Happy New Year

We wish you all of the best as we close out 2013 and launch a new year. We hope you take time to reflect on the best things that happened during the past months, and plan to make 2014 even better. And, we hope the new year brings plenty of opportunity for adventure.

New Years Day is a big play day in Utah and we invite you to join the fun. The weather should be great - with seasonally mild temperatures all around the state. Our ski resorts will be open and conditions will be great. Also consider snowmobiling, cross country skiing and other snow adventures.

Hiking and biking conditions are superb in southern Utah right now. In Moab, the temperature tomorrow should hit 38 F, with plenty of sunshine. In the St. George/Zion area the temperature is expected to climb to 58 F. The golf courses will be busy, as will the hiking trails.

All of our national parks, national monuments and national recreation areas will be open, although some visitor centers will be closed. Many of our state parks will also be open.

Utah's biggest tourist destination is actually Temple Square, in downtown Salt Lake City, and it will be open. Interestingly, a recent news article being picked up around the country says Salt Lake City is emerging as an important tourist destination in its own right. The article was first published in the Salt Lake Tribune and you can read it here. Below is just one quote:

National Geographic rated Salt Lake City as the best hiking city in America. AARP Magazine wrote that Salt Lake City offers the best city sunrise. TripAdvisor rated the Grand America Hotel as the second best luxury hotel in Utah and in 2011 ranked Salt Lake City as the number one American bargain for skiing. Forbes gave the same ranking to Alta and Snowbird.

We welcome 2014 and the adventures it will bring. We hope to meet you on our ski runs, backcountry trails and community streets.

- Dave Webb

Free Entrance Days At National Parks And Playgrounds

The National Park Service has announced dates when entrance fees will be waived at most of the properties it manages. That includes Utah's Mighty 5 national parks plus our national monuments and recreational areas.

2014 fee-free days are listed below.

• January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  
• February 15-17 - Presidents Day weekend
  
• April 19-20 - Opening weekend of National Park Week
  
• August 25 - National Park Service Birthday
  
• September 27 - National Public Lands Day
  
• November 11 - Veterans Day
  

The park service provided this additional information:

Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

People who want to visit multiple parks can usually save money by purchasing an America The Beautiful annual pass.

Free entrance days to these areas are a great reason to come visit!  Book a trip on Utah.com and come and play at some of Utah's most scenic destinations.

BLM Properties
The federal Bureau of Land Management controls thousands of acres of land in Utah. (Many of the areas on this page are BLM properties.) Most of that land is open for public use without entrance fees. The few areas that do charge entrance fees will waive those fees on the dates listed below:

• Jan. 20 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  
• Feb. 15- Feb 17 - Presidents’ Day weekend
  
• Sept. 27 - National Public Lands Day
  
• Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
  

Bonneville Salt Flats
Huffingtonpost.com has this interesting photo essay focusing on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Salt Flats are stark and desolate and provide an interesting challenge for photographers. The images included are worth a look. Here are excerpts from the article's text:

Explore The Bonneville Salt Flats Of Utah (PHOTOS)

...The Bonneville Salt Flats are perhaps one of the most eye-catching, unique spots in the U.S.... During the dry season, the flats seem to continue on forever. And when it rains, the flats appear to turn into a giant mirror, reflecting all around it.

Get Ready To Party - SLC New Year's Eve Celebrations

Many places offer public New Year's Eve parties and people traveling in Utah are invited to join the fun. All of our ski resorts will offer special activities. The largest event in the state will be the Eve celebration in downtown Salt Lake City. It is actually a family-friendly 3-day extravaganze spread over 9 venues. It will include:

• Live Music
• BounceTown for kids
• Comic Con Costume Contest
• Dancing
• Fireworks
• Performances

Many people will hit some of the major events and then sneak away to a favorite restaurant or bar for a less public celebration.

Many other parties are also available. Salt Lake Weekly has this good rundown for the Salt Lake scene. Below we give the headline and teaser.

New Year's Eve 2014: Call It A Night

Plenty of spots will be rolling out the red carpet this year, and choosing where best to pop the bubby can be a tough choice. The following rundown includes some of the finest all-inclusive shindigs Utah has to offer—from salsa lessons to cowboy balls.

