Not far up Emigration Canyon, tucked into a hillside amongst native scrub and mature shade trees, lies a 25-acre complex of cabins, trails and equestrian facilities that resembles a typical summer camp or vacation retreat. But there is nothing typical about the people who come here. Nearly everyone has heard of Camp Kostopulos, or ‘Camp K,’ as it is affectionately known, but … [Read more...]
Cataract Canyon – Taming the Wild Beast
"What's the difference between a mutual fund and a river guide?" asks Aaron Rappleye as we swap jokes at camp on the river. “A mutual fund matures in four years and starts paying out." There are plenty of applicants with delayed maturity, or Peter Pan syndrome, who would gladly love to become a river guide on the Colorado River in Moab, Utah. The job is seasonal and it … [Read more...]
Blue John Canyon — Ralston’s Rock Found
Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Blue John Canyon, High Spur Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon - home of the Grand Gallery. I made the tour with Navtec Expeditions out of Moab, Utah. While there, I visited the site where Aron Ralston's arm was pinned for 127 hours. We also visited some of the most stunning examples of slot-canyon geology found on Earth. I can highly … [Read more...]
Jordan River Parkway–Wasatch Front Long Distance Trail
In the spirit of the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail, Utah’s Jordan River Parkway Trail offers recreation and exploration along the Wasatch Front with a perspective and angle vastly different from more well-traveled roads. The trail stretches from Utah County through Salt Lake County and into Davis County. From end to end it is a … [Read more...]
Moab’s Red Cliffs Lodge Owner Colin Fryer
A Man With A Plan Colin Fryer owns a ranch off Highway 128 in Moab, Utah. When you drive past just one word comes to mind, “Wow.” Red Cliffs Lodge rests on the bank of the Colorado River. In the summer horses graze on green grass. The cabins are built following the bend in the river. It’s just one of two lodges near Canyonlands National Park. So how did he acquire and … [Read more...]
Air Pollution in Utah
Why It's Red and Who Produces the Toxic Air We Breathe The nasty brown air you and I are breathing gets a lot of press. Most stories are similarly written or produced: people talk about health issues; UTA crows about public transit benefits; and a Kennecott or oil refinery spokesperson describe their companies’ efforts to clean up facilities. Blah, blah blah. As much as we … [Read more...]
Why the World Comes to Moab
If you are a lizard, who likes anything outdoors, this is the place for you. “A conflict in vision” is how you would describe most Utah small and medium-sized towns. Visions of Mormon temples and chain stores conflict with visions of a great nightlife and local art scene. They don’t have this problem in Moab. Nature constructed the Fisher Towers a zillion or so years ago. The … [Read more...]
Growing Empire Perennials and Nursery
Half a century of familial knowledge and a true love for plants has kept a family business blossoming in Salt Lake Valley. Ruth MacAngus was two years old when her father started Millcreek Gardens in Salt Lake. Fifty-two years later, Millcreek Gardens is family-owned and still going strong, and MacAngus continues the venture of her own successful empire. MacAngus’ father, … [Read more...]
Sugar House’s Hidden Hollow
You may have read that when the first Mormon immigrants arrived in the Salt Lake valley, they found few trees growing here. Not true, according to Sandy resident Ty Harrison. When his ancestor John Thomas Wilson homesteaded 80 acres on the Jordan River, there were great numbers of narrowleaf cottonwood, box elder and peachleaf willow trees along the creeks that flowed … [Read more...]
Utah’s Five Wackiest Summer Destinations
by Paige Wirren Yes, they’re wacky in that whodathunkit kind of way, and wacky by increasingly modern, homogenized standards of zoning laws, building code requirements, restrictive covenants and utilitarian laws, but the Utah sights noted here are bona fide, idiosyncratic expressions of the unconventional, extraordinary places of interest worthy of visiting and experiencing … [Read more...]