Happy New Year

We at Utah.com wish all of you a happy new year!

Celebrations and special activities will be held in communities and resorts all around the state and travelers are always welcome to participate.

Salt Lake City festivities: Details

Provo festivities: Details

There will be festivities at each of our ski resorts and in most communities.

The Utah Transit Authority has extended the hours for public transportation, to provide rides for revelers. Details.

The Utah Highway Patrol and local police departments will be running extra patrols to encourage people to drive safely and obey laws. More details.

EVE 2012 Celebration Underway In Salt Lake City

A wide variety of festivities are being held in Salt Lake City, as we ring out the old and celebrate the new year.

The Salt Lake Downtown Alliance and other groups are sponsoring a gala celebration with food, music and many other kinds of activities. The alliance provided the details below.

Ring in the New Year with three nights of revelry at EVE (Dec. 29, 30 and 31, 6 p.m.-midnight). Celebrations take place on West Temple between 100 and 200 South, in the Salt Palace Convention Center and throughout downtown at community partner locations (Temple Square, Clark Planetarium, Salt Lake Film Society at Broadway Centre Cinemas and Off Broadway Theatre).

EVE passes can be purchased in advance at Harmons and Maverik locations or at EVEslc.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. $12 in advance and $15 at the door (for all three nights), kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. Downtown hotels are offering EVE packages and special pricing.

In addition to live music, dance parties, DJs, karaoke, art installations, activities for kids, film screenings, comedy and a spectacular midnight fireworks show on Dec. 31, EVE will include signature events such as:

Temple of Boom: an electronic music installation with a 40-foot Mayan Temple built on West Temple with fire that shoots 30 feet in the air.
Bouncetown: kids can jump around a gigantic town of inflatable playgrounds that stretch from wall-to-wall and ceiling-to-floor (about two dozen of them).
Ballroom: a playground for all ages with 2012 beach balls ranging from 1 foot to 7 feet, DJs, dancing and light shows.
Ice Sculpture Garden: the south plaza will be ablaze with ice sculptures.
Reggae Snowsplash: warm up with island rhythms and live reggae bands.

EVE by the numbers:

• 229 musicians
• 2012 beach balls
• 2880 minutes of live music
• 1 reggae festival and 11 consonants in "Reggae Snowsplash"
• 1 hip hop festival
• 1 Temple of Boom
• 1 30-foot flame
• Ump-teen thousand watts of power
• 2160 Minutes of film/movies
• 18 Fear No Film shorts from around the world
• 3 beavers
• 5 wonderful content partners
• 24 Inflatable playgrounds towering 30-feet high
• 3 YouTube videos featuring Coach Whitt and stEVE
• 7 fire pits to keep everyone warm
• 40 tickets given away to random creative followers on Twitter and Facebook
• 100 EVE posters up on the U of U campus
• 150 giant foam building blocks
• 300 lights
• 500 power cables
• 1 ticket… 3 glorious nights… countless fun!

There are plenty of places to chill down and warm up at this indoor/outdoor extravaganza…and a thousand ways to celebrate. More information at EVEslc.com.

The Pine Valley Checkerboard Arch

Utah is famous for its natural stone arches – we have an entire national park devoted to them (Arches National Park, or course.)

Arches are fairly common in southeastern and south-central Utah, but much less common in southwestern Utah. Zion National Park offers the famous Kolob Arch, which was long regarded as the largest arch in the world but is now officially listed in second place after Landscape Arch. Zion has a handful of other arches and they are smaller and relatively insignificant. In the greater St George area I only knew of a couple other arches. Until today that is. Today we stumbled upon a beautiful, graceful rock span halfway up Pine Valley Mountain.

I was surprised to find an arch in that area, and even more surprised that I have never heard of it before. I was born in the shadow of that mountain and I’ve spent my entire life hiking and exploring its many trails. It is a favorite play area.

I now live in the Provo area and only get down to Pine Valley a few times a year. One of my sisters lives in the town of Leeds, just east of St George, and she spends countless hours jogging and hiking the mountain’s trails and backroads. She told us of a scenic area on the mountain that resembles Checkerboard Mesa in Zion Park. We had some time today and decided to go check it out.

A rough dirt road cuts across the south slope of Pine Valley Mountain. Above the road you find steep mountain ridges that are heavily forested. Below the road there is a maze of very deep, narrow canyons and then a ring of red Navajo sandstone (the Navajo sandstone is easily visible as you drive I-15 south toward St George. To reach the checkboard area we drove the dirt road east from St George. The road eventually terminates at the Oak Grove road, which extends north from Leeds. (We could just as easily come in from the Leeds side.)

An old ranch, we call it the Danish Ranch, serves as a prominent landmark along the road. About one mile west of the Danish Ranch a spur road, Forest Road 905, drops south on a ridge above a deep canyon. The spur road dead ends just above a bowl that is filled with sandstone etched with a checkerboard pattern – much like the famous mesa in Zion Park. We had great fun hiking over the sandstone and exploring the bowl.

The bowl slopes downward and then ends with sheer cliffs that drop down into a deep canyon. As we explored the area near the cliffs, we looked up canyon and noticed the arch, perched high on the canyon wall. The arch looks frail, looks like it could collapse sometime soon. But now, while it is standing, it is an impressive sight.

It is strange that I’ve never head of the arch before. The area is remote and access is rough, but the area has obviously been thoroughly explored. I suppose it is another example of a spectacular sight in a state where spectacular is commonplace. In any other state the scenic slickrock bowl and impressive arch would be a popular attraction. In Utah, they are all but unknown and forgotten.

Together, they gave us a very enjoyable afternoon of adventure.

(Note: The dirt access road was dry when we visited on Dec 27, but many years it is snowcovered by that date. So far, this winter has been dry. Snow will eventually come and will cover the road for a couple months, making access difficult. This area is best explored during spring, summer and fall.)

A Winter Hike In Sunny Snow Canyon

It is becoming a habit – between Christmas and New Year's Day I take a “working vacation” and head for St George, where I spend my days exploring the red rock while enjoying the mild temperatures.

Today we did two short hikes on the edge of Snow Canyon State Park, crossing sand dunes and washes as we searched cliff faces for ancient Native American rock art. Both were enjoyable, relatively easy outings suitable for all ages including younger kids.

The weather was perfect. The sun felt warm and we quickly shed jackets. The temperature pushed up into the low 50s F while we were hiking.

We say many other people out riding bikes. We also saw a surprising number of people out riding horses on trails just east of St George.

And, or course, there were people out golfing - St George is famous for its golf courses. The links were not crowded but golfing conditions were good and we could see several people testing their skills as we drove past area golf course.

Did we find rock art? Yes, we found very interesting old figures in a little-known slot on the east edge of Snow Canyon. You can see the slot and some of the figures in my photos here.

We drive up Hwy 18, heading north from St George, and then turned west onto 4200 North just before we reached The Ledges golf course. 4200 North is a dirt street that dead ends after a short distance. We parked at the dead end and followed a narrow trail access right of way between two houses and then west into the state park.

To find the rock art we just walked into the prominent wash that is visible from the fence that marks the state park boundary. As you descend into the wash you will see rock cairns in several spots. There is no official trail to the slot where the rock art is found. Rather, cairns mark several possible approaches. We just choose a path that seemed easiest for our group.

If you pay attention you will notice a couple trail marker signs placed by the park service to identify the slot. They warm that it is illegal to deface the rock art, which is considered a valuable cultural resource.

Notice I’m not giving precise directions or GPS coordinates. Part of the fun is exploring and searching. I find it very rewarding to search and find rock art.

Ancient figures can be found on both walls in the slot. They are faint – you have to pay attention to see them. They are petroglyphs, etched into the rock face. The rock’s surface is dark, covered with a patina. The dark patina also covers the images, making them hard to distinguish in the shadowy slot. The patina is an indication that the figures are relatively old.

The figures themselves show animals (many sheep) and other forms. By themselves, they are not remarkable. There are hundreds of rock art panels in southern Utah and these are similar to many images found elsewhere. But the art in its context in the narrow slot, surrounded by Snow Canyon’s marvelous scenery, made the hike was very enjoyable.

It was great to escape into the warm sunshine of Utah’s Dixie.