Wherever you choose to party, we hope you have a safe and enjoyable evening. In some communities transportation may be available for people who choose to drink and don't want to drive back to their home or hotel. Inquire locally and schedule whatever help you may need.

Find Discounts During Learn To Ski & Snowboard Month

January is national national Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month and many Utah resorts are participating by offering special programs and discounts to new skiers and riders. SkiUtah.com has this article describing participation by local resorts. Below we give highlights. Check at each resort for specific details.

Alta offers a $239 first timer's package that includes 4 two-hour lessons, 4 beginner lift tickets, 4 days rental equipment, 25% off coupon for lunch at the Albion Grill.

Brian Head offers a $45 beginner lesson (2-hour lesson with rental and restricted lift ticket), plus a bounce-back discount.

Brighton has a ski and snowboard intro packages for $49. It include a 2-hour morning or afternoon lesson, all-day ski or snowboard rental and a full-day learner lift ticket.

Canyons Resort has a "Lucky 13 Offer" - $13 Beginner Lift Ticket (Learning Lifts Only), $13 First Time Learn to Ski or Snowboard Lesson (4.5 hours), $13 Beginner Equipment Rental.

Deer Valley is participating by offering Learn To Ski day on Saturday, Jan 25. For $39, participants get a lift ticket, ski rental and clinic. The number of participants is restricted.

Park City has a StartNOW program that costs $40 per day and includes lift ticket, ski or board rental and lessons.

Snowbird's "Learner Permit Pass" will be offered at half off (just $50) from Jan 5-31.

Solitude's First Time program includes three half-day lessons, equipment rental and lift tickets for $165. It is offered on select days in January.

Sundance is offering a $75 program that allows Utah residents to learn to ski or snowboard.

Wolf Mountain has a $39 package that includes lift ticket, 2-hour group lesson and equipment rental.

There are also includes incentives for experienced skiers and boarders to "bring a friend."

Merry Christmas From Utah.com

Delicate Arch - Photo courtesy Arches National Park

We wish you all the best during the holiday season.

Much of Utah lies under a blanket of white, thanks to widespread snow earlier this week. Now, Christmas Eve has brought clear skies, crisp air and bright stars. On this special evening, all will be quiet and peaceful. Businesses that cater to travelers will be open and hospitable, but most businesses will be closed so employees can spend time with families. Traffic will be very light.

On Christmas Day, many businesses will be closed but motels, restaurants, convenience stores, movie theaters and recreational spots will be open. Our national parks are open year-round but visitor centers will be closed.

Christmas Day is a popular time to hit the slopes and try out new skies, boards and other equipment. Snow conditions should be excellent and none of our ski resorts will be over-crowded. We're now moving into the prime weeks of Utah's ski season.

In our low-elevation desert areas, Christmas Day will bring sunny skies and mild temperatures. In the St. George area, hiking and biking conditions have been good during the past several days. There are no storms in the forecast and so conditions should be excellent from now into the new year. Daytime highs are expected to push into the mid-50s F this weekend.

In the Moab area there is still snow on the ground in many places, as you can see from our photo (provided by Arches National Park). The area is warming up, snow is melting and many hiking and biking trails are open. Arches reports that the Delicate Arch Viewpoint is now open after having been closed by heavy snow.

Snow against red rock creates a beautiful scene.

We hope you take time to enjoy this season - sharing memorable experiences with those you love.

- Dave Webb

Holiday Activities At The Resorts And In SLC

Santa can ski for free at Brighton Ski Resort tomorrow, Dec. 24. The first 50 people to show up at the ticket window dressed up as Santa will be given free lift passes. Details.

Santa and Mrs. Clause will be seen at many Utah resorts during the next few days. At Deer Valley, Santa will visit guests in the Snow Park Lodge area tomorrow from 9 to 11 a.m., and at the Silver Lake Lodge area tomorrow from noon to 1:30 p.m. Guests and their children are invited to bring a camera and take pictures with Santa. For more information, please call 435-649-1000 or 800-424-DEER (3337).

