Putting red meat on the table Utah Hunting Although my grandfather was an avid duck hunter and helped to start Utah’s first duck hunting club, and my father was an avid pheasant hunter, neither of them introduced me to hunting big game. I started hunting mule deer when I was 21 and a poor undergraduate wildlife student at Utah State University. Forty-four years later, I … [Read more...]
A Short Introduction to Utah Native Trees
While there are roughly 45* native tree species in Utah (an exact consensus cannot be found), this list highlights just seven, selected for their prevalence and curiosity and arranged according to elevation. Enhance your next outing by stopping to commune with them. Listen for a moment. Take the leaves and limbs in your fingers, inspect them, ponder their design. You don’t … [Read more...]
Bikepacking: Two “Mature” Cyclists Bikepack Bears Ears
The body wilts before the spirit does, so it didn’t occur to two 41-year-old men that they might not be able to pedal 155 miles in three days through southeastern Utah on bikes loaded with the essentials: water, food, bedroll … tobacco, coffee, beer. The plan was simple. Pedal from Nizhoni Campground to Elk Ridge, down between Bears Ears, across Cedar Mesa, through … [Read more...]
Lava Flows and Hot Springs: Volcanic Activity in Utah
Years ago, I saw a photo on Facebook of a little girl snorkeling among tropical fish in a rocky pool with clear turquoise water. The photo was tagged at Meadow, Utah. I had never heard of Meadow, but I soon discovered that just outside this quaint town in Millard County, lies a collection of thermal springs. Two years ago my sister and I made the road trip to see the springs … [Read more...]
Bears Ears National Monument—Two Million Acres of Utah Land Out of Federal Control—Should We Be Worried?
At the behest of Orrin Hatch, Rob Bishop, and Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, President Trump made the right choice to return portions of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase to local control. How could an environmentalist editor believe such a thing? Let's examine the facts. Moab touring companies have been offering guided recreation on these lands since the 60s. I've had the … [Read more...]
Fall Fishing is the Best—Now is the Time to Enjoy a Quiet Day on the Water
Many anglers fish during the spring and summer months, and some even ice fish during winter, so avoid the crowds and enjoy fishing in the fall. Because they are cold blooded, most fish ramp up their feeding as the waters warm in the spring. But unfortunately, that is also when most species spawn, and are often found “lock-jawed” in schools in relatively small areas. The … [Read more...]
Trail Angels Among Us
When the developed world becomes tumultuous, the politics are too much, and culture looks bleak, many of us take to the wilderness for solace. At the end of the day, though, we are humans susceptible to the risk associated with the reward of the great outdoors. Blisters form, bootlaces snap, ankles roll, water is scarce, the woods are dark, the mountains are deep, and things … [Read more...]
Non-Profit Steps in to Fill Zion National Park Budget Gaps
In order to relocate wildlife and perform maintenance, Zion National Park will need a bigger budget. This is where the Zion National Park Forever Project comes in. The non-profit hopes to raise $3 million in funding this year to help the park finally complete much-needed maintenance. Read the full story by Brian Maffly of the Salt Lake Tribune here. … [Read more...]
Utah is the Perfect Place to Beat the February Blues
There is a very sad phenomenon called SAD, an acronym for Seasonal Affective Disorder. This condition causes many people who live in severe climates to suffer a form of seasonal depression in the winter. According to Psychologytoday.com this disorder affects 10 million Americans. From Utah Stories’ internal research we have found that adrenaline junkies, powder pigs and … [Read more...]
Mountain Accord Update
Compared to most mountainous states across the world, Utah has been said to have some of the best access to its recreational peaks. With urban planners and developers concerned about the State’s projected population growth, in 2014 Mountain Accord (MA) became the proposed solution to a looming problem. According to their website, “The Accord is the culmination of two years … [Read more...]