- Dave Webb

Winter Is A Great Time To View Utah's Wildlife

If you pay attention while driving Utah’s backroads you will see big game animals and other wild creatures. Mule deer and elk are often seen year-round, but they are particularly visible during the winter when then migrate to lower elevations where it is easier to find forage.

Many people enjoy viewing animals during winter. It can be great fun if you do it in a responsible way so you do not disturb or stress the animals. I often drive through Spanish Fork Canyon and on virtually every trip I see deer and/or elk. Today I drove I-15 from Provo to St George and saw mule deer in a couple different areas.

If there are farm fields close to mountainous areas, you may see deer feeding in them during the hours just before dusk.

Hardware Ranch in northern Utah is a great place to view wild elk. The ranch is located in the mountains east of Hyrum, near Logan. Utah wildlife officials feed wild elk on the ranch to keep them in the mountains where they do not destroy farmers’ crops. A huge herd of elk congregates at the ranch every winter, including several large bulls. The ranch offers horse-drawn sleigh rides out into the herd. You can often get quite close to the animals. I enjoy photographing them or shooting video.

Hardware Ranch has now opened for the winter season. This news release provides more details.

Utah wildlife officials have launched a massive effort to reduce big game poaching this winter. Poaching has been a problem at this time of year because the animals are easier to find while they are on winter ranges. See this news release for details about that effort.

- Dave Webb

Wishing You A Safe And Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, from all of us at utah.com. We hope you find peace and joy during this wonderful season.

Travel conditions should be good this weekend. The weather is expected to be clear and cold, with no precipitation in the forecast. Salt Lake International Airport should be operating at full schedule. Utah highways should be clear and dry and no problems are anticipated.

The Utah Highway Patrol will have extra officers on duty, attempting to dissuade people from drinking and driving, and engaging in other dangerous activities. The officers are also charged with helping those who have mechanical problems or other trouble while traveling. The Deseret News carried this news release from the patrol. Below is an excerpt.

"The past two years we have not had a traffic related fatality during the Christmas holiday weekend," the new release states. "Our number one mission is to continue that success for a third consecutive year."

Temple Square and other popular venues are ablaze with lights and offer music, nativities and other festivities.

Santa will be skiing at our ski resorts. Mrs. Clause will make an appearance at on some slopes. Most resorts received new snow a couple days ago.

Me, I'm heading to St George, where the temperature is expected to push into the mid 50s under sunny skies. I don't get all that excited about a white Christmas. My tradition is to hike in the red rock.

Merry Christmas!

EVE 2012 Offers 3 Days Of Revelry In Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has long offered a popular New Years Eve celebration called First Night. Now, building on the success of that event, a community partnership is expanding the festivities to run over 3 days (Dec. 29, 30 and 31, 6 p.m. through midnight).

This news release has details about the celebration. Below are excerpts. See the official website for more details, including a schedule of events, photos and hot deals.

EVE is a community celebration with live music, dance parties, DJs, art installations, activities for kids, film screenings, a spectacular midnight fireworks show on Dec. 31 and much, much more.

Temple Square will have multiple free concerts (country to classics to pop), a Broadway Show Tunes Sing-along and family activities including scavenger hunts, souvenir photos and handprint family trees. Clark Planetarium will offer cosmic star shows. The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (formerly Salt Lake Art Center) will offer artist-made karaoke, Utah Arts Festival Fear No Film film shorts and other artsy projects. Off Broadway Theatre will perform improv comedy. The Salt Lake Film Society at Broadway Center Cinemas will show U of U and BYU student made films and other award winning shorts.

One ticket gets you three nights of revelry. EVE passes can be purchased in advance at Harmons and Maverik locations or at EVEslc.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. $12 in advance and $15 at the door (for all three nights), kids 10 and under are free. Downtown hotels are offering EVE packages and special pricing.

Celebrations take place on West Temple between 100 and 200 South, in the Salt Palace Convention Center and throughout downtown at community partner locations. There are plenty of places to chill down and warm up at this indoor/outdoor extravaganza...and a thousand ways to celebrate.

Snowshoe Utah's Uinta Mountains

The Uinta Mountain Range includes Utah’s highest peaks, which are surrounded by hundreds of square miles of roadless wilderness. During warm weather the mountains are a playground for hikers, backpackers, photographers, hunters and fishermen.

During the winter, deep snow covers the mountains making them all but inaccessible. A few roads approach the mountains, and some are open for snowmobile travel. But snowmobiles are prohibited on most roads and in the entire wilderness area.

A few people venture into the mountains on cross country skies and snowshoes. Snowshoemag.com has this article that features snowshoe trails off Hwy 150 east of Kamas. It describes these trails:

• Pine Valley Trail
• Pine Valley Trail
• Norway Flat Road
• Mine Trail
• Taylor Fork and Plantation Trails Loop
  

The article provides extensive information about snow shoeing in the area, along with general tips. Below are excerpts.

The western side of this range is just 30 minutes from downtown Park City and an hour from Salt Lake City, but it’s a veritable world apart from these metropolises. A few miles beyond Kamas, the Uinta Mountains become service-less, uninhabited, and quiet. A day or more of snowshoeing here is what I call walking on the wild side.

he Beaver Creek Trail is groomed for both cross-country skiers and snowshoers. Please respect all users by walking on the outer edge of the groomed track. Some of the ungroomed trails are used by skiers as well. If you encounter a ski track on an ungroomed trail, kindly snowshoe to one side of it.

If you wish to tackle the wild side of the Uinta Mountains with a guide, hire one in Park City, Utah.

Be sure to check avalanche danger if you head into this wild country.

Christmas Meals And Events

Many Utah restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Salt Lake Tribune has this article listing them, along with info on menus and prices.

There will be many Christmas-related musical and dramatic events around Utah during the next few days. Our events section offers listings that can be sorted by destination and type. Below we list some of the highlights. Go to our website for details.

A Christmas Carol is being performed in Centerville, Orem, West Valley City and other areas.

A Dickens of a Tales, Dec 23 in Provo

Mannheim Steamroller, Dec 23 in Salt Lake City

North Pole Express Christmas Train Ride, through Dec 23 in Heber City.

Tuacahn Christmas in the Canyon & Live Nativity, through Dec 23 in Ivins

Christmas Eve Multi-Denomination Service in St. George

Christmas Carol Service on Christmas Even in Salt Lake City

All of our ski resorts will host events on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, including music and bon fires and Santa Clauses.

See our events listing for dozens of others.

Utah Cities Rank High For Business Environments

The Milken Institute has released a study ranking US cities for business conditions and Salt Lake, Provo, Ogden and Logan all show strongly.

This article summarizes the Milken report. Below are excerpts.

The Milken Institute today announced that three of Utah’s large metro cities — Salt Lake City (#6), Provo (#9) and Ogden (#15) — all ranked among the nation’s top 25 locations for business. Among small cities Logan, Utah ranked #1.

In unveiling the annual “Best Performing Cities” report, the Milken Institute recognized that Utah was the only state in the nation to double its export volume over the past five years. On last year’s report, only one Utah city broke into the top 25. This year, Salt Lake City jumped 49 spots to reach #6. The #1 spot in large metro cities was captured by San Antonio, Texas. Recently, Salt Lake City, along with San Antonio, was recognized in Fortune Magazine as two of the 15 most business friendly cities in the world, interestingly enough, they were the only two U.S. cities so recognized by the leading financial publication.

Salt Lake City Mayor, Ralph Becker noted, “This report, which evaluates our City’s performance on a basis of job growth, wages and GDP, corroborates what we’ve known for some time: Salt Lake City is securing its position as a regional powerhouse. Milken’s findings, combined with outstanding efforts at the state level and our ongoing work to establish sustainable communities; the best public transit in the country; and a one-of-a-kind neo-urban lifestyle, reflect a Capital City on the move now, and into the future.

New Ski Resort Proposed For Northern Utah

Developers have proposed putting a new small ski resort in northern Utah near the Idaho border, in a canyon just north of Logan. The resort will also offer summer activities. It would be one of the smallest of Utah's ski resorts.

The Deseret News has this article about the proposal. Below are excerpts.

The proposed site for the Cherry Peak Ski Area is located approximately three miles east of Richmond in Cherry Creek Canyon. The resort would offer 203 acres of recreational skiing and other winter sports activities and would include development of a ski resort base area and mid-mountain facilities, including four ski lifts, a terrain park, a zip line, three water storage reservoirs and one cable tow for the tubing hill.