Deer Valley's annual Torchlight Parade will be held on Big Stick ski run on Bald Eagle Mountain, behind Snow Park Lodge. Complimentary hot cider and cookies will be served on the Snow Park Plaza. For more information, please call 435-649-1000 or 800-424-DEER (3337).

USA Today Travel is now conducting its annual 10 BEST READERS' CHOICE survey to determine the best ski destination, and both Salt Lake City and Park City are in the running. Learn more about the survey here. Below is an excerpt:

It's that time of year - time to SKI. Help decide which North American ski destination is the best in this Readers' Choice contest. You have until DEC 30 at NOON to vote, and you can vote once a day.

The Deseret News has a new report featuring best places to see Christmas lights. Recommended locations include:

• Temple Square
• City Creek Center
• Gateway Mall
• Zoo Lights at Hogle Zoo
• This is the Place Heritage Park
• Christmas Street - Sugarhouse
• The Christmas Story - Sugarhouse
• Christmas Street - Taylorsville
• Frosty's Wonderland
• Ogden Christmas Village
• Thanksgiving Point Holiday Lights
• Spanish Fork Festival of Lights
• The Shops at Riverwoods
• Winder Lane
• Mt. Olympus Clock Shop
• The Chapman Residence
• The Christensen Residence

Winter Hikes In Southern Utah State Parks

It's snowing right now in northern Utah - the third wave of a series of "disturbances" that continue to drop powder at our famous ski resorts. This morning, Snowbasin reported 15 inches of snow snow. It's now about noon and, undoubtedly, a few more inches have piled up.

It will be about 48 F with sunshine in St. George this afternoon. The forecast says the high temp will hit 54 F on Christmas Eve. The next several days will offer perfect conditions for hiking Utah's open desert areas.

Should I ski or hike during the coming holiday?

Gunlock Reservoir

Utah's ski resorts can become busy during the Christmas to New Years period. For that and other reasons, I traditionally make a pilgrimage south to the land of red rock and sunshine. It's always a fun trip that helps me maintain perspective and balance as we fall headlong into winter.

Lately I've been exploring the Utah state parks in the St. George area. I've been focusing on the Gunlock area, which offers beautiful scenery and wonderful winter hiking trails, well off the beaten path. I noticed interesting ancient Native American rock art figures visible along the road just south of the reservoir and I've heard there are large panels of art hidden in the nearby backcountry. I'm very interested in that stuff and so I'm eagerly exploring...

Gunlock State Park includes a small reservoir popular for boating and fishing. It offers good populations of catfish and bass, which are most active when the water is warm, so few people fish during the winter. The reservoir is located along the Santa Clara River and it offers a refreshing swimming hole for people visiting during the long warm season.

Gunlock Area Rock Art

Gunlock includes a nice camping area. In years past I'd didn't hesitate to camp even during the dead of winter, but I'm getting old and soft and so now I stay in motels.

I hiked in the area a few days ago and took the photos that illustrate this post. There was a skim of ice on one small bay but the main reservoir was totally ice free. There was snow in shady spots and the sand was wet but hiking conditions were still very nice. With warmer, dry weather in the forecast, the remaining snow will be gone soon.

I'll return between Christmas and New Years, to explore more backcountry.

Other Hiking Options

Snow Canyon, just over the ridge, is on of Utah's best winter hiking areas. As I drove by I noticed a van from the Biggest Loser Ranch, which is located in nearby Ivins.

Sand Hollow offers a beautiful reservoir and very nice sand dunes. Trails in the area are open for ATV riding, which is very popular right through the winter.

Zion National Park offers many low-elevation trails that are inviting during the warm season.

There are countless other hiking and biking trails in this part of the state.

Big Snow At Ski Resorts, Freezing Rain In Valleys

Freezing rain and snow caused travel problems in northern Utah today while dumping new powder at our ski resorts.

Salt Lake International Airport was closed for a time and some flights were canceled or delayed. It is now open.

Power remains out in many neighborhoods in northern Utah.

Antelope Island State Park was closed today and will probably be closed tomorrow morning Call head if you would like to visit there.

