This newspaper article has more details.

Park City Marathon & Relay

The Tenth Annual Park City Marathon & Marathon Relay will be Aug. 26.

The course follows a scenic loop through alpine meadows, historic mining neighborhoods and ski resorts.

New this year is the two-person marathon relay.

This is a fun marathon to watch, located in the mountains around historic Park City.

Maynard Dixon Country Art Show

The renowned Maynard Dixon Country annual art show will take place Aug 23 - Aug 27, at the historic Maynard Dixon home and studio in Mt Carmel, just outside Zion National Park.

There will also be an art sale and artist paint-out. More than 40 prominent artists are expected to exhibit more than 125 paintings at the show.

Dixon, 1875-1946, was an American painter who specialized in landscapes of the American West. He wandered freely throughout the region, but set up his home and studio amid the pastel-colored cliffs near Zion.

Utah Ranks High For Business Climate, Colleges

Utah ranks 4th best in the nation according to a recently released Forbes “Best States For Business” list, according to this newspaper report.

And our colleges/universities rank high in the latest US News and World Report ranking. BYU ranked 70th on the list of best national universities, up one slot from last year, while the U. remained 120th. Salt Lake's Westminster College also earned a No. 20 spot for Western schools offering master's degrees but not doctoral programs. This newspaper article has details.

Snowbird Builds European-Style Ski Tunnel

“Excavators broke through Snowbird's new, European-style ski tunnel Wednesday, the first of its kind in North America. The 600-foot long tunnel will take skiers from the Peruvian Gulch into Mineral Basin.”

That news item is from this Deseret Morning News article, which goes on to say:

"The finishing touch on the tunnel is the conveyor system," Snowbird President Bob Bonar said. "It's called a magic carpet in the ski business. It's a very unique project."

“Both are slated to open in time for ski season this year.”

Read the complete article.

Utah Cities Make Best Places List

CNN’s Money Magazine has released its list of the 100 Best Places to Live, and three of the cities are in Utah.

Sandy – 23rd

Orem – 38th

Layton – 41st

See the full list

Surveyors ranked cities using quality-of-life and economic factors. Some of the categories included affordable housing, access to health care, education, crime rates, park space, cultural sites and recreational opportunities.

Only mid-sized communities were ranked in this survey – small cities and towns were not included. The magazine also released a list of the 10 best large cities.

All three of the Utah cities listed are located along the populous Wasatch Front. With the exception of St George, Utah’s largest communities are all located in the Wasatch Front area, which stretches from Ogden south through Provo.

St George is often recognized as a top place to live. Most recently, it was named one of 12 Great Places You’ve Never Heard Of in the Aug/Sept issue of Mother Earth News.

Utah - Land of Magnificent Color

The Des Moines Register has this feature article on Utah’s national parks: "Utah's kaleidoscope, A painted wonderland covers five national parks and four monuments."

William Mikesell writes, “In just the southern third of Utah, there are five national parks, a national recreation area and four national monuments all within a day's drive of each other. They can be reached all in one vacation, but don't have to be seen on the same tour in a rush from park to park.”

He goes on to give descriptions of each park, along with tips to help visitors have an enjoyable experience.

Washington Times Features Utah

The Washington Times has this extensive article describing some of Utah’s top attractions.

“Utah hits us head-on as a land of vast discovery,” say writers Kathy M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher. They traveled throughout the state, interviewed many people, and produced an interesting and informative article.

They focus on Bryce Canyon (hiking and sightseeing), Lake Powell (houseboating), Rainbow Bridge, Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, Homestead Resort (with its Crater warm spring), and Sundance Resort (hiking, spa, and celebrity watching for Robert Redford).

I have particular interest in this article because Kathy called me a couple times seeking advice as she planned their trip. They are based in Raleigh, NC, and were not quite sure what they would find in Utah. It was fun hearing her report back that they had a superb time – better than expected.

- Dave Webb

Western Legends Roundup Aug 24-26

The 8th annual Western Legends Roundup will be held Aug 24-26, in Kanab, Utah. It features Western vendors and exhibits, Western entertainment and concerts, Cowboy Poetry, Cowboy cookin' and autograph sessions with some of your favorite stars of classic Westerns.

This event was created to honor the rich Western movie history, with over 70 classic Western movies being filmed in Kane County over the years. The Gunsmoke television series was also filmed here for over 20 years.

The roundup has been named #1 Western Event by True West Magazine!

See the event’s website for more info.

Cowboy Ted Hallisey, Kane County Office of Tourism, provided this news release:
Utah’s native son to perform at Western Legends in Kanab

Brenn Hill of Hooper, Utah, will headline during America's top Western event

Brenn Hill has been called “the future of Western music.” The 30-year-old singer-songwriter from Hooper, Utah will be the headline performer during three concerts held at the Crescent Moon Theater in Kanab, Utah Aug. 24-26 during the Western Legends Roundup & Film Festival, which, was named as the top Western event in the nation by True West Magazine.

Hill has five albums under his belt and a growing string of awards. The Utah native draws his inspiration from the lifestyle of the modern west. His songs celebrate the land and the hard-bitten beauty of cowboy life from a firsthand perspective. The Red Rocks surrounding Kanab are featured in Hill’s song called The Last of the Red Rock Riders.

Billboard Magazine tabbed Hill as the future of Western music by writing, “Hill is a bridge between western music's best traditions and the future of the genre as cowboys and cowboy singers evolve with the changing times. Hill’s music echoes the integrity, morality, and character associated with legends like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry while also exploring contemporary themes.”

Hill was named the Academy of Western Artists’ Male Vocalist of the Year in 2005. He is no stranger to Kanab and feels at home among the red rocks he sings about in a couple of his songs. Kanab residents have embraced this up-and-coming Western legend.

“Brenn Hill is all-cowboy and he knows what its like to live in rural America and he brings that forward in the lyrics of his songs, reported “Cowboy Ted” Hallisey, executive director of the Kane County Office of Tourism. I consider Brenn Hill to be one of my very close friends. He is sincere and Brenn is proud of the cowboy lifestyle and work ethic, as well as, our Western heritage and the traditions we still value in rural America. Brenn’s songs help us to step back and remember that some of us are still fortunate to enjoy that wholesome and hardworking lifestyle today that is portrayed in his songs.”

Well known Western musicians have praised Hill and his potential as a superstar in the Western music category. Ian Tyson said, "Every time I see and hear Brenn Hill, he just keeps getting better and better. His love of the West shines through in his music."

Hill made his singing debut at age four. With a natural love of the western outdoors and summers spent working at his grandparents' farms, he ventured into traditional western music. At the age of 16, he performed at the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV. Hill was chosen to participate in the "Best of the Cowboy Music Jamboree" jam session at the end of the festival. The audience warmly accepted this new spokesman for rural Western America.

The 30-year-old singer will walk through the town of Kanab in the footsteps of some of the icons of Western movies and those who created the theme for the Western Legends event. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Ronald Reagan made films in Kanab and have been honored with plaques on the “Little Hollywood” Walk of Fame. Hill’s signature song “Call You Cowboy” serves as a tribute to all of our cowboy heroes of the past.

Tickets for Brenn Hill’s Western Legends concerts at the Crescent Moon Theater In Kanab on Aug. 24-26 are priced at $10 and are available on-line at www.westernlegendsroundup.com or by calling the Western Legends office at 435-644-3444. A limited number of tickets will be set aside for purchase at the Crescent Moon Theater ticket office on the night of each show.