According to Ski Utah spokeswoman Jessica Kunzer, Wolf Mountain located in Eden is probably the most similar resort, in terms of size and scale, to the Cheery Creek proposal — which targets a different audience than most larger resorts.

The article also mentions that Salt Lake City was recently named the most affordable ski destination in the nation by TripAdvisor.

"Affordability is a key consideration for many families choosing a vacation destination this winter," Kunzer said. "Salt Lake City's close proximity to 11 ski and snowboard resorts gives it a unique ability to provide more low cost lodging and dining options than many other competing winter vacation destinations."

Salt Lake Enjoys Cosmopolitan Face-Lift

Salt Lake City has matured considerably during the past few years, and travel writers are taking notice. AAA's Via magazine has this interesting article about our new "Bohemian" city. Below we give the article's title, subtitle and then excerpts.

Salt Lake City's Bohemian Rhapsody

Salt Lake City sings with a cosmopolitan face-lift, a hip arts scene, and trendy restaurants

Welcome to Saturday night in Salt Lake City—the new Salt Lake City. Not since the 2002 Winter Olympics has the state capital flared with such civic excitement. Downtown is in the midst of a $2 billion redevelopment project, and beneath the scaffolding and hard hats, streets are thrumming with activity that belies some of the city’s oldest stereotypes. Chain restaurants? They’re still here, but so are a growing number of bistros and high-concept kitchens. Megamalls? You could just as easily stroll through a dozen art galleries and mid-century furniture shops. Sleepy nightlife? In 2009 the state relaxed its liquor laws, giving rise to a host of new cocktail bars and brewpubs.

“People sometimes have this false perception of us as a bedroom community,” says Jason Mathis, director of the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance. Mathis is among the new guard of bright-eyed hopefuls promoting the idea of Salt Lake as cosmopolitan, diverse, caffeinated. “Did you know we were rated one of the top 10 most bohemian cities in North America?”

I hadn’t. But sure enough, Salt Lake City is the seventh most bohemian metro area in the United States—one spot behind Nashville, two ahead of San Francisco—according to Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class.

The article mentions several bistros, pubs and galleries that have impressed the writer. We encourage you to read the entire article.

New Year's Day Hikes At Utah State Parks

Several Utah state parks are offering guided hikes on New Year's Day, as part of America's State Parks First Day Hike Program. Below is information provided by Utah State Parks.

Happy New Year!!

Looking for a fun and healthy way to welcome in the New Year? Join us January 1, 2012 at participating state parks for guided hikes as part of the America's State Parks First Day Hike Program.

Bring your friends and family and welcome the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors. First Day Hikes offer a great way to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and visit a state park.

2012 First Day Hikes Schedule:

Antelope Island State Park - Syracuse
Join Park Naturalist Wendy Wilson at 1:30 p.m. at the visitor center for an easy to moderate 2.5-mile hike. This hike is for everyone ages six and older. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. This hike is free with your paid $9 day-use fee (up to eight people in one vehicle). Dress in layers, wear waterproof boots, and bring water and snacks. 801-721-9569

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park - Kanab
Join Ranger Dean Anderson at 1 p.m. at the parking lot for this three-mile hike in the shifting sand dunes. Hike is free with $6 day-use fee. Bring water, warm clothes and a GPS unit if you have one. 435-648-2800

Dead Horse Point State Park - Moab
Join Crystal Carpenter at the Neck (inquire at the visitor center for directions) at 1 p.m. for an easy two-mile hike. Bring water, a warm hat, gloves, coat, waterproof boots, and binoculars if you have them. This hike is for everyone ages five years and older. Dogs are welcome, but must be leashed. 435-259-2614

Snow Canyon State Park - Ivins
Join Park Naturalist Jenny Dawn Stucki for a two-mile hike beginning at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome, however children 16 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should bring water and wear sturdy shoes. No dogs or strollers allowed. Space is limited and registration is required two days prior to the event. 435-628-2255

Starvation State Park - Duchesne
Hike with Ranger Trampas Williams on this 1.5-mile, flat trip to the sand dunes. (But be prepared for snow!) All abilities and ages welcome. Meet at noon at Knight Hollow Campground. 435-738-2326

America's 5 Weirdest Natural Formations

Wanderlust, a popular blog on yahoo.com, has this interesting post entitle: Top 5 weirdest natural formations. Two of their weird spots are located in our back yard, and they are definitely unusual and worth visiting. The post includes fun video showing the formations.

Here's their list:
5. Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah, where hoodoos resemble people and animals frozen in stone.

4. Ringing Rocks Park in Pennsylvania, where boulder resonate with a musical sounds when struck with a hammer.

3. Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, where you find large petrified trees and many plant and animal fossils.

2. Chimney Rock in western Nebraska, which served as an important landmark for pioneer wagon trains.

1. Antelope Canyon, on the edge of Lake Powell in extreme northern Arizona. Antelope is perhaps the world's most photographed slot canyon, and it is certainly one of the most beautiful. It is located just outside of the town of Page, near Wahweep Marina.

Many other spots could have easily made the list, including any of our national parks. Goblin Valley Utah State Park would be a natural for the list, along with The Wave in the Paria Canyon area on the Utah/Arizona border.

These are all enchanted spots that are fun to see and explore.

Burl Ives Lives On At Utah's Big Rock Candy Mountain

There is a unique little mountain in south-central Utah that does indeed look like it is made of of candy - salt water taffy to be exact.

The mountain shares the name of a famous Burl Ives song, "Big Rock Candy Mountain." The two have long been associated together and local legend makes it unclear which inspired which.

Long ago a small resort was created at the mountain and today it is owned and operated by a Burl Ives look-alike, a displaced jazz singer who had never heard of the song. The resort features an excellent restaurant - one of the best in southern Utah. If you are traveling down historic Hwy 89, we recommend you stop in and sample the fare, and enjoy the atmosphere.

The Deseret News has this article about the mountain, its history and its current custodian. Below are excerpts.

"The Big Rock Candy Mountain" was written in 1928 by a man named Harry McClintock, better known as Haywire Mack. As the legend goes, McClintock was a brakeman on the railroad that used to run through central Utah past a mountain so brightly colored it looks like it's made out of candy (but is really the creation of a long-ago volcanic uprising).

He wrote his song, a hobo anthem that fantasizes of a place where, among other things, "the handouts grow on bushes," and "the hens lay soft-boiled eggs" and "there's a lake of stew, and ginger ale too, and you can paddle all around it in a big canoe."

But nobody covered it quite like Burl Ives, the singer and movie actor with the distinctive white goatee, who recorded "Big Rock Candy Mountain" in 1949 and turned it into a chart-topping hit in the 1950s.

Where the story gets bizarre, if not borderline unbelievable, is that before Terry Briggs took over operation of The Big Rock Candy Mountain Resort, he'd never heard of the song, let alone the fact that his look-alike Burl Ives made it famous.

...And he's accepted his unexpected dual identity, cheerfully enduring the people who walk through the door, gasp at seeing Burl Ives in the flesh, and exclaim, "I love all your movies!"

Read the entire article. The News also has this embedded youtube video that shows photos of Ives while the song plays in the background.

Canyons Resort Impresses New York Times Writer

Tim Neville was a little skeptical when he set out to explore Canyons Resort, to see how it compares with Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort, and other famous Utah resorts. Well, after challenging the runs, relaxing in the rooms and soaking in the heated outdoor pool, he became a convert.

Neville penned this article for the NY Times. He describes changes at the resort:

In 2010, virtually the entire resort village was razed and rebuilt as workers rerouted a gondola and added restaurants and a sunbathing area where you can listen to music and have a beer. That old, slow lift from the 1960s was replaced with North America’s first heated chairlift, a high-speed quad.

And he talks about his experience skiing the huge resort:

We clicked into our skis at the top of an intermediate run called Chicane and pushed off. The storm had left the groomed slopes buried under five inches of fluff, with a hint of firmness below, like a memory-foam mattress. I skied it fast and hard, arriving at the bottom with my legs on fire.

