Outdoor sports are one of the biggest reasons to live in Utah. People come from all over the world to ski, mountain bike, rock climb, and pursue a plethora of other adrenaline addictions that bring them face-to-face with raw nature. The geographic wrinkles that rise up all around us in this beautiful state, sculpted and carved by wind and water, offer a view from just about … [Read more...]
Burn Scars – Restoration Work Continues to Revive Land After Bald Mountain and Pole Creek Fires
March 12, 2020: A year-and-a-half after the Bald Mountain and Pole Creek fires combined to burn over 120,000 acres in southern Utah County, restoration efforts are well underway, but there are still many years of environmental work ahead. In September 2018, the lightning-caused fires forced the evacuations of nearly 6,000 people in Woodland Hills, Elk Ridge, and several … [Read more...]
Bob Dustman – Over 1,000 Times on Top of Mt. Wire
Although I had never met him in person, Bob Dustman became a friend of mine. I valued him for his fortitude, determination and love of the outdoors - qualities one can discern from a small plaque at the top of Mt. Wire which reads Bob Dustman (1925 to 2018) - Over 1,000 Times On Top. His wife would say it was over 1,500 times. Lately, I’ve taken to buying old guidebooks, … [Read more...]
Spelunking in Utah – Exploring the Vast World Beneath – Cavers Take Their Sightseeing Underground
Utah is an outdoor playground on all levels, from 13,528 feet atop Kings Peak in the Uintas to 1,227 feet below ground in Main Drain Cave — the deepest cave in Utah and 11th deepest in the nation. The Beehive State’s underground world, shaped by water, minerals and time, is filled with colorful formations like helictites — hollow twiglike deposits of calcite or aragonite — and … [Read more...]
New Alta Ski Patrol Documentary
There is nothing like a day on the ski slopes at one of Utah's world-class ski resorts. Whether you are plowing powder or skiing a well-groomed run the exhilaration of a day on the slopes is a day well spent. And if something happens to go wrong, well-trained ski patrol organizations are there to provide medical, and rescue services, as well as hazard prevention. Utah … [Read more...]
5 Amazing Places For Hiking And Running With Dogs in Utah
Hiking, running, exploring, hunting, backcountry skiing. It’s difficult to think of any outdoor sports that are not more enjoyable with dogs. After about fourteen years of mostly hiking and running with dogs, we have collectively decided on our favorite spots: Stansbury Island The Wild West still lives in Utah, and it is found on Stansbury Island. Not for the faint of … [Read more...]
Eating With Altitude: What’s on the Menu at Utah Mountain Resorts
There was a time when eating during a day of skiing or boarding meant cafeteria-style dining, where the best we could hope for was a passable burger or lukewarm bowl of chili. Well, those days, thankfully, are long gone. This season at our local Utah mountain resorts, you’ll find food ranging from pho, curries and paninis, charcuterie, sushi, and yes, burgers and other American … [Read more...]
Utahns’ Love Affair with Cottonwood Canyon
The love affair with Cottonwood Canyon began long before the Mormon Pioneers settled Salt Lake City in 1847. Fremont Indians inhabited caves along the canyon nearly a thousand years ago. Just a short ways up Little Cottonwood Canyon, Fremont pictographs can be found, depicting hunters, who took advantage of the bountiful fauna that is still present in the canyons today. The … [Read more...]
Graffiti Along the Wasatch Front
When Utahns are asked what they love about our state, one of the common answers is the close proximity to our National Forests and Parks; but what many Utahns don’t realize is that according to the U.S. Forest Service, “graffiti is the most visible and prominent crime within National Forest System lands along the Wasatch Front and can make areas that contain a lot … [Read more...]
Life as a Liftie: Skiing Thrills with Olympic Caliber Hills at Snowbasin Resort Utah
Ski season is finally here! Time to start haunting the weather app and planning your time off around good powder days. For some Utahns, though, time on the mountain is spent on the clock. Gonzola Artola, a supervisor in the lift operations department at Northern Utah’s Snowbasin Resort, is entering his fourth winter as a liftie. What it’s like to work at Snowbasin Resort? I … [Read more...]