This is the Place Heritage Park canceled activities this evening.

The Salt Lake airport received 6.7 inches of snow (as of 5 pm, with more falling). That is a new record for this date.

All of our ski resorts report new snow, with some receiving a big dump.

More snow is expected tonight and then it should let up tomorrow. Another storm is expected to move in Saturday. Watch the KSL.com weather report to stay up to date on weather around Utah.

KSL.com also has this report on today's storm and this feature on staying safe while engaging in backcountry recreation.

Canyons Resort posted this fun photo on Twitter.

12 Unique Utah Ski Experiences

Matadornetwork.com has this interesting article about unique opportunities at Utah ski resorts. Below is the title and then highlights.

12 incredible ski experiences you can only have in Utah

1. Be delivered via conveyor belt into a huge, powdery bowl.

(The conveyor refers to the ski tunnel at Snowbird, which takes skiers through a mountain to connect Peruvian Gulch with Mineral Basin. It is the first tunnel of its kind in North America. See the video below.)

2. Hit six resorts in one day.

3. Get from the airport to the mountain in under an hour.

4. Ski the biggest mountain in America.

(That would be Powder Mountain, with 7,000 skiable acres.)

5. Feel unworthy of sitting in a ski lodge chair.

6. See three generations of one family working an entire mountain just for you.

7. Cruise the same halfpipe that won the USA its first medal sweep in nearly 50 years.

8. Relax at a swanky celebrity-owned resort.

9. Ride in an orange ball of warmth.

(At Canyons, you can feel super pampered while riding up in the first-ever heated bubble chairlift in North America.)

10. Loosen up at the world’s only ski-in / ski-out distillery.

11. Check out one of the highest resort towns in America.

12. Experience the Greatest Snow on Earth®.

Here's a video showing the Snowbird ski tunnel.

Join The Fun: Park City's Golden Anniversary Is Saturday

On Saturday, Dec. 21, Park City Mountain Resort will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The resort is offering many special activities culminating in a Saturday bash. Grab your skis and come enjoy the fun.

The Deseret News has this article about the anniversay.

PCMR provided this schedule for Saturday events:

Join us as we celebrate 50 years of skiing and snowboarding! We have a full day of on-mountain fun scheduled, including live music, commemorative 50th giveaways and celebrating 50 years of being a part of the Park City community.

8:30 a.m.

Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting, commemorating Park City Mountain Resort's 50th Anniversary

9:00 a.m.

Resort opens for skiing and snowboarding

12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Live music by Joy & Eric in the PayDay Room on the second floor of Legacy Lodge

1:00 - 3:30 p.m.

DJ in Resort Plaza

3:30 - 5:15 p.m.

Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Concert in the Resort Plaza

5:00 p.m.

Fireworks Display

SkiUtah.com has this news release about the activities. Here's an excerpt:

On Christmas Eve, a holiday tradition as old as the resort returns: PCMR’s 50thAnnual Torchlight Parade. Santa and the resort’s ski and snowboard instructors illuminate PayDay run in a dazzling procession of lights before proceeding into the Resort Plaza. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served in the plaza beginning at 5:30 p.m. Resort guests should also keep an eye out for Santa skiing around the Resort throughout the day on Christmas Eve.

Utah's Best National & State Parks

There are a couple interesting new articles out that tout the beauty of Utah's national parks and state parks. One focuses on Zion and Bryce Canyon while the other offers a list of great parks where you can escape crowds. Below we give the titles of the articles and then excerpts.

Motor Trend's trucktrend.com website has this article on Zion and Bryce:

Utah’s Twin Wonders: Zion And Bryce Canyon, Utah - Travel

Zion and Bryce Canyon are located fairly close to each other but are light-years apart in their appearances. Zion’s main feature is a deep and narrow canyon created by water as the Virgin River carved its way through sandstone. Visitors enter this canyon to gaze at the cliffs and rock formations towering over them. Bryce Canyon is up on a higher step of the Grand Staircase. Standing on the edge of Bryce Canyon, you look down into the expansive canyon at eerie hoodoos, multicolored spires created by wind erosion. Each park is equal in awe and scenic wonder but completely different looking...