By the time the day was done I’d skied nearly seven full hours before finally collapsing in a lounge chair at the Beach, the sunbathing area at the base. I didn’t really need a tan or the Grateful Dead that blared from outdoor speakers, but a local Squatters ale and the festive vibe was a fine way to call it a day.

And concludes:

Before my last run down, I paused and looked around. I was alone in the woods, far from the new restaurants and spas. The music from the village base had been drowned in the silence of a pale Utah sky. It struck me that even a heated chairlift was just a faster, more comfortable means to this: the chance to discover and claim my own powder kingdom where I could hoot and holler and ski as I please. There were probably hundreds of these pockets tucked among the firs that I had missed. Oh well. I shoved off and settled into my turns, happy to save them for another time.

Read the entire article.

Burr Trail Switchbacks Could Be Paved Under Proposed Funds Deal

The famous switchbacks on the Burr Trail could be paved if Garfield County gets its way and completes a controversial funds swap with the Utah Transportation Commission.

The Burr Trail runs through Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase National Monument, from the town of Boulder down to Bullfrog on Lake Powell. It has been described as "the most beautiful backroad on earth."

A portion of the trail has been paved, but the switchbacks and the portion inside the national park are still dirt.

Garfield County has long pushed to pave the entire roadway, saying that would help open up many square miles of very scenic country. Environmental groups have opposed paving any portion of the road, and are expected to fight vigorously if the deal goes through.

Under the deal, the county would trade federal funding for state funding, thinking that might make it easier to push the project through.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article on the proposal. Here are excerpts.

Garfield County offered to swap $250,000 in federal funding available to it for design of Burr Trail switchback improvements for $212,000 in state funding instead — essentially swapping away its federal funding to the state for 85 cents on the dollar.

“Federal dollars just have so many requirements that they are more difficult to use” than state funds, Garfield County Engineer Brian B. Bremner said in a telephone interview. He said federal money would require a small entity like his to use outside consultants to comply with all rules.

“An upgrade would probably include some kind of surfacing. A minimum-level surfacing would be a paving. A possibly more artistic surfacing could include some colored concrete that would blend into the natural rock,” he (Garfield County Engineer Brian B. Bremner) said.

Stephen Bloch, an attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, said SUWA is concerned that paving could “change the backcountry nature of that area by allowing people to drive at higher speeds,” and adds that the beauty of the area puts it “on our priority list.” Bloch added that his group does not know enough about the financial swap between the county and state to comment about it.

Sundance Festival Releases Films Lists

The annual Sundance Film Festival is coming up quickly now – it is scheduled for Jan 19-29 in Park City, Salt Lake City and surrounding communities.

The promo machine is churning now, with almost daily news articles previewing the festival. Recently the festival released lists of films for the Premier and Shorts categories. A few famous names are showing up in film credits, both for acting and directing.

onlocationvacations.com publishes articles predicting where members of the public are likely to encounter film stars, and Sundance is an obvious choice. That website offers this article listing films associated with famous names.

The LA Times has this article describing films in the short film category. Here’s a quote:

Getting a short film into the Sundance Film Festival is harder than getting accepted to Harvard, Yale or UC Berkeley with a C average.

The statistics are spectacularly daunting. For January’s festival, 4,083 American shorts were submitted for 32 narrative, documentary and animated slots, with 3,592 international films were submitted for 26 narrative, documentary and animated openings, according to the list of accepted shorts released Tuesday.

If you’re doing the math, that’s 58 out of 7,675 — about 0.75%.

There is still time to get make reservations to participate in screenings and other activities at Sundance. But slots will fill up fast so act now if you want to join the fun. The festival website has good information about “How to Sundance.”

Dinosaur National Monument Rates Five Stars

The New Zealand Herald has published this article about Dinosaur National Monument. Reporter Brandon Loomis obviously did his homework and has crafted an article that is accurate and interesting. That's a nice change - so many travel pieces are fluffy and full of inaccuracies.

Below we give the article headline and then excerpts.

Utah: Jurassic park sequel a five star hit

It's a one-of-a-kind place where researchers have exposed, but not removed, a 15m x 61m wall of bones.

"Having that magic moment of seeing these dinosaur remains where they were buried is one of the things that is special about this place," says park palaeontologist Dan Chure.

Even hardened scientists stand in awe when they first arrive.

Over the years, until the government decided to preserve the rest of the fossils for viewing, universities and museums removed the bones of more than 600 creatures from either side of the remaining wall. Besides 10 species of dinosaurs, the quarry has yielded a crocodile, two turtles, a lizard, tens of thousands of freshwater clams and carbonised plant remains.

At least 100 individual dinosaurs remain exposed and the profile skull of a plant-eating Camarasaurus is prominent.

Of course, there is more to the monument than bones. The park also offers whitewater rafting and scenic drives or hikes into canyon country. There's riverside desert camping among tiny, scurrying lizards, and recently hundreds of sandhill cranes flapped in the Green River on a migratory stopover, their croaks a reminder of the march of time and biology since the Jurassic Period.

Read the entire article.

- Dave Webb

Nordic Skiing Offer Nice Escape From Lift Lines

Most people come to Utah to ski our developed resorts, which feature exciting runs, high-capacity lifts and crowds of people.

A growing number of people understand that our great snow extends beyond the resorts and can be enjoyed by participating in the quite sport of Nordic skiing. We have excellent cross country ski courses, that compare with the best in the world. Some are free of charge, some require the purchase of a low-cost pass.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about Nordic skiing. Below are excerpts.

“Nordic skiing has really been growing in recent years and not just locally, but also around the country,” said Richard Hodges, president of The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA). “It is a low-cost and healthy family activity.”

TUNA volunteers have groomed tracks for traditional cross country and skate skiing for years at Mountain Dell Golf Course. The grooming was expanded to nearby State Road 65, also known as the Big Mountain or East Canyon Road, two years ago.

There is a $5 daily fee to ski the track at Mountain Dell, but skiing the 5 miles of trail to the Salt Lake/Morgan county line is free.

In addition to providing a place to ski, TUNA also provides lessons, training and competitions.

Read the entire article for more information.

Which Resort Has The 'Greatest Snow In Utah'

Utah proudly claims to have the "greatest snow on earth," and many skiers agree. Our resorts are consistently at the top of surveys ranking snow conditions. For example, this year the readers of Ski Magazine named Deer Valley the overall best resort in all of North American, and listed Utah resorts at the top of virtually of every category related to snow quality.

But, among Utah resorts, which has the best snow? Deborah Garrett deals with that question in this article carried by KSL.com. In summary, she says the quality of snow at the resorts varies from day to day, and that Utahn are lucky because we can watch the storms and ski whichever resort picks up the most power. She concludes that the best snow is the snow you happen to be on.

Did she cop out by raising an interesting question and not providing a definitive answer? Read the article and decide for yourself. It is also interesting to read comments made by people who read the article. Below are excerpts from the article. See comments here.

While the snow is not the driest nor the deepest, Utah’s topography and location provide a uniquely consistent and abundant blend of snow. The trend is to have high density snow under low density powder to create an environment perfect for that “floating” feeling for which many ski and snowboard enthusiast yearn.

Within an hour and a half of my house I can reach eight of Utah’s resorts. It’s great to wake up and choose where I will ski that day based on who received the most snow the night before. Skiing is a one day vacation from everyday life; a boost for mental, physical, and social well being. It spans the ages and includes all skill levels. It’s just being there that matters.

As I stand at the top of a long glade of trees a path opens before me. Large snowflakes fall threatening to encumber my view. One turn, then two and I’m free embraced by invigoration, solitude and more open turns to go. I my opinion, the greatest snow in Utah is found under my skis.

It’s the one you’re on today.

10 Years After The Games, Utah Still Enjoys Bump From Olympics

It has been 10 years since Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Since then, our ski resorts have enjoyed banner years - and they continue to grow more popular ever season.

The Deseret News carried this article describing how the games helped put Utah on the ski map, and how the resorts have continued to improve and expand since them. Below are excerpts.

Before the buildup for the Olympics 10 years ago, Snowbasin in Utah was little more than a mom-and-pop operation, with aging lifts and amenities and offices in a single-wide trailer.

Now even its bathrooms are turning heads, with the Italian marble day lodge restrooms recently voted top five in the U.S.

The state's 14 resorts have undergone roughly a billion dollars in improvements, from high-speed lifts and bubble chairs to the construction of high-end global hotels such as the Montage Deer Valley and Waldorf Astoria Park City.

Overall skier visits have increased 42 percent to 4.2 million, skiable acres are up 26 percent, and a trend of late has been multi-generational vacations — grandparents on the slopes with their children and grandchildren.

He (Bill Malone) said the Olympics also provided a giant "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," reflected in places such as Deer Valley being voted North America's No. 1 overall ski area for the fifth straight year by Ski Magazine readers. Before the Olympics, Park City had one five-star resort; now it has five.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is based in Park City and Olympic hopefuls now train at the 85,000-square-foot Center of Excellence, which opened in 2009 and offers programs in everything from cardio to sports physiology and nutrition.

Since the closing ceremonies ended, there have been dozens of international competitions in Utah. World Cup events have been held in bobsledding, skeleton, luge and speedskating and world championships in freestyle skiing. The U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix is set for Canyons Resort again in February, and the 2012 Freestyle World Cup is headed to Deer Valley.

Read the entire article.

Festival Of Trees Opens To Public

The annual Festival Of Trees charity event opened today and will run through Saturday, Dec. 3, at the South Towne Expo Center, 9575 S. State Street in Sandy (Salt Lake area). Hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The festival benefits Primary Children's Medical Center. Individuals and families and organizations donate decorated Christmas trees, which are then sold at the event. Over the years it has become popular and attracts many participants. Many people come just because they enjoy viewing the beautiful trees.

KSL TV has this report about the festival. Below are excerpts.

The Festival of Trees, a tradition that began 41 years ago with a display of 60 trees, will open to the public Wednesday with more than 700 trees decorated and donated by individuals, families, church groups and community organizations.

The trees will be sold through an invitation-only silent auction Tuesday night. Any tree not sold will be available for purchase during the festival itself.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article. Here are excerpts.

According to festival organizers, 100 percent of the money raised benefits Primary Children’s Medical Center. Last year, the festival raised just over $1.5 million; more than $29.3 million has been raised since the event was launched in 1971.

For the kids, there is Santa Land, featuring Old St. Nick himself; face painting, bubbles and other activities; a playhouse plaza filled with child-sized dream houses, gazebos, doll houses, and children’s furniture; and items priced for a child’s budget.

Utah's Top Draws For Tourists

Utah Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget has just released a new report that shows growth in our tourism industry. Numbers for 2010 show an increase of 4.7% over 2009. Visitation to our national and state parks was strong, despite the down economy.

The report also shed light on some of the reasons for the increase - reasons more people are traveling to Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the report. Below are excerpts.

"We are getting more repeat customers. All the studies show that, post 9-11, people want an authentic vacation they can enjoy with their family. They want to feel comfortable with where they are going and get good value. Utah has that." (Quote from Leigh von der Esch, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism.)

She said another key factor is the state’s high-end hotel properties, many in Park City, which have been built in recent years and made Utah a destination for luxury travelers.

In Tuesday’s report, longtime attractions such as Utah’s national and state parks recorded increased visits in 2010, with the former’s count up 1.2 percent, to 6 million in 2010, and the latter up 1.3 percent, 4.8 million.

Von der Esch also predicted that the newly opened Natural History Museum of Utah will be a solid draw for tourists and residents alike. And the huge City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City should also attract good numbers of people. The Center is scheduled to open in spring of 2012 and will "feature myriad dining and shopping options."

Many events are planned next year for the 10th anniversary celebration of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, and officials expect it to bring in some tourists.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes Spotlighted In Las Vegas Review Journal

Much of southern Utah is closer to Las Vegas than to Salt Lake City, and so it is natural that Vegas area residents will occasionally trek on over into Utah territory. The Las Vegas Review Journal often carries articles describing Utah attractions and adventures.

In a recent edition, the Vegas paper published this article about Utah's Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, giving it a glowing recommendation. Here are excerpts.

A four-season recreation area, Utah's Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park frequently offers winter visitors the rare experience of playing in sand and snow at the same time. This unique park, located at 6,000 feet elevation, features deep orange-red sand dunes accented by tall Ponderosa pine trees, pinyons and junipers.

Popular with off-roaders, horseback riders, hikers, campers, wildlife watchers and photographers, the park attracted 56,000 visitors last year. It remains open daily all year with no holiday closures.

Near the main park entrance, a tree-shaded area with picnic facilities and a boardwalk trail over the sand invite exploration. Closed to off-road vehicles, this is part of 256 acres set aside for walkers and visitors playing in the sand. Bring the kinds of buckets and spades you would take for the children to play on ocean beaches. In winter, bring along slick-bottomed sliders like toboggans to glide over snow-covered sand hills.

Meet Santa Aboard The ‘North Pole Express’ Heber Valley Railroad

The historic Heber Valley Railroad is offering a “North Pole Express” train ride that has strong family appeal.

For many years the railroad offered a train ride themed around the “Polar Express” story. That tradition has ended, but the new ride is providing comparable entertainment.

The event focuses on children. They are encouraged to wear pajamas. Along the way they receive treats and gifts and eventually meet Santa, as the train makes its way along the historic route.

The Daily Herald has this new article describing the train ride. Below are excerpts.

As we arrived at the “North Pole” we spotted Santa waving from a picturesque scene of lit Christmas trees. Santa then boarded the train and paid a visit with each child. Santa took his time with each child, posing for photos and making sure everyone was being good and listening to their mothers. All the tiny tots aboard our train car definitely had eyes all aglow as Santa made his way through. It’s moments like these that help you understand what they’re talking about in those Christmas songs.

This year, passengers are serenaded by local choirs. The night we rode the train, we were entertained by small groupings from the Wasatch High School Choir all wearing red scarves and gloves, singing silly songs like “I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ for Christmas” and kid-friendly songs like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” plus traditional songs like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “Carol of the Bells.”

Utah Tops Forbes List Of Best States For Business

Forbes Magazine is out with its annual list of the best states for business and Utah is at the top, for the second year in a row.

The magazine says Utah ranks high because of business-friendly laws and tax rates, low energy costs, a strong workforce and an outstanding quality of life. See the magazine’s summary for details.

Local newspapers are playing up the Forbes study. See these reports:
-- Salt Lake Tribune
-- Deseret News

Here are excerpts from the Forbes article.

Utah repeats this year as Forbes Best State for Business and Careers in our sixth annual look at the business climates of the 50 states. No state can match the consistent performance of Utah. It is the only state that ranks among the top 15 states in each of the six main categories we rate the states on.

Technology companies particularly have had Utah on their radar as an affordable alternative to California with overall business costs in Utah 10% below the national average. Adobe Systems, eBay, Electronic Arts and Oracle have all expanded in Utah in recent years.

Happy Thanksgiving

We hope you all enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving season.

Many Utah businesses will be closed Thursday for the holiday. Most travel-related businesses will be open and many will offer specials for holiday travelers.

Many restaurants, particularly those associated with hotels, will offer Thanksgiving dinners. Gas stations and convenience stores will be open, but most other businesses will be closed.

On Friday, Utah will kick off the Christmas season with "Black Friday" sales and other activities.

The Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance will present its annual Lights On! celebration at Gallivan Plaza Friday evening from 4:45-6 p.m. At dusk, the downtown area will come alive with Christmas lights.

Nearby, Temple Square offers one of the most famous Christmas lights displays in the U.S., featuring more than a million bulbs. The lights attract large numbers of visitors and so traffic will be heavy around the Square throughout the Christmas season.

The Desert News has this interesting article about the history of Christmas lights at Temple Square.

Celebrate The Holidays In A National Park

Utah's national parks are extremely popular during the warm weather seasons. Far fewer people visit during the dead of winter, but those who do often say winter is their favorite time to explore the parks. People often say they prefer winter because it offers more serenity, no congestion, and room to breath.

The scenery is often spectacular during winter. A skiff of snow makes the red rock look stunning.

The National Park Foundation is encouraging people to visit U.S. parks during the holiday season. It has compiled a list of festivities being held in parks around the country. In Utah, the foundation lists this item:

Utah - Golden Spoke National Historic Site - From December 28 - 30, visitors can take part in the annual Winter Steam Festival and watch one of their locomotives in action, as well as at rest in the same spot where the transcontinental railroad was completed over 142 years ago.