And from across the water, theguardian.com has this article with this title:

Top 10 national and state parks in Utah

It's got Zion, it's got Canyonlands … Utah has so many amazing parks that busy Bryce and the Arches don't even make the cut. Here's our guide for the best places to escape the crowds.

This article goes on to recommend these parks:

• Zion
• Canyonlands
• Capitol Reef
• Dead Horse Point
• Kodachrome Basin
• Natural Bridges
• Edge of the Cedars
• Goblin Valley
• Goosenecks of the San Juan
• Flaming Gorge

St George Golf Courses Begin To Recover After Big Snow

Golf is popular year-round in St. George, but it has been difficult to play this week because of record snow and cold. Happily, the weather is finally warming up and the snow is melting quickly from most area courses. Forecasters say the thermometer will rise to 52 F on Tuesday - back to normal conditions for that usually sun-drenched city.

StGeorgeUtah.com this interesting article about snow on the greens. The article is illustrated by fun photos showing a guy out golfing. Here are excerpts:

“I have never seen anything to this extent,” said Scott Brandt, golf pro at Bloomington Country Club for 22 years. Bloomington, which has been closed since last Friday, usually sees about 75 golfers a day this time of year. We are hoping that we don’t have damage to our irrigation system once the snow melts, Brandt said.

While the city courses may not open until early next week, they are hoping to have the driving range at Southgate Golf Club open on Saturday. I would be extremely surprised if we are able to open before next week, Bloomington’s Brandt said.

It has been many years since St. George has seen so much snow and such cold temperatures, according to this article, also from StGeorgeUtah.com. Here are more excerpts.

NWS Meteorologist Christine Kruse keeps a close eye on weather records in the state of Utah. She said that, while the NWS did not collect any official data from St. George this week, if it really did reach zero, Monday morning would be the coldest it has been in St. George since the all-time record was set at minus 11 degrees in January of 1937.

The weekend snowfall set records for the region as well. On Saturday, Zion National Park saw its most intense 24-hour snowfall in years.

“They ended up with 12 inches from the storm,” Kruse said, which makes it the second-heaviest snowfall ever recorded at the park in a 24-hour period. The all-time record was set in 1894 when 15 inches of snow fell in a single day.

Feelings have been mixed around town. Some folks are enjoying playing in the snow. Others are looking forward to the more normal conditions that are slowly returning: 40 F tomorrow, 46 F Sunday, 52 F Tuesday...

Winter Adventure At Hardware Ranch And Antelope Island

Photo courtesy Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Hardware Ranch opens tomorrow, Dec 13, for the 2013-14 season.

The annual Hardware Ranch Elk Festival will run Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The ranch and festival offer great opportunity to view and photograph wild elk while enjoying sleigh rides and other winter activities. See the Hardware Ranch website for details.

Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area is an important elk refuge operated by the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources. It is located in the mountains southeast of Logan. Elk congregate in the meadow at the ranch, where it is easy to see them. Large bulls can usually be found among the wintering animals.

Antelope Island

Antelope Island is an often-overlooked winter playground, according to this article on SaltLakeMagazine.com. The article offers good introductory information, along with three beautiful photos. Here's an excerpt:

Surrounded by the fifth saltiest body of water in the world, Antelope Island sports no less than 40 natural springs that support an abundance of flora and fauna. Bison dot the snow and grass covered hills, mule deer flick their ears, native antelope play, and coyote howls carry on the crisp air. Porcupines slumber in trees lining the road to Garr Ranch while birds flit, soar, call and congregate. Nowhere else in Utah will you see such diverse wildlife so close to dense population. Bring your binoculars.

Hiking The Parks During Snow

Snow Canyon with snow - Dave Webb photo

Snow Canyon is one of my favorite winter hiking destinations and I enjoyed a trek there this afternoon. There was snow on top the sand - a somewhat rare site. I enjoyed seeing the white stuff drifted against red rock.

Snow Canyon is a popular Utah State Park in the St George area. During a typical winter, 2-3 storms may leave light snow in the canyon. Warm temperatures usually return quickly and so the snow seldom lasts more than a day or two.