See the entire list.

Hospitality Industry Chooses Utah's 'Top Chef' And Industry Stars

The Utah Hotel & Lodging Association recently held its annual association meeting in Salt Lake City. During the event, some association members were honored for providing exceptional service. Below are highlights.

For more information, read this news release provided by the association.

2011 Top Chef was awarded to Chef Peter Hodgson from the University Park Marriott

2nd place was awarded to Chef Shawn Armstrong from the Montage Deer Valley

3rd place was awarded to Chef Enrique Yescas from the Hilton Garden Inn/Davis Conference Center

Michael Storm, from Swank Audio Visual received the Allied Member of the Year award for his ongoing dedication to provide excellent customer service.

Johanna Jones, from The Residences at The Chateaux received the Concierge/Bellman of the Year award for her untouched “generosity of spirit”.

Billy Cruz, from The Residences at The Chateaux received the Food and Beverage Employee of the Year award for going “above and beyond the scope of his job duties to assist guests with any type of request”.

Scott Lunt, from Davis Conference Center/Hilton Garden Inn received the General Manager of the Year award for his leadership, exemplary character, and willingness to take on difficult tasks and see them through to successful completion.

Juan Payan, from Stein Eriksen Lodge received the Housekeeper of the Year award for being a “true team player” and his example to co-wrokers.

Mark Campbell, from Stein Eriksen Lodge received the Lodging Employee of the Year award for his focus on guest satisfaction by providing informative and professional service to all.

Simon Prado, from Stein Eriksen Lodge received the Maintenance/Engineering Employee of the Year award for his “willingness to learn and positive attitude”.

Connie Harmston, from Davis Conference Center/Hilton Garden Inn received the Outstanding Manager of the Year award for her unmatched knowledge of the industry and dedication to her team that lovingly refer to her as “Mama Harmston”.

Utah's Natural History Museum Is A Big Hit

The Utah Natural History Museum, at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, moved to a much-needed new facility recently and has now reopened to the public. So far, the reviews are great, from scientists and casual visitors alike.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the reopening. Below is the headline and then excerpts.

Crowds amazed, awed by natural history museum

Cuddling the ancient creatures on display at the new Natural History Museum of Utah was perhaps one of the only things children and other visitors weren’t allowed to do at the museum’s grand opening Friday. The $102 million museum, which opened about a year after the old museum closed, features interactive displays and exhibits at every turn, in addition to the towering dinos Utahns have come to expect.

Children weren’t the only ones amazed. Adults marveled at a dozen huge horned dinosaur heads hanging from a wall like works of art. They halted in front of a wall of skulls tracing human evolution. And they ascended to the Sky Terrace, where views of the Great Salt Lake, downtown Salt Lake City and the snowy Wasatch Mountains extended before them.

"This is spectacular," said Valerie Henderson who visited the museum Friday with her husband and two-month-old daughter, leaving her toddler with a friend so she could fully take it all in. She said she’s eager to return with her toddler and excited to show it off to friends from out-of-town. "We’re so excited this museum has opened because now when the weather is bad we have the most amazing place to take them."

Plan Unveiled That Would Connect Canyons And Solitude Ski Resorts Via Gondola

A plan was formally unveiled today that would put a gondola over the Wasatch Mountains, connecting Canyons and Solitude ski resorts. Proponents say it would increase skiing opportunities, reduce traffic and make Utah a much more attractive ski destination.

Four members of Utah's Congressional delegation today unveiled legislation to facilitate the project.

Opponents are concerned it could negatively impact Salt Lake City's water supply and cause other environmental damages. KSL.com has this report about the proposal. Below are excerpts.

“SkiLink creates a game-changing advantage for Utah and for the U.S. snow sport industry,” said Mike Goar, managing director of Canyons, a Talisker Mountain Inc. resort. “It would establish Utah as the most interesting and convenient mountain destination in the U.S. and will positively benefit our local economies."

Goar said the eight-passenger SkiLink gondola will have the capacity to transport 1,000 people per hour each way and is projected to transport skiers between Canyons and Solitude Mountain Resort in just 11 minutes.

"This is short-sighted and being done to circumvent the existing planning processes," said Jeff Niermeyer, Salt Lake City's point man for watershed protection.

Niermeyer, the city's director of public utilities, said he believes Canyons' traffic analysis is flawed, adding that the gondola is masquerading as a transportation solution when it is "really about ski area expansion."

Read the entire report.

Alta Offers Unique 2-Hour Ski Pass

Alta Ski Area opens for the winter season on Friday (Nov. 18). This year the resort will offer a unique 2-hour lift pass, allowing access to the entire mountain from 2:30- 4:30 pm. The pass costs $30 (or just $25 if you are reloading an Alta Card). See the resort's website for more details.

Alta's Ski Free After 3! program has proven that some people have real interest in skiing for a short time period during the day. That program allows skiers to use the Sunnyside Lift and enjoy the gentle slopes in Albion Basin, from 3 pm until closing.

We think the two programs are well suited for people who want to learn to ski - who want to try the sport without having to buy a pricy day-pass. After two hours working new muscles and learning to fall gracefully, many novice skiers are ready to call it a day. And, because the price is low, many will be anxious to return for more punishment.

The 2-hour pass is also appealing to busy folks who can't break away for a full day, but want to get in a few runs after business meetings.

Alta is about 30 miles from downtown Salt Lake City. Drive time is usually only about 45 minutes. Another option is to ride a UTA Ski Bus. You can jump onto a ski bus in downtown Salt Lake, or at many points along the route.

We salute Alta for providing this innovative program to make it easy for people who want to learn to enjoy skiing. With the low price and convenient access, we expect the program to be a winner.

- Dave Webb

Interior Secretary Recommends More Wilderness In Utah

The battle rages over where federally-protected wilderness should be designated in Utah's backcountry.

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has issued a recommendation to Congress calling for the establishment of 18 new wilderness areas. Three are in Utah and are listed below:

- Desolation Canyon (Castle Country area)
- Westwater Canyon (Moab area)
- Mill Creek Canyon (Moab area)

Salazar noted that the Grand County Council favors the wilderness designation. However, other Utah governmental officials are not happy with the move. KSL has this report about the recommendations. Below is an excerpt.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, quickly denounced the report.

"I am deeply disappointed that Interior Secretary Salazar continues to be tone deaf about public lands issues in Utah," Matheson said. "As our success in Washington County shows, wilderness proposals must be the result of a grassroots, stakeholder-driven process, rather than a top-down decree. This is not the way to make progress on public lands decisions and it only ensures that we won’t see a successful outcome on the ground here."

On another front, the state of Utah and several counties are battling for control of many backcountry roads out of fear that the federal government will close them to vehicle travel. The disputed roads are on federal land and some are in remote areas.

The Deseret News has this article about the debate over roads. Below is an excerpt.

The fight over who has ultimate control over the destiny of these roads has expanded to include Carbon County, which filed a lawsuit Monday. Gov. Gary Herbert's office and the Utah Attorney General's Office announced this week that lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Garfield County, which is seeking title to 94 disputed road segments within its boundaries and Kane County, which filed Nov. 10 over 710 disputed road segments.

Access — through such action like granting title — has turned into a politically polarizing fight because some of the roads in Kane County traverse wilderness areas or are within the geographical boundaries of the Grand Staircase Escalante Monument or Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Critics of the counties' claims to roads say getting access is just an excuse to open up more lands to natural resource development.

More Utah Ski Resorts Set To Open This Week

Solitude and Brighton opened for skiing last week and more resorts are scheduled to open during the next few weeks. Here are the scheduled dates:

Nov 18 - Alta
Nov 19 - Park City, Snowbird, Brian Head
Nov 24 - Snow Basin, Powder Mountain
Nov 25 - Canyons
Dec 3 - Deer Valley
Dec 9 - Sundance

Other Utah resorts have not yet announced firm opening dates.

A big storm is expected this weekend and it should greatly improve ski conditions.

We've also had a deadly reminder that avalanche season is starting in our mountains. Yesterday a professional skier triggered an avalanche and was swept over a cliff. He died at the scene. USA Today has this report about the incident.

The accident occurred at Snowbird. That resort was not yet open for skiing and had not started avalanche control work. Officials warn outdoor enthusiasts to use extreme caution when skiing, snowmobiling and engaging in other sports in areas not subject to avalanche control.

During the ski season, the developed ski resorts do routine avalanche control and seldom have slides. Avalanche control work is also routine above highways and other areas people frequent.

People skiing "out of bounds" from the resorts, and those going into the backcountry need to understand avalanche safety and carry emergency equipment.

See the Utah Avalanche Center website for current information on danger levels, and also for safety tips.

Utah Natural History Museum Plans Nov 17 Opening

The Natural History Museum of Utah has successfully moved into its stunning new building, the Rio Tinto Center, and will host a gala grand opening on Nov 17.

Located at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the museum has long been a popular attraction for Utah residents and visitors alike. It offers extensive displays covering topics ranging from the earth sciences to paleontology and archaeology. It hosts hands-on learning activities for people of all ages.

The museum's website has information about the Grand Opening Community Gala.

The museum will open to the public the next day. The Salt Lake Convention and Visitor Bureau provided this news release about the events:

Natural History Museum of Utah to Open New Building in Salt Lake City on November 18, 2011

September 26, 2011 (Salt Lake City, UT) – The Natural History Museum of Utah, located at the University of Utah, will reopen to the public on November 18, 2011 in a stunning new building situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, overlooking Salt Lake City and inspired by the diverse landscape of Utah. The $103 million Rio Tinto Center, funded by a public and private partnership, is deeply rooted in place and infused with multiple features that embrace both traditional and new media techniques – a new Museum that sets a new standard for a Natural History Museum of the 21st Century.

For over four decades, the Natural History Museum of Utah has connected Utah residents and tourists alike with the natural wonders and native cultures that define Utah. As an active research institution with a remarkable and growing collection of more than 1.2 million specimens and objects, the Museum is an extraordinary cultural and educational asset for understanding the world. Over the years, the Museum has garnered the respect and affection of visitors, state and local leaders, scientists and museum professionals through programs of sustained excellence in the areas of public education, scientific research, collections preservation and environmental stewardship.

Expected to become a primary tourist destination for children and families, students, natural scientists and visitors to the region from around the world, the new Museum will also provide advanced research facilities and establish a venue for undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Utah.

“We feel Utah residents will be very proud of our new home, which is the product of the work of literally every community in the state and experts from around the world,” said Sarah George, executive director of The Natural History Museum of Utah. “I believe we now offer one of the nation’s great new cultural buildings in which architecture and exhibition content serve and advance science and education while respecting their natural surroundings. We look forward to many years of telling the exciting and important stories of the natural world.”

Rio Tinto Center – Design

The extraordinary new 163,000 square foot Rio Tinto Center, clad in 42,000 square feet of copper, occupies a prominent place at the edge of Salt Lake City and the University of Utah. The facility blends seamlessly into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the angles of the roof rising and falling with the slope of the foothills in the background. The design reflects the Museum’s mission to illuminate the natural world through scientific inquiry, educational outreach, mutual cultural experience and human engagement of the past, present and future of the region and the world.

Designed by Todd Schliemann of Ennead Architects, the Museum’s new home overlooks the Salt Lake Valley from its stunning 17-acre site. Leading the project team, in addition to Mr. Schliemann, are Don Weinreich of Ennead Architects, as well as David Brems and John Branson of Salt Lake City’s Gillies Stransky Brems Smith Architects.

Inspired by the region's natural landscape of rock, soil, minerals and vegetation, the Rio Tinto Center rests on a series of terraces that step up the hill and lie along the contours of the site with minimal disruption to the adjacent natural landscape. The new building is located above the shoreline of ancient Lake Bonneville, with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail passing through the property, and provides breathtaking views of the Wasatch Front. Respect for the natural world and human engagement in it is underscored by the design’s “green” initiatives.

With the artful integration of sound principles of sustainability, the design of the Natural History Museum of Utah will play a seminal role in enhancing the public's understanding of the earth's resources and systems and be a model for responsible and environmentally sensitive development. By incorporating the use of recycled materials, local resources, photovoltaic energy, radiant cooling and the implementation of an extensive storm water catchment and management system, the Natural History Museum of Utah is seeking LEED Gold certification, which would make it one of only 18 buildings in Salt Lake City with that distinction.

Inside, the building is divided by a sixty-foot-high central public space, The Canyon, which is the centerpiece of the Museum’s interior. One wing of the stunning new Museum contains long-needed spaces dedicated to the objective understanding of our world – research laboratories, conservation labs, collection storage and administration. The other wing houses public spaces with exhibitions dedicated to the subjective or interpretive aspects of our world so visitors can explore the delicate balance of life on earth and its natural history – galleries and spaces in which to present, interpret and study the Museum’s extraordinary collection of artifacts and exhibits.

Museum Exhibitions

The Natural History Museum of Utah houses the state’s world-class collections in new exhibitions designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) and offers more than 41,300 square feet of gallery and education space, including The Canyon where some Museum theater pieces will be performed. By embracing the tools of modern architecture, exhibition design and media, the re-envisioned Museum presents a fresh, fascinating and immersive journey through the natural formation of life and land around Salt Lake City and throughout the state of Utah.

The Museum’s collections form the basis for all of the Museum's educational functions, from public exhibits and programming to scholarly research and publication. Its systematic collections in the fields of earth sciences, biology and anthropology rank among the largest and most comprehensive in the western United States. While emphasizing the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, they also include material from throughout the world. Ongoing development of these collections is directed toward strengthening their comprehensive regional coverage and increasing their significance and accessibility to all communities.

The new Museum's exhibitions tap its vast collections in new ways and aim to put more of Utah's treasures on display. This is done in a set of interdisciplinary galleries that explore the diverse ways in which we understand our world. The selection of objects necessitated a careful analysis of the Museum’s existing collections – some of which had never been seen by the public – and a convergence of traditional perspectives to tell a more nuanced story. Nine dedicated, thematic exhibition galleries explore the Sky, Native Voices, Life, Land, First Peoples, Lake (Great Salt Lake), Past Worlds, Our Backyard and Utah's Futures. Each gallery draws from several scientific disciplines and collections as well as from the humanities.

The Rio Tinto Center will offer several free areas in the Museum building: The Canyon, boasting expansive views of the valley; the Museum Store; and the Museum Café, with indoor/outdoor seating and access to the University of Utah’s Wi-Fi network.

About the Natural History Museum of Utah

The Natural History Museum of Utah is one of the leading scientific research and cultural institutions in the country. Established in 1963, the Museum‘s collections contain over 1.2 million objects and offers innovative exhibitions and educational programs to thousands of residents and visitors each year, including traveling and permanent exhibits, special events and other programs. With an expected attendance of 180,000 visitors a year, the Museum also offers a variety of outreach programs to communities and schools throughout Utah, reaching every school district in the state annually. The Museum has an active science program with more than 30 scientists and 10 field exhibitions each year.

Crowds Hit The Slopes For Utah’s Ski Opener

Brighton and Solitude opened for skiing today and good numbers of people showed up to enjoy the early season adventure.

The two resorts were able to open early because of recent snowfall, cool temperatures and snowmaking machines. Many other Utah ski resorts will open during the next couple weeks. By Thanksgiving weekend, most resorts will be open and ski conditions should be very good.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the two resorts opening. The story also includes fun photos taken today. Below are excerpts.

Solitude got the jump on Brighton for first-to-open honors by pushing ahead its start by six minutes, firing up Moonbeam lift early for the dozen or so people in line for the honor of being on the season’s first chair.

Unfazed by coming in second, Brighton spokesman Jared Winkler said "there’s a pretty good crowd of kids up here having fun" on runs off of Majestic and Explorer lifts. "It was a good year for season pass sales so it isn’t surprising we have a lot of people up here now."

"The intrinsic value of early season snowfall is the incredible excitement and buzz it generates. Consumer enthusiasm for skiing and snowboarding is at its peak at the beginning of the season," said Ski Utah spokeswoman Jessica Kunzer.

"Destination visitors, in particular, interpret early openings and snow as the sign of great season conditions to come," Kunzer said. "There is a direct correlation between early season snowfall and vacation bookings throughout the season."

As Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty observed in a Tuesday news conference, the ski industry contributed almost $1.2 billion to Utah’s economy last year, up 67 percent since Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics (annual skier visits are up 41 percent in that period).