But this is no typical winter. The area got blasted by heavy snow last weekend and we've seen chilly temperatures the past several days. Today it was close to 30 F when I hiked, and that felt warm. The forecast calls for a heat wave - afternoon temperatures should climb into the mid-40s as we move toward the weekend, and the snow will disappear.

Typically, winter temperatures here will rise into the high 40s or low 50s many days.

The snow enhances the dramatic scenery and creates a paradise for photographers. If you want to experience it, you should get down here during the next 2-3 days.

(More storms will come, of course, but they probably won't drop as much and the snow probably won't last as long.)

The snow has generated quite a buzz. Zion Park released the video below showing some of its winter scenery and giving tips for exploring in the snow. KSL.com has this interesting feature: 5 reasons to visit Bryce Canyon in the winter.

The annual Monument Valley Balloon Event will be December 13 – 15, 2013. It is always fun seeing colorful balloons behind the area's iconic rock towers. This year should be particularly good because there will probably still be snow in the area.

It isn't winter-specific, but KSL.com also has an interesting video compiled from spectacular photos: 30 photos that will absolutely make you happy you live in Utah

Here's the Zion video:

Best National Parks To Visit In Winter

Winter hit Utah hard over the weekend, with cold and snow blanketing the state. That includes Utah national parks that normally receive little or no snow. Now, we're seeing amazing photos of snow against red rock. A shot of Delicate Arch, in Arches National Park, illustrates this post. The photo was posted by the US Department of Interior.

Heavy snow fell in Zion Canyon. Zion Park has posted this winter photo gallery on its Facebook page, including iconic formations frosted with snow and ice.

Snow will melt quickly in many areas, so get here now if you want to see it.

Fodors.com has this interesting new feature with this title:

10 BEST NATIONAL PARKS TO VISIT THIS WINTER

Bryce Canyon makes the list, along with Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Below I give the snippet of information the article provided about Bryce Canyon, and then I add what I hope are additional insights.

The otherworldly rock formations of Bryce Canyon draw more than 1 million visitors a year, most of whom come in droves every season except winter. However, the hoodoos—iconic red rock spires—look the most dramatic when topped by a heap of snow. Expect a chill, though the park's daytime temperature rarely drops below freezing thanks to its desert location.

Insider Tip: Winter’s crisp, dry air makes stargazing particularly vivid. Bryce Canyon offers free ranger-guided full moon snowshoe hikes and winter astronomy sessions.

My comments: Bryce is incredibly beautiful during winter, and is well worth visiting. But expect very cold temperatures. Nighttime temps often fall to around zero F. During the day, the temperature gradually climbs and afternoons can be quite mild. But the cold returns quickly as soon as the sun drops low in the sky. Stormy days can be frigid.

The Bryce Canyon Winter Festival will be held Feb 15-17, 2014. It offers a wonderful opportunity to see the park in its snowy glory, and to participate in many kinds of winter recreational activities.

- Dave Webb

Adventure Towns - Insights From Locals

National Geographic has this interesting series that offers ideas for long weekends in famous adventure towns and gives insight from local "experts." The series begins with Park City, progresses to Moab and then describes other popular towns around the country.

We all know tastes and expectations may vary from person to person, and so all might not agree with all insights, but everyone can learn from people who have been there and experienced the adventures.

Below are a few excerpts form the reports on Utah towns.

Park City, by Geoff Tabin, 57

Hike: Park City’s preserved open space is home to 350 miles of recreation trails...

• Ride: “My favorite mountain bike ride starts in my driveway,” Tabin says. He rides up the road for a half mile to access Rob’s Trail...
• Climb: In the heat of summer, it’s a 45-minute drive along scenic Mirror Lake Highway to sport climbing in the high Uinta Mountains...
• Ski: There are miles of free groomed classic and skate-skiing in the Round Valley trail system...

Read his recommendations on where to eat, where to stay and what other activities to try.

Moab, by Steph Davis, 40

• Hike: In the hot season, Negro Bill Canyon stays cooler than most as it runs along a creek and has a surprising arch at the end of the trail...
• Ride: “The ultimate downhill ride is the Whole Enchilada...
• Climb: Moab is known for desert tower climbs, Castleton Tower and Ancient Art being the most famous, and for Indian Creek (an hour south of town), a world-class crack climbing destination...
• Paddle: ...The “Daily” is the local favorite float ride, and can even be done on a stand-up paddleboard.

Read here recommendations on where to eat, where to stay and what else to do.

New Passes Excite Utah Skiers

Utah's Ski resorts picked up big snow early this week and more is coming tomorrow and Sunday. Fresh powder always gets ski enthusiasts pumped up. But several new passes are also causing excitement this year. They provide discounts and the opportunity to ski multiple resorts. SkiUtah.com has details here. Below are excerpts.

Day of Arrival Ticket Deal: Alta and Snowbirdare offering 50% off day tickets within 24 hours of arrival. The guest must register online before arrival.

Big Cottonwood Pass: Brighton Resort and Solitude Mountain Resort have teamed up to introduce the Big Cottonwood Pass with access to over 3,700 acres of terrain, 130 plus trails and 15 lifts. The scenic SolBright trail connects the two resorts.

Best Pass Benefit in the Wasatch: Alta, Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort and Snowbirdhave teamed up to offer season pass holders an exciting new benefit. Qualifying season pass holders at the 4 participating resorts can enjoy 3 days each of free lift access at each of the other three mountains.

Epic Pass: Canyons Resort is Epic! Now under Vail Resorts management, Canyons Resort Epic Pass is only $709, with unlimited skiing and riding at Canyons, Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.

Mountain Collective: For $379 those who join the Mountain Collective receive two free days and an unlimited 50% off lift tickets, plus exclusive lodging deals at each of six destinations: AltaSnowbird, Aspen/Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Mammoth Mountain, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows and Whistler Blackcomb.

Powder Alliance: Snowbasin along with twelve mountains in the west have joined forces to create the Powder Alliance, offering three FREE days of skiing to pass holders from other participating Powder Alliance areas. These 12 mountains include Snowbasin Resort, Crested Butte, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Stevens Pass, Timberline, Schweitzer, China Peak, Mountain High, Arizona Snowbowl, Mt Hood Skibowl, Angel Fire Resort, and Bridger Bowl.

The SkiUtah.com report also includes details about improvements at the resorts. It is worth reading in its entirety.

Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2014 Film Lineups

This will be the 30th annual Sundance Film Festival. It will take place Jan. 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. If you want to attend, you are advised to get passes and reserve lodging immediately. The Festival website offers valuable information for newbies.

The Festival has just released its film lineups. Hollywood Reporter has this article about the festival. Here are excerpts.

The Sundance Film Festival unveiled the 2014 lineup for its Spotlight, New Frontier and Park City at Midnight sections on Thursday. Among the highlights are Richard Ayoade's mistaken-identity thriller The Double, which stars Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska, and Steven Knight's Tom Hardy starrer Locke.

The news comes a day after Sundance revealed its competition slate, with such films as Jim Mickle's Cold in July (starring Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson and Sam Shepard) and first-time feature helmer John Slattery's God's Pocket (starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Richard Jenkins) vying for top honors.

At this Festival, Sundance will debut a new section for young audiences. The Deseret News has this article about that development. Here are excerpts.

Sundance officials announced Thursday the creation of Sundance Kids, which is being programmed in partnership with the Utah Film Center's Tumbleweeds program.

The new section will debut during the 2014 festival and will feature the world premiere of "Ernest and Celestine," about a mouse who forms an unlikely bond with a bear, and the U.S. premiere of "Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang," about two twin brothers who uncover a mystery at their school.

Patrick Hubley, artistic director of the Utah Film Center and founder of Tumbleweeds, said the collaboration with the Sundance Institute is an opportunity to feature international and independent films for children.

Big Snowstorm Hits As Final Ski Resorts Open

Photo courtesy Utah Office of Tourism

Snow was a big story in south and central Utah today, with light snow falling in St George, more in Zion Park and deep snow over much of the rest of the state. Here are some of the reports we're hearing:

Due to snow and poor road conditions the BLM's Vernal Field Office has canceled the Jarvie Winter Fest scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013.