Skiing Begins At Brighton, Solitude

Brighton and Solitude ski resorts will open for the season tomorrow, Nov 10, 2011.

Early snowfall has allowed both Salt Lake-area resorts to open earlier than expected. Other resorts are expected to follow quickly.

FirstTracksOnline.com has this report about the resorts opening. Below are excerpts.

With 36 inches of snowfall thus far this season both Brighton and Solitude will kick things off this week in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City.

“Solitude’s opening day is on Thursday, Nov. 10, with three lifts — Moonbeam, Apex and Link,” says Nick Como, spokesperson for the resort, who adds that snowmakers are trying to get the Eagle Express quad chairlift added for this weekend. “It will be $49, so you’re going to get a pretty good discount of $19 off the normal ticket window rate. Winter is here!”

“We’re looking good, we’re really excited!” adds Jared Winkler of nearby Brighton Resort, which will also open its season on Thursday morning. “We have about 24 inches of snow in our mid-mountain area, so it should be pretty fun. We’re planning on opening the Explorer, Crest and Majestic chairlifts with limited runs off of each.”

Other Utah ski resort opening dates are presently scheduled as follows:

Alta Ski Area: Nov. 18
Beaver Mountain: TBA
Brian Head: Nov. 19
Canyons Resort: Nov. 25
Deer Valley: Dec. 3
Eagle Point: TBA
Park City Mountain: Nov. 19
Powder Mountain: Nov. 24
Snowbasin: Nov. 24
Snowbird: Nov. 19
Sundance: Dec. 9
Wolf Mountain: TBA

Bryce Canyon National Park Seeks Public Comment On Transportation Plan

Bryce Canyon National Park has been working to devise a traffic plan to accommodate growing visitation during the coming years .Park officials are now at the point where they are actively seeking public comment about options.

The Park Service provided the news release below.

Bryce Canyon National Park to Initiate the
Public Scoping Process for a Multimodal Transportation Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) is conducting a transportation planning study to evaluate the transportation needs and infrastructure requirements to serve visitors to Bryce Canyon National Park. The public is invited to attend an Open House to identify issues and provide information to the NPS that should be considered in development of the Plan. The Open House will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at the Ruby's Inn Conference Room (26 South Main Street, Bryce Canyon City, UT) located just north of the park. Project representatives will provide a brief presentation at 5:30 pm to explain the need for the plan and its objectives.
(click here for an Invitation Brochure)

Through the course of the planning process, the project team will identify transportation-related issues, gather input from park users and the surrounding community, and recommend solutions to transportation management within the park. The first step in developing the Plan is to gain a clear understanding of existing concerns and issues that should be considered in developing appropriate solutions, the second step. From a set of alternative solutions, park staff can determine where and how to make strategic transportation investments. "We wish to find out what issues are important to local communities and visitors to ensure that they are included in the environmental analysis process," said Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh.

An open comment period will begin on November 15, 2011. Those wishing to provide comments should submit them in writing as soon as possible, but no later than December 15, 2011 at the Bryce Canyon National Park Planning website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/brca, or e-mail to: Bryce Canyon Information {, or Postal Mail to: Bryce Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 640201, Bryce, Utah 84764.

Respondents should include their name, address and e-mail address to be added to the mailing list for more information about this project. Remember that unless requested otherwise, a list of all those that comment during public review periods, including their addresses, is available upon request.

A second opportunity for public comments will be available after preliminary alternatives have been developed, and a final public comment period will be available when the Multimodal Transportation Plan is released. The Environmental Assessment will analyze multimodal transportation improvement alternatives derived from technical information gathered, engineering, resource management and design considerations, and comments provided by the public.

Park City Designated Gold Ride Center By International Mountain Biking Association

The International Mountain Biking Association has given its highest award to Park City, which has become a major biking center. Below is information provided by the association.

Park City (UT) Gold-level

A few years ago, IMBA was on the lookout for an ideal location to host our World Summit mountain bike gathering — we settled on Park City, Utah, because it offered a successful local mountain bike community, diverse riding opportunities and jaw-dropping natural beauty.

That was 2008, and since then Park City has continued expanding and improving its facilities, so much that IMBA enthusiastically awards our highest designation to this amazing mountain bike destination.

How did Park City become a gold-level Ride Center? "It all stems from a commitment to master planning," says IMBA Regional Director Ryan Schutz. "The sheer miles of trails are fantastic, but what's really important is that they function as a cohesive network, with signage and trail connections that create a model riding area." No location better exemplifies the Ride Center ideal of offering great options for any level of rider and any style of riding. From standout beginner-to-intermediate trails like the Round Valley Trail System and Lost Prospector to technical challenge and expert-only terrain on Dead Tree and Sweeny’s, the options are expansive. You'll also find lift-served downhill runs and top-shelf bike parks.

Of course, Park City offers all the lodging and dining options you'd expect from a world-class resort. At the heart of it all, the IMBA-affiliated Mountain Trails Foundation pulls riders into a true mountain bike community and keeps them energized with new projects. It all works together at Park City and that's what's pushed them to the gold standard.

Homestead Resort To Close 4 Months For Remodeling

The popular Homestead Resort in Midway, Heber Valley, will close in December and is expected to be close for about 4 months. During that time the resort will get an extensive facelift. The resort's championship golf course will also undergo imrovements.

KSL has this report about the remodeling. Below are excerpts.

“We recognized right out of the chutes that many of our guests came to us and said, 'Hey look, can you freshen The Homestead up? We love coming here, we've been coming here for years and years, we have our anniversary here, our reunions here.' We owe it to them," he (owner Steve Eddington) said.

Each of the 121 rooms will get some kind of attention, such as new carpet, new bedding, window treatments and furniture, including flat screen, high def TVs.

The remodeling will be handled to maintain the themes of each building — features that have continued to attract and make memories for guests for years. "We're not just investing in real estate, we're investing in people, we're investing in future memories, and that’s very important and compelling to us,” he said.

Forbes Labels Ogden The 'Best Kept Secret In Skiing'

Forbes has this interesting article previewing the upcoming ski season. It includes much praise for the ski resorts near Ogden (Powder Mountain and Snowbasin). It calls Ogden the "Best Kept Secret In Skiing." Below are excerpts.

...However, somewhat unfairly, skiing has a perception as an expensive sport: it can be, but it does not have to be. The current economic climate has forced many to cut back on leisure, but skiing still does not have to be the victim of budget cuts.

At the bargain end, Ogden, Utah must be the best-kept secret in skiing. The town is a short drive from Salt Lake City, the same distance from the airport as ultra-popular Park City, yet few know of Ogden’s charms.

...is flanked by two massive ski resorts, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin – which hosted the Downhill, Combined, and Super-G races during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Both are as big as most other major ski resorts and by some definitions, at 7,000-acres Powder is the largest in the United States.

...700-acres are reserved for sno-cat skiing, “poor man’s heli-skiing,” but unlike most sno-cat operations that are quite pricey, here it is just $18 per ride, and accessed from the regular lifts, a great option for someone who has always wanted to try it.

...Then there is Powder Country, a 1200-acre fenced area of backcountry powder skiing. Once you enter the gates, no matter where you go, you end up on a road where you are picked up and returned by resort shuttles to the lifts – entirely for free.

Snowbasin is no slouch either, owned by the same company as upscale Sun Valley, and operated as a fairly luxurious mountain with top shelf facilities and skiing, but no pretension, and $76 a day gives you 3000-acres, great terrain, modern lifts including a tram...

...Since neither resort has any slopeside village and there is virtually no lodging onsite, you don’t miss anything by staying in nearby Ogden – which operates scheduled shuttle buses from every downtown hotel to both resorts. You don’t even need a rental car, and a typical package example is a room with whirlpool tub in a nicer downtown hotel, lift ticket at either resort, breakfast, and shuttle for $139 per night in peak season. That’s hard to beat.

The article also toutes Deer Valley:

Deer Valley is all about pampering, and it is one of the only ski resorts in the world that limits lift ticket sales every day, even when more people are willing to pay, just to keep the experience uncrowded for its high-powered guests. Its slopes are home to three of the most over-the-top luxury ski-in/ski-out hotels in the world, the Montage (pictured here), the Stein Eriksen Lodge, and the St. Regis Deer Crest...