Arches National Park closed the main park road briefly because of snow, but it is now open.

Canyonlands provided this information: "The Island in the Sky road will be closed until plowed. Needles roads are open, but conditions leading there unknown."

Parts of All American Highway 12 received heavy snow, as you can see in our photo.

Sundance Ski Resort picked up 16 new inches. It will open Dec. 6.

Deer Valley received 19 inches of new snow over the past 48 hours. It will open Dec. 7.

Eagle Point Ski Resort (east of Beaver) received 8-10 inches. It is set to open Dec. 19.

The storm missed extreme northern Utah. Beaver Mountain and Powder Mountain did not reporting any new. They are still determining when they will open.

Wolf Mountain is scheduled to open Dec. 12.

Now that the storm is winding down in most area, forecasters say temperatures will be very cold. Take care, especially if you are traveling.

Festival of Trees Runs Dec 4-7

More than 800 beautifully decorated trees will be on display this week at the annual Festival of Trees, which will be held Dec 4-7 at South Towne Expo Center, in the greater Salt Lake City area.

The event is a fundraiser for Primary Children's Hospital. This year's theme: "Gift of Love."

The Festival provided the information below:

For 43 years, the Festival of Trees has been a “Gift of Love” to children. The Festival is organized by a volunteer board of 85 women who enlist time and talents from thousands of individuals, organizations, businesses, and families throughout Utah and beyond.  Over $33 million has been raised for children at Primary Children’s Hospital through the Festival since 1971, with $1,871,546.91 raised last year.

Festival attractions include:

• Over 800 Christmas Trees
• Playhouse Plaza
• Friendship Cards
• Sweet Shoppe
• Gift Boutique
• Aisle of Wreaths
• Scones and Sweet Rolls
• ELF Emporium
• Santa Land
• Kids Korner

There will be singers, dancers, and instrumentalists every day.

See the Festival website for details.

Rockhound Utah's West Desert

I recently enjoyed a fun rock hounding trip to Fossil Mountain, in the Utah desert west of the town of Delta. I escorted a gaggle of kids and they had great fun finding rocks full of small fossils that could include brachiopods, trilobites, echinoderms, cephalopods and other ancient creatures.

Winter is a great time to explore our vast west desert, which is a very popular area for rock hounding. The desert offers many minerals, semi-precious gems and interesting fossils. The trilobites found around Antelope Springs are one of the most popular attractions. Topaz Mountain is another popular spot and topaz crystals are relatively easy to find on the mountain's slopes. Some are gem-quality. Read more about Utah rockhounding spots.

The west desert includes flat plains but also many low mountain ranges that are covered by sage brush and juniper trees. Wildlife is abundant. Wild horses roam the range in many areas and have become a fun attraction.

In the desert, winter days are often sunny with mild temperatures but nights can be very cold (down around zero at times during January). Snow falls occasionally but usually melts within a few days, so the rocks are usually exposed.

The area is remote with few services. Major access is via Hwy 6/50, which is known as the "Grand Army of the Republic Highway. It is also know as the "Loneliest Road In America." There are no services along the highway for about 90 miles, from the Delta, Utah area west to the Great Basin National Park area (on the Utah/Nevada border). Dirt roads crisscross the desert. Some are graded but many are rough and may be impassible during stormy weather.

To visit Fossil Mountain, follow the directions on this web page. A wash cuts across the north side of the mountain. If you have a high-clearance vehicle you can drive right to the wash at the base of the mountain. You can easily see the dark fossil-bearing rock where the road comes into the wash. If you hike a little you will find several other areas where that particular rock layer is exposed. At each of these spots it is easy to find fossils.

From Salt Lake or Las Vegas it is possible to visit Fossil Mountain as a day trip. It's more fun to combine it with a visit to Great Basin National Park and make it an over night or multi-day adventure.

I could wander for weeks in the west desert. I've explored many places there but still have many spots on my must-do list.

- Dave Webb